Your pet’s health isn’t always visible on the surface. Beneath a shiny coat and bright eyes, changes in organ function, blood cell counts, or metabolic balance can develop silently for months. By the time a dog or cat shows obvious signs of illness, the condition may be harder and more expensive to treat.
Fish Creek Animal Hospital provides pet blood work and routine blood panels in Montgomery, TX, as part of comprehensive wellness and diagnostic care. Our veterinarians personally review every lab result and call you to discuss the findings, so you always understand your pet’s health and next steps. We provide blood work for dogs and cats from Montgomery, New Caney, and Spring.
What a Pet Blood Panel Includes
Routine blood panels typically combine two tests that work together to give a complete picture of your pet’s internal health.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
The CBC measures the cells circulating in your pet’s bloodstream:
- Red blood cells carry oxygen. Abnormal counts may indicate anemia, dehydration, or blood loss.
- White blood cells fight infection and respond to inflammation. High counts can suggest infection or stress, while low counts can point to immune system problems. Different types respond to bacteria, viruses, allergies, or parasites.
- Platelets help blood clot. Low counts can signal immune disorders or clotting problems that need prompt attention.
Blood Chemistry Panel
The chemistry panel evaluates organ function and metabolic health from the same blood sample:
- Kidney values such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine show how well the kidneys filter waste.
- Liver enzymes such as ALT and alkaline phosphatase screen for liver cell damage or obstructed bile flow.
- Glucose screens for diabetes.
- Protein and albumin reflect nutritional status and liver function.
- Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride support hydration, nerve function, and muscle contraction.
- Calcium and phosphorus relate to bone health, kidney function, and parathyroid activity.
When Your Dog or Cat Needs Blood Work
We recommend blood work at several key points in your pet’s life.
Annual Wellness Screening
Healthy adult pets benefit from blood work once a year as part of their wellness examination. Even pets who seem completely healthy can have early organ changes that only lab testing detects. Catching problems at this stage allows treatment before symptoms develop.
Senior Pet Blood Work
Pets seven years and older are more prone to kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, and thyroid disorders, which often progress silently. Senior pets benefit from blood work every six to twelve months. Our senior pet health assessments pair this testing with a full exam to catch age-related changes early.
Pre-Anesthetic Blood Work
Anesthetic drugs are processed by the liver and kidneys, so we confirm these organs are working well before any procedure. Blood work also identifies anemia or clotting disorders that could increase surgical risk. We require pre-anesthetic testing before dental cleanings and surgical procedures, including spays, neuters, and mass removals.
Before anesthesia, we also perform electrocardiograms (EKGs) that are read by board-certified cardiologists to check for heart rhythm problems.
Medication Monitoring and New Symptoms
Pets on long-term medications for conditions like arthritis, allergies, or heart disease need periodic blood work to make sure those medications aren’t affecting the liver or kidneys. Pets managing kidney disease, diabetes, thyroid disorders, or liver problems typically need blood work every three to six months, depending on severity and stability.
Blood work also helps us find the cause of new symptoms quickly. Call us if your pet shows:
- Increased thirst or urination
- Unexplained weight loss or gain
- Decreased appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Lethargy or difficulty breathing
The Value of Baseline Blood Work
Every pet has individual normal ranges that can differ slightly from published reference values. Blood work done while your pet is young and healthy gives us a personal baseline to compare against later.
That baseline becomes especially valuable as pets age. If a senior pet shows elevated kidney values, comparing them to results from years earlier helps us tell normal aging apart from progressive disease. Without baseline data, we can only compare your pet to population averages.
What to Expect During Your Pet’s Blood Draw
The process is quick and minimally invasive. Our team draws a small sample from a vein in your pet’s leg or neck using sterile technique, sometimes clipping a small patch of fur to see the vein clearly. Most pets tolerate it well with gentle handling and return to normal activity right away.
Fasting Before Blood Work
Some tests, particularly glucose and certain pancreatic tests, require fasting for accurate results. When fasting is needed, we typically ask you to withhold food for 8 to 12 hours before the appointment. Water should remain available unless we tell you otherwise. Non-fasting tests can be run at any regular appointment.
In-House Lab Processing
Our in-house laboratory processes most blood work on-site. For urgent cases and pre-surgical screenings, we can often provide same-day results so treatment or procedures can move forward without delay.
Understanding Your Pet’s Results
Results include reference ranges for each value. Not every abnormal number means something serious, since stress, a recent meal, or individual differences can shift results. Our veterinarians interpret results alongside your pet’s exam findings, medical history, and symptoms.
Mild changes in an otherwise healthy pet may call for a recheck in a few weeks rather than immediate treatment, since trends over time tell us more than a single test. Significant or multiple abnormalities may lead to further testing, such as:
- Urinalysis for more information on kidney function, urinary tract infections, or diabetes
- Thyroid testing, which is especially important in senior cats
- Ultrasound performed by a board-certified radiologist who comes to our clinic, for a detailed look at the organs
Why Choose Fish Creek Animal Hospital for Pet Blood Work?
Founded by Dr. Kevin Wheeler in 2021, Fish Creek Animal Hospital is a privately owned practice that combines modern in-house diagnostics with the personal attention of a neighborhood clinic. Two of our three veterinarians are Texas A&M graduates, and our doctors personally follow up on every lab result.
We serve dogs and cats from Montgomery, Woodforest, Conroe, Magnolia, and surrounding communities, with weekday appointments and select Saturday hours. As an independent practice, we present a range of options and make decisions with you, not for you.
Schedule Blood Work for Your Dog or Cat
Regular blood work gives your pet the best chance at a long, healthy life. Whether your pet needs a wellness screening, pre-surgical testing, or answers about a new symptom, request an appointment with our Montgomery team today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a pet blood panel check?
A routine blood panel usually includes a complete blood count (CBC), which checks red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, and a chemistry panel, which evaluates kidney and liver values, glucose, proteins, and electrolytes.
How often does my dog or cat need blood work?
Healthy adult pets benefit from blood work once a year as part of their wellness exam. Senior pets seven years and older benefit from more frequent testing, and pets with chronic conditions or on long-term medications may need blood work every three to six months.
Does my pet need to fast before blood work?
Some tests, such as glucose and certain pancreatic tests, require fasting. When fasting is needed, we typically ask you to withhold food for 8 to 12 hours before the appointment. Water should remain available unless we tell you otherwise.
Is blood work required before surgery?
Yes. We require pre-anesthetic blood work before dental cleanings and surgical procedures to confirm the liver and kidneys can safely process anesthetic drugs and to check for anemia or clotting problems.