Types of Veterinary Medical Tests

Ask any veterinarian in the world, they’ll tell you the same truth: regular veterinary medical tests are essential and for a good reason. These tests play a crucial role in diagnosing and preventing diseases in animals.

They enable veterinarians to provide accurate and timely treatment. I.e. so that you don’t have to throw money down the rabbit hole of various medicines, surgeries, and treatments. 

And your pet gets to enjoy a healthy body without irreversible damage done to their internal systems. Talk about a good deal.

There are various types of tests performed in veterinary medicine. Each test serves a unique purpose. Just like humans, our pet companions have a variety of tests tailored specifically to their unique needs.

Understanding the different types of Veterinary Medical Tests can empower pet owners to make informed decisions about their pet’s needs.

So, grab your lab goggles and learn everything you need to know about veterinary medical tests – we’ll try to keep it simple. 

Key Takeaways

• The importance of preventive veterinary diagnosis cannot be overemphasized. Without it, treating an animal can be akin to looking for a black cat in a dark room – blindfolded.
• Various laboratory tests are used to make an accurate diagnosis. The doctor can prescribe them both separately and together. Some types of diseases and conditions can not be accurately confirmed by a single analysis. It happens that an inaccurate diagnosis can put the animal’s life in danger. A cross-check is then ordered.
• Your veterinary clinic should have state-of-the-art testing equipment and ideally its own laboratory for rapid analysis. Otherwise, the diagnosis and follow-up may be wrong, or take too long. Lack of a lab = potentially dangerous treatment errors.
• Not every veterinarian is a qualified microbiologist or oncologist. Different clinics may have good specialists in one area, but lack in others. Find it out before you really need a diagnosis or treatment.

Cytology

Veterinary cytology tests involve examining cells under a microscope to identify any abnormalities or infections. They shine best when diagnosing conditions such as:

• cancer
• infections
• inflammations.

A veterinary cytologist’s task is to accurately interpret possible abnormalities in cytologic specimens (basically, the very cells you put under a microscope!). A small change, e.g., a barely visible black dot inside a cell, can communicate much to an expert. It could be a confirmation for piroplasmosis since the little dot could be a piroplasm (Babesia if it’s a dog, cytauxzoonosis if it’s a cat – quite a tongue twister!).

An ordinary person without a deep background in biology and cytology could easily confuse a dot with a nucleus, a cytoplasmic inclusion, or an artifact. Even a certified vet without a great deal of experience could make a false judgment.

It is hard to combine the all-encompassing knowledge of a general vet practitioner and the specifics of cell types, various disease processes, and other variables. 

Typically, cytologists will also look out for cells that are larger than usual, or if there are more cells than normal. This could indicate inflammation or even cancer. On the other hand, if the cells appear smaller or less numerous, it could signify anemia or a viral infection.

Any strange findings could be what’s called morphologic changes or criteria of malignancy. They can include changes in size, shape, nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio, nuclear chromatin pattern… And there’s so much more!

If you would take away a single point from this paragraph, please consider this one. Cytology is a useful clinical tool for investigating disease processes – but it has limitations.

Cytology should always be complemented by other diagnostic methods such as histology (it’s when they “zoom out” and look at an entire section of tissue, which contains many types of cells, instead of individual cells), immunohistochemistry (it uses the specific binding between an antibody and antigen to detect and localize corresponding antigens), etc. 

Urine analysis

Urinalysis is a pivotal diagnostic test in clinical laboratories, ranking third after blood count analysis and serum/plasma chemical profiles. This test is crucial for detecting urinary tract diseases, assessing physical health, and diagnosing kidney dysfunction before renal failure occurs. Urinalysis involves examining:

• physical characteristics,
• biochemical parameters,
• microscopic sediment,
• enzyme levels of the urine.

This type of test is one of the easiest to perform since most people can sample their pets’ urine easily. There’s a free catch method where you… catch “the sample” from under your dog when you know it’s time.

With cats, you may need to use special hydrophobic cat litter for urine collection. The downside of both of these methods is that it’s also quite easy to contaminate the sample and distort the test results.

