Diagnostics
Thompson Animal Hospital
6615 S. Florida Ave,
Lakeland, Florida
Phone: 863-648-4886
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Diagnostic Tests help the veterinarians do their job.
At Thompson Animal Hospital we have a complete in-house laboratory capable of performing many tests that can be done during your visit.
Blood Tests
A Blood Chemistry is a comprehensive look at your pet’s organ function, electrolyte status, hormone levels, etc. We use this test for a baseline and early disease detection as your pet reaches its senior years. We also use this test for diagnosing sick patients young or senior to help determine the proper treatment. Here are some of the reasons your pets would need a blood chemistry:
- Senior Pets
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Toxin Exposure
- Pets receiving long-term medications and steroid injections
- Health before anesthesia
A Complete Blood Count (CBC) takes a look at the cells in our body that work hard to fight off infection and just basically keep up alive! This helpful tool can also determine if your pet is anemic, dehydrated, clotting ability or actively fighting off an infection. Here are some reasons your pet would need a CBC:
- Fevers
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
- Pale Gums
- Loss of appetite
- Health before anesthesia
Thyroid Tests (T4) are a hormone both human and animals have present in their body. We see increased levels in cats and decreased levels in dogs which can cause discomfort. In most cases this is easily managed by medications. Signs to watch for:
- In cats – increase in appetite (ravenous) and weight loss at the same time
- In dogs – weight gain, hair loss (especially the tail area) not necessarily at the same time
Heartworm Tests are performed yearly to ensure your pet is negative and can continue on their heartworm prevention. While we see heartworms in dogs mostly cats can be affected too. Remember no heartworm prevention is 100% effective and we live in Florida where the mosquitoes (the pesky critter that transmits the disease) roam a plenty!
Feline Leukemia/Feline Aids (FIV) Tests are performed on kittens during their kitten plan primarily. Adults that are outdoor cats or indoor/outdoor cats are at risk so they need to be tested yearly even though they are vaccinated.
Urine & Fecal Tests
Urinalysis is a critical tool in evaluating kidney function (used with the blood chemistry), urinary tract and bladder health. Pets are good at hiding illness and lots of times you don’t see the color of their urine because they go in the grass. It can be red and you wouldn’t even know!! Signs we need to test your pet’s urine:
- Frequent urination
- Drinking more
- Urinating small amounts
- Different color urine – red, orange, green etc.
Intestinal Parasite Tests are performed yearly to check for parasites that can live in your pet’s intestinal tract and potentially be fatal if left untreated. Some of the most common parasites we see are hook worms, round worms, whip worms and tape worms. With a stool check we are able to tell you in 10 minutes if your pet has intestinal parasites and then treat them quickly so they don’t progress.
We have the latest equipment capable of producing results within minutes. This results in faster diagnoses and treatment for your pet.
In cases that require an outside laboratory, we have relationships with several labs across the country to ensure that the proper diagnostic testing is available.
Heart Diagnostics
EKGs are done in our hospital and are interpreted by the certified cardiologists at Institute of Veterinary Specialists in Gainesville, FL. We have results with 24-48 hours.
