How do vets diagnose disease? Diagnosis is one of the most important aspects of veterinary care. Until we know what we’re dealing with, we cannot make or execute a successful treatment plan for your pet. Your veterinary team will use a combination of a physical examination, a detailed medical history, and diagnostic tools to figure out what’s going on beneath the surface. Bloodwork, imaging, and other diagnostic tools help us give your pets the care they need.
The Role of the Physical Exam
A physical exam is incredibly important when it comes to pet health. The veterinarian can look for any signs of illness that might be present on the pet’s body. During a physical exam, the veterinarian and vet techs will examine:
- The pet’s temperature. Even a slight fever can show signs of an underlying health issue.
- The heart rate and respiration levels.
- The ears, eyes, teeth, gums, and skin.
Discussing the animal’s medical history, diet, and daily behavior can provide valuable insight into its health.
What Bloodwork Shows
In the veterinary field, bloodwork is a vital tool at every stage of health. Drawing an animal’s blood allows the veterinary team to:
- Spot any signs of illness early
- Monitor known illnesses to see how they progress
- Determine the health and vitality of the vital organs
- Determine blood cell counts
- Detail biochemical markers within the blood
- Assure that a pet is healthy enough for surgery
- Alert to the presence of certain conditions like diabetes, anemia, thyroid issues, kidney disease, liver disease, and even cancer
Bloodwork is the cornerstone of internal medicine, and it can alert us to an issue even when an animal is showing no outward signs of illness. We regularly do blood work, even when your pet is healthy, to create a clear baseline of its health.
How Veterinary Diagnostics Helps Pets
Veterinary diagnostics give medical professionals another way to spot and treat any potential health issues quickly. Diagnostic imaging can show evidence of illness before other symptoms develop. It can also help us monitor disease progression. Veterinary diagnostic equipment may include the tests below, but some may require an emergency/specialty hospital:
- X-rays
- Ultrasound
- Electrocardiograms
- Doppler Blood pressure
Depending on your pet’s health history and symptoms, a veterinary team may use one or more diagnostic tools to get the most precise picture of his or her health.
The Addition of Urinalysis and Fecal Examinations
Urinalysis and fecal examinations are helpful when diagnosing pets. Urinalysis specifically examines kidney function and the overall health of the urinary tract. Specific chemical properties in the urine can clue a veterinary team into any issues. Fecal exams can give information about outside factors that might be affecting a pet. If parasites are present in the body, there will be signs in the stool. Fecal exams can also show the presence of bacteria that could be causing problems.
How do vets diagnose disease? The veterinary team at Westarbor Animal Hospital uses all of the tools above combined with our knowledge of your pet to quickly and efficiently diagnose them. Our top-tier veterinary services are here to keep your pet in optimal health throughout every stage of life. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please call (734) 769-5391.
