Blood Tests

Blood Testing at Pittwater Animal Hospital

Blood tests are one of the most powerful tools we have in veterinary medicine. They help us understand what’s happening inside your pet’s body—often before any outward signs appear.

While it’s always a relief to see normal results, sometimes we find unexpected changes that allow us to catch and treat problems early. These insights can be life-saving, especially when charted over time.

One of the biggest benefits of being a long-term patient at Pittwater Animal Hospital is that we can track trends across years of results—spotting changes in organ function, blood cell patterns or metabolic balance before they become serious.

🩸 When and Why Do We Recommend Blood Tests?

We strongly recommend screening blood tests:

At desexing (to set healthy baseline levels)
Before any anaesthetic or surgery
During illness or unexplained symptoms
For senior pets or those on long-term medication
At annual check-ups to track changes with age

We also offer urine testing, which provides complementary information—especially for kidney, bladder, and diabetic health.

Types of Blood Tests We Offer

1️⃣ Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Tests (PAB)

Used before surgery or sedation to ensure your pet is fit for anaesthesia.

This test checks:

Red Blood Cells: Detects anaemia, blood loss, or dehydration
White Blood Cells: Flags infections, immune changes, and bone marrow issues
Platelets: Assesses ability to clot and stop bleeding
Kidney Function (Urea & Creatinine): Identifies early or hidden kidney disease
Liver Enzymes (ALP, ALT): Reveals liver stress, damage, or systemic illness
Glucose Levels: Screens for diabetes or low blood sugar
Protein Levels: Altered levels may indicate inflammation, infection, or chronic illness

Even if everything looks normal, these results are stored in our database to compare in future visits—helping us detect patterns or gradual changes early.

2️⃣ Full Blood Profile (External Laboratory)

This is a more comprehensive blood test sent to our reference lab (IDEXX) and typically returned within one working day.

Includes:

Complete Blood Count (CBC) – Red and white cells, platelets
Full Biochemistry Panel – Liver, kidney, pancreas, proteins
Electrolytes – Sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphate
Thyroid (T4) – Especially important in older cats and dogs

This test is ideal for:

Pets on long-term medications
Senior pets
Investigating complex or chronic illness
Monitoring organ function over time

3️⃣ Full In-House Profile (CBC, Biochemistry, Electrolytes)

Results in 30 minutes.

Used when:

A pet is acutely unwell and we need answers urgently
An older pet is having surgery and a full internal health picture is required
Time-sensitive decisions are needed in a critical care setting

Fast, reliable, and highly informative—this panel is invaluable for emergencies and pre-surgical risk assessments.

📈 Long-Term Value

Every blood test builds on the last. At Pittwater Animal Hospital, we chart your pet’s results across their life. This helps us:

Detect problems early
Guide medication adjustments
Monitor chronic conditions
Make safer decisions for surgery and anaesthesia

🐾 Ready to Book a Test?

Whether your pet is due for surgery, feeling unwell, or just due for a wellness check, we’re here to help.

📞 Call us on 9913 7979
📧 Or email reception@pittvets.au
👇
Make an Appointment with the Vet →

Explore All Our Interesting Posts →