Urinalysis can detect metabolic disorders such as diabetes by measuring glucose levels. It can identify liver problems through bilirubin levels and spot intravascular hemolysis by checking hemoglobin levels.

There are special urine analyzers for veterinary use. We recommend you make sure your vet clinic has access to them, otherwise the results of the tests may be skewed, yet again. Don’t hesitate to contact the Vet Express team if you’re uncertain – we’re here to assist you.

Hematology – Common And Specific Veterinary Tests

Hematology is a cornerstone test in veterinary medicine. It helps analyze a similar range of problems, such as anemia, inflammation, clotting disorders, and infectious diseases.

That’s why it’s so important to have the most frequent veterinary test performed at a specialized clinic. Find out if your clinic has an on-site veterinary lab. Another option is whether it has a partnership with such a lab.

CBC, BMP, CMP – what is that?

There are different kinds of blood tests, the most common one is a CBC – a complete blood count test. It provides insight into the red blood cell count and hemoglobin content, the white cell count (hello, inflammation), and so on. There is also a basic metabolic panel (BMP) that counts these compounds:

• calcium
• glucose
• sodium
• potassium
• bicarbonate
• chloride
• blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
• creatinine,

and a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), which counts additional compounds. In the end, it is your veterinarian who decides what kind of test your pet needs. Common conditions that are diagnosed with CBC are kidney disease, diabetes, electrolyte imbalances, and more. 

CMP may offer insights into an even wider array of health conditions, which are quite common in dogs. It can detect the destructive processes of hemolysis, liver disease (such as cirrhosis), hepatitis, signs of heart conditions, malnourishment, and so on.

If you ever had a printed list of CBC test results, you know there are a lot of numbers and abbreviations. They allow your veterinarian to see the specifics of an ongoing condition, if present, as well as the bigger picture. This way hematology results have a direct impact on treatment decisions for veterinary patients.

Cardiac biomarkers

Enzyme tests are another major one. Enzymes are proteins that assist your pet’s body in performing specific chemical processes, like digesting food and clotting blood. They’re actively used all over your body for numerous essential functions.

Remember when we mentioned the Comprehensive metabolic panel test that could hint at potential heart conditions? If you’re seeking a definitive answer about your pet’s heart health, you’ll want to opt for the BNP and NT-proBNP tests.

In short, there are special proteins known as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). These enzyme-targeting tests are common in human healthcare, as they’re integral to the general health system. Unfortunately, our dogs aren’t as lucky. Many countries around the globe lack the necessary blood tests for dogs in their veterinary laboratories.

The good news is that we’ve introduced the specialized proBNP test for dogs in Armenia to identify congestive heart failure in its early stages. It’s critical for ensuring your pet dog’s longevity – indeed, it could add years to their life.

(!) If you’re living in Armenia and suspect your dog might have heart-related health issues, don’t hesitate. Schedule an appointment as soon as you can.

Reliable Local Veterinary Laboratory (in Yerevan)

By assessing the levels of different blood cells, veterinarians can determine the appropriate treatment plan, such as prescribing medications or recommending further diagnostic tests. This is why hematology is the one testing you will see vets performing over and over again. Its range of applications is quite diverse. If your pet’s condition was a game (which it is not, but you get the idea), a blood sample and a blood chemistry analyzer would help your veterinarian “understand the rules” – and move forward.

But more than that, blood tests can help to monitor the condition of dogs and cats during treatment, before and after surgery, as well as provide information about the health of your pet during pregnancy, changes in diet, and especially if they have a chronic condition like kidney disease (quite popular in cats).

Not all blood tests are created equal, though. They may be slow, inaccurate, or in the worst-case scenario – misleading. They may also cause harm to a certain extent, for example, some clinics may use outdated equipment and collect an inadequate amount of blood. This could be damaging to anemic cats and cats with CRF.

Fortunately, in this day and age, you can choose your clinic. If you live in Armenia, your best bet would be to entrust your pet’s blood tests to Vet Express – a modern veterinary clinic and diagnostic laboratory that features the latest 5-diff analyzer that eliminates all the issues mentioned above. 

