QUOTE of the DAY
"Are cats lazy? Well, more power to them if they are. Which one of us has not entertained the dream of doing just as he likes, when and how he likes, and as much as he likes?"
-- Fernand Mery

› services: in-house laboratory

Our laboratory plays a vital role on maintaining the health and well being of your pet. Our technicians routinely perform a wide variety of blood and urine profiles with specific attention to the diseases that effect animals.

For the critically ill pet, a blood chemistry and hematology profile are completed within 5-10 minutes. These sensitive instruments offer highly accurate results of tests used to diagnose or evaluate a the following things:

Pre-anesthetic risk

Blood count

Clotting function

Kidney function

Hydration Infection

Liver function

Our healthy pets may also receive a pre-anesthetic blood profile prior to any surgical procedure (please see "anesthetic options"). These panels reduce the risk of anesthesia by screening for pre'existing conditions that are not apparent on the pet's physical examination.

Other common tests that are performed include:

Urinalysis - This is a comprehensive test of a pet's urine. It requires a dipstick to be evaluated, concentration of the urine recorded, and the sample spun for 10 -15 minutes. Then the sediment of the spun urine is stained and evaluated by an experienced veterinary technician under the microscope.

Fungal culture - Small pieces of skin scales or hairs are collected and laced on a special culture medium. These tests are evaluated every three days for three weeks. A specific growth or color change of the medium is then confirmed by microscopic examination.

Cytology - Ear swabs, skin swabs, and needle aspirates are just a few of the things we stain and evaluate under the microscope. Ear cytology slides are evaluated for the presence or absence of bacteria or yeast helping us to select the right medication for the pets ear infection. Needle aspirate slides of cysts or masses are evaluated for atypical cells that may indicate a fungal infection or cancer.

Fecal analysis - A flotation technique is used to evaluate the presence of roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms in our patients. This technique allows us to find eggs of these worms even if they are present in a low number. A gram stain or direct fecal test are commonly done in our patients with diarrhea. We use these test to look for an overgrowth of bacteria or other protozoan parasites.

Other tests that are available:

heartworm testing (usually for dogs that have been in heartworm endemic area)

feline leukemia testing

feline aids testing

thyroid testing: generally done as a send out to Dr. Jean Dodds at Antech Labs in California

titer testing: generally sent out to Cornell University as this lab is considered the gold standard

More advanced tests are sent out to a veterinary exclusive laboratory. Our Veterinary Laboratory offers comprehensive panels and all special tests typically within 24 hours. Biopsy samples are routinely reported within 3-4 days.

vancouver
animal
wellness
hospital

105 east broadway
vancouver, bc v5t 1w1
phone: 604.738.4664
fax: 604.738.4694

photo by Heidi Zutter

k9phodography.com
fine art pet photography

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vancouver animal wellness hospital
Michael Goldberg, DVM; Erik Irre, DVM
105 e. broadway, vancouver, bc v5t 1w1 / phone: 604.738.4664 / fax: 604.738.4694
Hours of Operation: Monday, Thursday & Friday: 9am - 6pm, Tuesday & Wednesday: 9am - 7pm, Saturday: 9am - 5pm

homeopathy | nutrition | acupuncture | chiropractic | full-service surgery | physiotherapy/rehabilitation hydrotherapy | behaviourist | conventional medicine | grief counselling | overnight monitoring available

vancouver animal wellness hospital

homeopathy | nutrition | acupuncture | chiropractic | full-service surgery | physiotherapy/rehabilitation
hydrotherapy | behaviourist | conventional medicine | grief counselling | overnight monitoring available

vancouver
animal
wellness
hospital