Diagnostic Tests

What is "fecal occult blood"?
"Fecal occult blood" refers to the presence of small quantities of blood in the stool that cannot be seen with the naked eye ("occult" means "concealed from view"). The blood can come from anywhere in the digestive tract, including the mouth, stomach, intestines or rectum.

What is coagulation?
Coagulation is the series of events that result in the formation of a clot.  In the body, coagulation occurs after any injury to a blood vessel or tissue, in order to stop bleeding.
Coagulation involves the interaction of blood vessel lining cells (endothelial cells), specialized blood cells called platelets that form a plug in the region of the damaged blood vessel, and circulating coagulation factors.

What is a Complete Blood Count?
The Complete Blood Count, usually just called a CBC, is one of the most basic blood tests your veterinarian can request, and yet it is one of the most important tests for determining the health status of a dog. It includes a series of measurements that describe the quantity and quality of the cellular elements in the blood.

What is cytology?
Cytology is the microscopic examination of cells that have been collected from the body. By examining the appearance of these cells, including their number, size, shape, color, internal characteristics, and how they fit together with their neighbors, it is often possible to make a diagnosis.

What is cytology?
Cytology is the microscopic examination of cells that have been collected from the body.  By examining the appearance of these cells, including their number, size, shape, color, internal characteristics, and how they fit together with their neighbors, it is often possible to make a diagnosis.

What are electrolytes?
Electrolytes are the salts and metallic components of serum (serum is the liquid portion of blood). Electrolytes are dissolved within serum and carry an electrical charge, either negative or positive. The negatively charged electrolytes are balanced by the positively charged electrolytes.

What is a urine protein:creatinine ratio?
The urine protein:creatinine ratio is a simple test that measures how much protein is being lost through the kidneys, and determines if the loss poses a health risk for the dog. The test involves measuring the amount of protein and creatinine in a urine sample, and mathematically dividing the protein value by the creatin

What is the urine cortisol/creatinine ratio?
Cortisol is a stress hormone that is excreted from the body in the urine.  The amount of cortisol in the urine reflects the average cortisol concentration in the blood at the time that the urine was formed. However, this measurement is affected by the concentration of the urine.   Creatinine is a product of muscle metabolism and it is normally lost in the urine at a relatively steady rate. Because of this, the ratio of cortisol to creatinine in the urine can be used to account for the effect of urine concentration.

What is ethylene glycol?
Ethylene glycol is the most common and the most dangerous form of antifreeze. Ethylene glycol can also be found in some film processing solutions.

What is a Coombs’ test?
A Coombs’ (or direct antiglobulin) test detects the presence of immunoglobulins (antibodies) on the surface of red blood cells. Immunoglobulins are proteins made by white blood cells (specifically plasma cells). The Coombs’ test detects these immunoglobulins using specific antiserum that reacts against different types of immunoglobulins. If this antiserum detects immunoglobulins on the surface of the red blood cells, it will cause the red blood cells to agglutinate or clump in the test tube. This test is performed at a veterinary reference laboratory and requires a single blood sample.

What is cytology?
Cytology is the microscopic examination of cells that have been collected from the body.  By examining the appearance of these cells, including their number, size, shape, color, internal characteristics, and how they fit together with their neighbors, it is often possible to make a diagnosis

What is the dexamethasone suppression test used for?
There are two tests that use dexamethasone (a synthetic cortisol) for diagnosing Cushing’s Disease or Cushing’s Syndrome-- a "LOW DOSE" and a "HIGH DOSE" test. The low dose dexamethasone suppression test can be used to screen for the presence of hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease) and in many cases it will differentiate the type of Cushing’s disease that is present. The high dose dexamethasone test is used when the patient has been confirmed with Cushing’s disease by means of the low dose test, but is one of the cases in which the low dose test has not clearly differentiated the type of Cushing’s disease that is present.  Both the low dose and the high dose dexamethasone suppression tests take 8 hours to complete and involve three blood samples. The first sample is taken prior to the injection of dexamethasone, and the second and third samples are taken at 4 and 8 hours following the dexamethasone injection. The difference between the two tests is in the amount of dexamethasone that is injected.  The two tests must be run on different days.