Histology

Veterinary histology is the study of the microscopic structure and function of animal tissues and organs. It is a branch of veterinary anatomy that helps veterinarians understand the normal and abnormal changes that occur in animal cells and tissues. 

Veterinary histology can help veterinarians diagnose various animal diseases by detecting the presence or absence of abnormal cells and tissues in the histological sections.

For example, veterinary histology can help identify inflammation, infection, cancer, degeneration, necrosis, fibrosis, and other pathological processes that affect animal tissues and organs.

Veterinary histology can also help veterinarians determine the cause, severity, prognosis, and treatment options for animal diseases. One of the most complete sources of information on veterinary histology is this book by Ryan Jennings and Christopher Premanandan.

For instance, it’s used to diagnose birth diseases such as ductal plate malformations in the liver, or inflammatory diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, glomerulonephritis, and hepatitis.

When working with a patient, a veterinarian can surmise the presence of cancer from many different symptoms and indicators.

Age, breed, abnormal blood test results, even specific things like difficulty breathing, diarrhea, hair loss and skin color abnormalities can hint at cancer.

The veterinarian may order an ultrasound or other scanning techniques to detect the presence of a tumor. However, only histopathology can confirm whether the mass is malignant.

Histopathology isn’t typically the initial diagnostic method due to its complexity, cost, and potential risks associated with biopsies.

However, a vet might suggest it for good cause, such as inconclusive test results, ineffective treatments, or a deteriorating pet condition. In such cases, histopathology could provide a logical next move in the diagnosis process, especially when previous interventions haven’t improved your pet’s condition.

Microbiology

Microbiology enables us to identify the specific pathogens infecting animals, thereby aiding in the creation of targeted treatment strategies.

Veterinary microbiologists focus on studying microbial diseases – bacterial, fungal, and viral – in domesticated vertebrate animals. These animals include livestock, pets, fur-bearing animals, game animals, poultry, and fish, which provide food, other valuable products, or companionship.

Besides monitoring, these microbiologists also deal with animal pathogens. They’re constantly developing new technologies and vaccines to treat animal diseases like bovine mastitis. However, identifying and distinguishing the Streptococcus associated with mastitis remains crucial.

What does it mean for our dog and cat companions? The short answer is vaccination and antibiotics. 

Vaccination is the most typical procedure any veterinarian does on a daily basis. Because every pup, kitten, adult, or senior dog and cat needs some sort of vaccination. The most common diseases that can kill or gravely injure your unvaccinated dog are:  

• Parvovirus
• Distemper
• Rabies
• Leptospirosis.

Parvovirus is a highly contagious viral illness that affects a dog’s gastrointestinal tract, leading to severe vomiting and diarrhea. Distemper is an extremely serious viral disease that affects a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems, often causing severe neurological damage. Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects the brain and spinal cord of all mammals, including dogs. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can affect a dog’s kidneys and liver.

We used words like “extremely”, “serious”, “fatal” for a reason.

These diseases are really dangerous, and every person who has worked with dogs a lot (for example, an employee of an animal shelter or, even more so, a veterinarian) knows that they are not to be trifled with.  

The main cause of street dog deaths is not lack of food, fighting, or cars. Most puppies don’t survive to adulthood because of these viruses (except rabies, but rabies is dangerous for a completely different reason). 

Watch this video about rabies and you’ll understand why refusing to vaccinate your dog against it is akin to playing Russian roulette. It’s just not clear why.

Hopefully, you see why animal vaccination plays a pivotal role in warding off diseases and maintaining your dog’s health. Regularly taking your dog to the vet for scheduled vaccinations can keep your dog safe from bad consequences, as well as prevent the disease from spreading (some of them may spread to humans).

The same goes for cats, but the list of viruses and corresponding vaccines is different.

You’ll often encounter another aspect of microbiology, which is determining the appropriate antibiotic to combat a specific infection. Microbiological tests identify the specific bacteria causing the infection. Once the bacteria have been identified, the vet can then choose the most effective antibiotic. This process is known as antibiotic susceptibility testing. 

