When your dog or cat suddenly becomes sick, one of the most important first steps is figuring out why. Vomiting, weakness, loss of appetite, increased thirst, weight loss and unusual behavior can all occur with very different medical conditions — and the appropriate treatment depends on identifying the underlying problem.
At Desert Forest Animal Hospital in Cave Creek, Arizona, our in-house veterinary laboratory and bloodwork capabilities allow our veterinary team to perform urgent diagnostic testing for many sick pets during their visit. When appropriate, having laboratory results available quickly can help us make treatment decisions and begin care the same day.
What Can In-House Veterinary Bloodwork Tell Us?
Bloodwork gives veterinarians information that cannot always be determined from a physical examination alone. Depending on your pet’s symptoms and the tests recommended, laboratory results can help us evaluate organ function, blood-cell counts, blood sugar, electrolytes and other important measurements.
Urgent laboratory testing may help identify or evaluate conditions such as:
- Kidney disease or kidney failure
- Anemia and abnormalities in red blood cells
- Diabetes and abnormal blood glucose levels
- Hyperthyroidism in cats
- Liver disease
- Dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities
- Inflammation or infection
- Other metabolic abnormalities
Learn more about the pet diagnostics and in-house blood work available at Desert Forest Animal Hospital.
Why Rapid Lab Results Can Matter When a Pet Is Sick
Some illnesses can worsen quickly. A pet who appears tired or stops eating may be mildly ill, but those same symptoms can also occur with significant kidney disease, anemia, diabetes or other systemic conditions.
Having access to diagnostic information during the appointment helps our veterinarians determine how urgently a pet needs treatment and what type of care may be appropriate.
Rather than automatically waiting for outside laboratory results before making decisions, many commonly needed tests can be performed in-house when medically indicated.
For a broader look at how examination, testing and treatment can often occur during the same visit, read our guide to same-day veterinary diagnostics in Cave Creek.
Signs Your Pet May Need Urgent Bloodwork
Call us if your dog or cat develops symptoms such as:
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhea
- Not eating or a sudden decrease in appetite
- Marked weakness, lethargy or unusual tiredness
- Drinking substantially more water than usual
- Urinating more or less than normal
- Unexplained weight loss
- Pale gums
- Sudden changes in behavior
- Yellowing of the eyes, skin or gums
- A pet who simply seems unusually “off”
These signs do not automatically mean that your pet has a serious disease, but they can warrant a veterinary examination and diagnostic testing.
If symptoms develop suddenly, learn more about same-day urgent veterinary care in Cave Creek.
Kidney Disease and Kidney Failure
Kidney problems are particularly important to recognize promptly because affected pets may initially show fairly nonspecific signs. Dogs and cats with kidney disease may drink more, urinate more, lose their appetite, vomit, lose weight or become unusually tired.
Blood chemistry testing can help veterinarians evaluate kidney-related values and identify abnormalities that may warrant further investigation. Urine testing or additional diagnostics may also be recommended depending on the individual patient.
In some cases, our veterinarian may recommend additional diagnostic imaging. An abdominal ultrasound for dogs and cats can provide additional information about the kidneys and other abdominal organs when medically appropriate.
Anemia
Anemia occurs when a pet does not have an adequate number of healthy red blood cells. Causes can include blood loss, destruction of red blood cells, decreased production of red blood cells and a variety of underlying diseases.
A complete blood count, commonly called a CBC, can help determine whether a pet is anemic and provide additional information about red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets that may help guide the next diagnostic steps.
Diabetes
Increased thirst, increased urination, changes in appetite and unexplained weight loss can occur with diabetes.
Blood glucose testing combined with examination findings, medical history and other laboratory information can help our veterinarians determine whether diabetes may be contributing to a pet’s symptoms and whether additional testing or treatment is needed.
Hyperthyroidism in Cats
Hyperthyroidism is especially common in older cats. Affected cats may lose weight despite having a strong appetite, become unusually active or vocal, drink more water, vomit or develop other changes at home.
When indicated, thyroid testing can help determine whether an overactive thyroid may be responsible for these symptoms.
Because kidney disease, diabetes, thyroid disorders and other medical conditions become more common as pets age, learn more about our approach to senior pet care in Cave Creek.
Liver Disease
The liver performs many essential functions, and liver disease can cause symptoms ranging from decreased appetite and vomiting to weakness or jaundice.
Blood chemistry results can identify changes in liver-associated values and help veterinarians determine whether additional diagnostics or treatment may be appropriate.
When bloodwork indicates a liver or gallbladder concern, abdominal ultrasound may sometimes be recommended to evaluate the liver, gallbladder and surrounding structures in greater detail.
Can Treatment Begin the Same Day?
Often, it can. One of the advantages of in-house laboratory testing is that when results identify a problem requiring treatment, our veterinary team may be able to begin appropriate care during the same visit.
Depending on the diagnosis and your pet’s condition, treatment may include medications, IV fluids, supportive care, additional diagnostic testing or continued monitoring.
Some patients need hospitalization or referral for a higher level of emergency or specialty care. Our goal is to identify that need as quickly as possible so the appropriate next step is not unnecessarily delayed.
Same-Day Urgent Veterinary Care in Cave Creek
Desert Forest Animal Hospital provides veterinary care for dogs and cats from Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Hills, North Scottsdale, Tatum Ranch, Dove Valley Ranch, Terravita, Desert Mountain, Anthem and surrounding North Valley communities.
If your pet becomes sick unexpectedly, same-day urgent veterinary evaluation may be available during regular business hours. Because staffing, patient volume and medical needs can change throughout the day, please call before arriving.
Desert Forest Animal Hospital
6554 E Cave Creek Road
Cave Creek, AZ 85331
(480) 488-2010
Contact Desert Forest Animal Hospital
Medical information on this page is provided for general educational purposes and cannot replace examination, diagnosis or individualized veterinary advice.