What is DNA?
Sometimes called the "blue print of life", DNA is a complex protein that carries the genetic code of an organism. All common forms of life, such as viruses, bacteria, plants, and animals carry a complete copy of their own DNA in each of their cells. Many related organisms have similar DNA, but there are small differences in the DNA sequence that are unique to each organism.

What is microalbuminuria?
Albumin is an important protein that is found in blood, but is not normally present in the urine of healthy dogs. Microalbuminuria refers to the presence of small amounts of albumin in urine ("micro" = small amount, "uria" = present in urine). Finding small amounts of albumin in the urine may indicate underlying health problems, and may be an early warning signal of renal (or kidney) damage or disease.

What is ACTH?
ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland.
The term endogenous simply refers to the ACTH that is produced by the dog itself (as opposed to synthetic ACTH which is used for diagnostic testing purposes).

What is a fecal Baermann test?
A fecal Baermann is a specialized test for detecting certain types of parasites or "worms" in stool material. Many parasites pass their eggs in the host’s stool, and infection is easily diagnosed by examining the stool for the presence of parasite eggs. [link to Fecal Flotation] However, some parasites pass larvae instead of eggs; larvae cannot be detected by routine stool examination, and a special technique called a fecal Baermann is required to find them.

What is a fecal flotation?
Fecal flotation is a routine veterinary test that is used to identify the presence of intestinal parasites or "worms". The test actually detects the eggs of mature parasites that live in the intestine and pass their eggs to the outside in the host’s stool. Some of the parasites are worm-like, while others are simple single-celled organisms called protozoa.

What is hypercalcemia?
Hypercalcemia means that the level of calcium in the blood is abnormally high. (hyper =  above or excessive; -emia = blood)

Dogs that have been diagnosed with epilepsy are usually prescribed one or more medications to prevent convulsions or seizures. These medicines, called anticonvulsants, are often needed for long periods of time, and in many cases are used for the life of the dog. Careful monitoring of these epileptic dogs is necessary, first of all to make sure the medicine is being effective, and also to ensure there are no problems caused by the long term use of the medication

Why is it important to prepare my dog for blood collection?
Having your dog properly prepared before blood collection helps to ensure that test results are as accurate and reliable as they can be. Sometimes abnormal test results say more about how the dog was prepared than about true illness. Having confidence in the results avoids unnecessary worry, and eliminates the need for repeat testing to verify the results.

Is there a blood test to detect pregnancy in the bitch?
A blood test is now available that detects pregnancy in the bitch by measuring levels of a hormone called relaxin. This hormone is produced by the developing placenta following implantation of the embryo, and can be detected in the blood in most bitches as early as 22-27 days post breeding.  The level of relaxin remains elevated throughout gestation, and declines rapidly following the end of the pregnancy.

With modern drugs and sophisticated equipment, the risk associated with general anesthesia and surgery is minimal for the healthy dog. However, the potential for complications still exists, and the best way to decrease the risk for your dog is to have a complete pre-surgical evaluation performed before the procedure. This allows the veterinarian to determine if your dog has any underlying problems that might lead to complications, and to make any adjustments necessary to safeguard your dog’s health and comfort.

Why is finding protein in urine a cause for concern?
Protein is used throughout the body in a variety of ways, and is especially important for growth and repair. Maintaining adequate levels of protein is critical for the long-term health of a dog, and any persistent loss of protein in the urine represents a waste of a precious resource that is difficult to replace.

What is serum biochemistry?
Serum biochemistry refers to the chemical analysis of serum, which is a major component of blood. The analysis can include many different tests, each of which provides information about one or more organs in the body.   If a test result is abnormal, it may indicate that disease is present. Further assessment of the test results may indicate which organ system is affected, and may provide information about the nature and severity of the problem.

When is serum iron testing indicated?
Serum iron tests are indicated when the results from a complete blood count (CBC) indicate that your pet is anemic (decreased red blood cell numbers and decreased hemoglobin) and that the red blood cells are microcytic (smaller than usual) and hypochromic (contain less hemoglobin than usual).