It is important because bacteria tend to grow resistant to antibiotics. Give them a day or two on the wrong kind of treatment, or forget to administer the medicine at the right time – and the remaining bacteria just keep growing stronger. This is especially true in the case of Staphylococcus – it is extremely hard to beat. 

Serology

Serology involves examining blood serum and plasma in order to find the presence of specific antibodies in your pet’s blood. This measurement, known as a titer, provides a numerical value indicating the current level of immunity.

If you’ve ever legally traveled to another country with your pet, you’ve likely already encountered serology.

For instance, many countries require that your pet has a rabies vaccination, and for good reason. The border control officers are definitely going to check your pet’s rabies titer – the amount of antibodies – to make sure your pet’s immune to the disease.

As you can see, serology is closely linked to microbiology. By detecting antibodies in the serum, vets can determine if an animal has been previously exposed to a particular disease and develop appropriate treatment strategies. In practice, it means we can actually see the effects of vaccination on a particular dog – and even if it needs to be revaccinated. 

Studies have shown that dogs’ reactions to vaccines can vary, with breed playing a significant role. Some breeds may not react well to vaccines, but it’s hard to generalize. What we can do is use individual blood serum tests for antibodies to check for vaccine response.

Research indicates a potential link between a dog’s age and its immune response to rabies vaccines, suggesting a need for further exploration. Personalized vaccine schedules, informed by serology, could optimize the administration of necessary booster shots. To put it simply: you can know what a vaccine actually does to your pet, and make informed decisions.

Toxicology

Ever considered the array of toxins that can harm your pet? Lethal chocolate, dangerous grapes, and dreadful onions – you’ve probably heard about them at some point. The advice is simple: keep them away from your dog.

Yet, despite your diligence, your pet may consume something harmful during a walk. It could be as innocent as a leftover hotdog somebody dropped, or as deadly as rat poison. This is when the importance of veterinary toxicology comes in. 

Toxicologists work to identify the toxin, determine its source, and develop a treatment plan. A lot of poisons require specialized treatment, e.g. antifreeze poisoning and rat poison. Both rat poison and antifreeze are lethal, but you can combat rat poison with vitamin K injections. Conversely, you can fight antifreeze with intravenous fomepizole.

Sadly, toxicology is one field of veterinary practice where the outcome is very hard to control even for experienced vets. This is why the best advice we can give to unfortunate pet owners who had their companion poisoned is – to act quickly. Early detection and treatment are crucial to increase the chances of survival and recovery.

Early detection and treatment are critical to improve the chances of survival and recovery. 

In the case of rat poison, it is difficult to give an adequate estimate of the time you have available. Some types of poison act immediately, while some can build up over a period of time and show symptoms of poisoning suddenly. There are times when you only have an hour or two to react after symptoms appear. 

This is certainly a very short period of time. So it’s good practice to research two things beforehand: 

• What poisons are available to the public in your country? Probably antifreeze, but, for example, rat poison of different types is also freely available in Armenia. Find out what these types are and do an internet search for symptoms of poisoning. In addition to “rat poison,” a search for the word “brodifacoum” may help. 

• Find out if there is a 24-hour veterinary clinic or emergency veterinary service in your town. Once you know the address of a suitable clinic and phone number, call and see if they have the right products available to deal with frequent poisonings. For example, vitamin K – the shelf life of this vitamin is quite short, and clinics often prefer not to store it on site, but rather buy in the right quantities on an ad hoc basis.

Conclusion

We’ve learned how veterinary medicine uses different advances in science to diagnose your pet’s condition. As you can see, there is no one-size-fits-all type of testing that will answer all of your questions.

The methodologies complement each other to create a clear and concise picture of the disease. With it, the veterinarian can better apply their knowledge and experience to prescribe the right treatment and defeat the disease.

We wish you avoid having to deal with all these tests in practice (except for annual check-ups – regular check-ups are still a must!). If you do have to put your knowledge into practice, we also wish you determination, courage and the choice of a good veterinary clinic.

And good health!

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