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43 results for “bloodwork”
Caring for Senior Cats and Dogs: A Stage-by-Stage Longevity Plan
Cats and dogs are considered senior at around age 7, when metabolism slows and organ function begins to decline. With staged, careful care, companion pets can live an average of 2–3 years longer. This guide breaks senior care into three phases—ages 7–9, 10–12, and 13 and up—covering diet adjustments, weight control, dental and joint support, stress avoidance, and a sensible checkup schedule. The goal is not expensive supplements but steady, calm, well-planned daily care.
Does Abdominal Fluid in Cats Always Mean FIP?
Fluid in a cat's abdomen, or ascites, is a sign—not a diagnosis. It can stem from liver or heart disease, kidney failure, malnutrition, or peritonitis caused by infection, viruses, or injury, and only one of those causes is feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Because the symptom alone cannot confirm FIP, diagnosis needs bloodwork, imaging such as X-ray or ultrasound, and viral testing. If your cat shows a swollen belly, lethargy, fever, or breathing trouble, see a veterinarian promptly to find the real cause.
Canine Ehrlichiosis: What Owners Should Know
Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne rickettsial disease with acute, subclinical, and chronic stages, and chronic cases can linger for years with vague signs like lethargy, fever, and low platelets that risk bleeding. Because many illnesses look similar, diagnosis leans on bloodwork, urine, imaging, and antibody or PCR tests. This guide walks through the stages and workup.
Why Your Cat Keeps Sneezing
An occasional sneeze is nothing, but frequent sneezing with discharge, eye issues, or coughing can hide something serious. Causes span environment, infection, and even facial structure, from dust and viruses to flat-faced-breed anatomy. This guide explains the reasons, when to see a vet, and how to care for and prevent sneezing fits.
What to Know Before and After Spaying or Neutering Your Pet
Spay and neuter surgery is routine but still deserves careful preparation. Picking a trusted clinic, fasting beforehand, and running pre-op tests keep anesthesia safe, while post-op care around wounds, food, and an Elizabethan collar protects a smooth recovery. This guide walks owners through the whole journey, from booking to stitch removal.
Health Checks Every Cat Owner Should Know
Must-do checks: a baseline exam plus a four-way infectious test (panleukopenia, herpes, calicivirus, coronavirus) for every new cat—do it early, before symptoms turn deadly. Antibody tests suit cattery-bought kittens. Pre-surgery bloodwork matters for seniors; post-illness rechecks and fecal/SAA/urine tests catch parasites, inflammation, and urinary disease. Skip unnecessary ones: toxoplasma testing is mainly for pregnant households, and X-rays are for swallowed objects or fractures.
Is a Pet Health Check-Up Really Necessary?
Like human screenings, pet check-up prices vary by region, and yes, it's an extra cost—but it's not wasted money. A check-up includes an external exam (eyes, ears, mouth), bloodwork (inflammation, infection, anemia, organ function), radiology (bones and organs), fecal testing (parasites), and urinalysis (urinary tract; in older cats it also shows kidney health). Cats and dogs have limited lifespans and often develop multiple diseases in old age, so early detection changes the outcome. Schedule a first exam at about 30 days old, yearly for seniors, and roughly every two years for healthy adults. Always use a proper veterinary clinic.
Cat Vomiting After Every Meal: What to Do
When a cat throws up everything it eats, the cause may be a gut blockage from a swallowed object or hairballs, organ disease in adults, or acute gastroenteritis from bad food, parasites, or infection. Get a vet check first, bloodwork, fecal, and imaging pinpoint the cause. If a clinic isn't possible immediately, fast 4-6 hours, then a vet-prescribed gut antibiotic and anti-emetic can ease pain and protect the gut lining; hairball paste and probiotics help if it's just hairballs or a partial blockage. Untreated, frequent vomiting leads to dehydration and worse.
Why Is Your Dog’s Gum Pale? Don’t Ignore It—It Could Signal These Illnesses
A healthy dog's gums are pink and refill quickly after a light press. Pale or whitish gums often mean the body isn't getting enough oxygen—usually because of anemia or an underlying chronic disease. The causes range from nutritional and blood-loss anemia to kidney or liver problems and infections. Because pale gums can point to something serious, they deserve a prompt check rather than guessing at home.
Why Is Your Dog Weak in the Hind Legs and Unsteady
A dog that walks with weak, wobbly legs can signal many problems: lack of exercise, poor nutrition, fatigue, heart or respiratory disease, muscle or skeletal disorders, anemia, diabetes, or thyroid trouble. A single, bland diet or long hunger can cause dehydration and low blood sugar, calcium, or potassium, leading to dizziness and weakness. Overexertion alone may just need rest. If the signs persist, a vet visit with bloodwork and X-rays pinpoints the cause and guides treatment.