| Blood Tests |
Instructions |
Duration |
Frequency / Details |
Rationale |
| ACTH Stim Test |
12 hr fast |
1/2 day |
1 injection, 2-3 samples, at 0 + 1 ± 2 hrs |
Hormonal diseases - Adrenal and Pituitary Glands |
| Bile Acids Test |
12 hr fast |
1/2 day |
2 samples, at 0 + 2 hrs, fasting imp |
Liver Disease |
| CBC (complete blood count) |
reg feeding |
1 sample |
usually once, case specific |
Checks cell types in blood (RBCs, WBCs) |
| Dex Suppression Test |
12 hr fast |
Full day |
1 injection, 3 samples,
at 0, 4 + 8 hrs |
Hormonal diseases - Adrenal and Pituitary Glands |
| FIV / FeLV |
reg feeding |
1 sample |
once, case specific |
Screening for feline retroviruses |
| Fructosamine |
reg feeding |
1 sample |
every 6 months if regulated |
Diabetes mellitus surveillance |
| Wellness testing |
12 hr fast preferred, but not necessary |
1 sample |
once yearly (includes CBC, Clinical Chemistry 1 or 3, ±T4 and Urinalysis) |
Health and organ screening |
| Glucose Curve |
ask Dr. |
Full day |
6 samples, every 2 hours |
Diabetes mellitus surveillance |
| Heartworm |
reg feeding |
1 sample |
once a year (Apr-June) |
Heartworm status prior to starting medication |
| PCV / TP |
reg feeding |
1 sample |
once, case specific |
Checks Red Blood Cell level and protein level in blood |
| Vets 5 / Clinical Chemistry 1 |
12 hr fast |
1 sample |
once, case or medication specific |
Health and organ screening |
| Vets 12 / Clinical Chemistry 3 |
12 hr fast |
1 sample |
once, case or medication specific |
Health and organ screening |
| T4 |
12 hr fast preferred, but not necessary |
1 sample |
every 6 months if regulated |
Hypothyroid, Hyperthyroid surveillance |
| Phenobarbitol |
12 hr fast |
1 sample |
every 6 months if regulated |
Blood level surveillance for seizure control |
| Potassium Bromide |
12 hr fast |
1 sample |
every 6 months if regulated |
Blood level surveillance for seizure control |
| |
| Diagnostics |
Instructions |
Duration |
Frequency / Details |
Rationale |
| Barium Xrays |
2-4 hr fast |
Full day |
Imaging:
4-5 xrays, usually over 3 hours |
Gastrointestinal investigation |
| Blood Pressure Test |
reg feeding |
Full day |
Monitor:
minimum 3 readings (AM, midday, PM) |
Kidney, thyroid, heart disease |
| Electrocardiogram / ECG |
reg feeding |
Full day |
Monitor:
1 tracing, 5 minutes |
Heart disease - primarily rhythm |
| Endoscopic Biopsy - upper |
12 hr fast |
Full day |
Anesthetic:
usually once, case specific |
Gastrointestinal investigation |
| Endoscopic Biopsy - lower |
ask Dr. |
2 days |
Anesthetic:
usually once, case specific |
Gastrointestinal investigation |
| Fine Needle Aspirate |
reg feeding |
1/2 day |
Microscope:
usually 3 samples taken / lump |
Lump investigation |
| Lameness Xrays |
12 hr fast (sed?) |
Full day |
Imaging:
# xrays varies per case, sedation usually |
Musculoskeletal disease |
| Skin Scrape |
reg feeding |
1/2 day |
Microscope:
usually 5 samples taken / case |
Skin investigation, parasites (mites) |
| Urinalysis - Cystocentesis |
reg feeding |
1 sample |
Urine:
once, usually a follow-up needed |
Inappropriate urination investigation |
| Urine cortisol:creatinine |
reg feeding |
voided |
Urine:
Drop off fresh urine (<2hrs old) |
Screening Test for Cushing's dz |
| Urine protein:creatinine |
reg feeding |
voided |
Urine:
Drop off fresh urine (<2hrs old) or can be attained by vet / tech with a needle |
Check kidneys |
| Urine culture and sensitivity |
reg feeding |
cysto |
Urine:
Attained by vet / tech with needle |
To culture bacteria and find appropriate antibiotic |
| Ultrasound (Card and Abd) |
12 hr fast (sed?) |
Full day |
Imaging:
usually once, follow-up may be needed |
Organ disease / malfunction |
| |
| Medications |
Instructions |
Duration |
Frequency / Details |
Rationale |
| Amitriptyline / Elavil |
CBC, Vets 12 / Clinical Chemistry 3 |
1 sample |
6-12 months |
can cause bone marrow suppression |
| Carprofen / Rimadyl |
Vets 5 / Clinical Chemistry 1, Vets 12 / Clinical Chemistry 3 |
1 sample |
6 months |
can affect or be affected by kidney, liver |
| Clomipramine / Clomicalm |
Vets 5 / Clinical Chemistry 1, Vets 12 / Clinical Chemistry 3 |
1 sample |
6 months |
can affect the liver |
| Enalapril / Enacard |
Vets 12 / Clinical Chemistry 3 |
1 sample |
6 months, 4 wks after dose change |
can alter body's electrolytes |
| Furosemide / Lasix / Salix |
Vets 12 / Clinical Chemistry 3 |
1 sample |
6 months, 4 wks after dose change |
can alter body's electrolytes |
| Levothyroxine / Eltroxin / Thyrotabs |
T4 |
1 sample |
6 months, 6-8 wks after dose change |
Appropriate dose given? 4-6 hrs after morning pill |
| Metacam / Meloxicam |
Vets 5 / Clinical Chemistry 1, Vets 12 / Clinical Chemistry 3 |
1 sample |
6 months |
can affect or be affected by the liver, kidneys |
| Methimazole / Tapazole |
T4, Vets 5 / Clinical Chemistry 1 |
1 sample |
6 months, 4 wks after dose change |
Appropriate dose given? Watch liver |
| Phenobarbitol |
Phenob, Vets 5 / Clinical Chemistry 1 |
1 sample |
6 months, 4 wks after dose change |
Body develops tolerance, can affect liver |
| Phenylpropanolamine / PPA |
Vets 5 / Clinical Chemistry 1, Vets 12 / Clinical Chemistry 3 |
1 sample |
6 months, 4 wks after dose change |
can be affected by kidneys |
| Prednisone |
Vets 5 / Clinical Chemistry 1, Vets 12 / Clinical Chemistry 3 |
1 sample |
6 months |
can affect the liver |
| Potassium Bromide (KBr) |
KBr |
1 sample |
6 months, 4 months after dose change |
Appropriate dose given? |
| Selegilene / Anipryl |
Vets 5 / Clinical Chemistry 1, Vets 12 / Clinical Chemistry 3 |
1 sample |
6 months, 4 wks after dose change |
can be affected by kidneys |
| Stilbestrol / Diethylstilberstrol |
CBC |
1 sample |
6-12 months |
Estrogens can suppress the bone marrow |
| |
| Directions |
Blood Work
If elective dog and cat blood samples are taken, ideally a minimum of 4+ hour fast should be done. Best time = before breakfast after overnight fast
Blood Glucose Curves = owners should bring insulin and food in for the day
Legend:
- If recommendations are not followed a 'refusal of diagnostics' waiver must be signed before getting the medication
- Appropriate dose given? = regular rechecking of blood values to make sure disease state hasn't changed. Could lead to a lower or higher dose being needed
- Reg Feeding = Regular feeding schedule
- Full Day and 1/2 day animals should be dropped off in the morning before 8 AM
- Ask Dr. = need case specific instructions from a veterinarian
- Sed ? = Sedation may be required to complete the procedure
|