All Creatures Great & Small Veterinary Hospital

Diagnostics & Lab Work

Diagnostics & Laboratory

Diagnostics & Lab Work

Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment. Our in-house diagnostic capabilities allow Dr. Davis to get answers quickly — often the same day — so your pet's care isn't delayed.

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In-House Diagnostic Services

  • Complete blood count (CBC) — evaluates red cells, white cells, and platelets
  • Comprehensive chemistry panel — assesses organ function (liver, kidneys, pancreas)
  • Thyroid testing (T4) — screens for hypo- and hyperthyroidism
  • Urinalysis — evaluates kidney function, bladder health, and metabolic status
  • Fecal parasite testing — detects intestinal worms and protozoa
  • Heartworm antigen testing
  • Feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) testing
  • Cytology — microscopic evaluation of cells from masses, skin lesions, or fluid
  • Ear cytology for infection diagnosis
  • Skin scrapes for mite and fungal detection
  • Glucose monitoring for diabetic patients

Reference Laboratory Services

For specialized or complex testing, we partner with accredited veterinary reference laboratories. These include advanced endocrine panels, culture and sensitivity testing, histopathology (biopsy analysis), toxicology screens, and genetic testing. Reference lab results are typically available within 24–72 hours.

Diagnostics for Exotic Pets

Exotic species require species-specific reference ranges and diagnostic interpretation. Dr. Davis has experience running and interpreting bloodwork, fecal testing, and cytology for rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, rats, reptiles, and birds. Accurate diagnosis in exotics requires a veterinarian who understands the unique physiology of each species.

When Should My Pet Have Lab Work?

  • Annual wellness screening for adult pets
  • Semi-annual screening for senior pets (7+ years)
  • Before any anesthetic procedure
  • When your pet is showing signs of illness
  • Monitoring of chronic conditions (diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disease)
  • Baseline testing for newly adopted pets
  • Pre-travel health certificates

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly will I get my pet's lab results?
In-house tests are typically completed within 30–60 minutes during your visit. Reference laboratory results are usually available within 24–72 hours. Dr. Davis will contact you as soon as results are available and discuss what they mean for your pet's care.
Does my pet need to fast before bloodwork?
For most chemistry panels, fasting for 8–12 hours improves accuracy by eliminating the effect of a recent meal on lipid and glucose levels. We will provide specific fasting instructions when you schedule. Note: rabbits and guinea pigs should NOT be fasted.
What does a CBC tell you about my pet?
A complete blood count evaluates the three main cell types in blood: red blood cells (which carry oxygen), white blood cells (which fight infection and inflammation), and platelets (which help blood clot). Abnormalities can indicate anemia, infection, inflammation, immune disorders, or bone marrow problems.
Can bloodwork detect cancer in pets?
Bloodwork can detect some signs associated with cancer — such as anemia, abnormal white cell counts, elevated calcium, or organ dysfunction — but it cannot definitively diagnose most cancers. Cytology, biopsy, and imaging are often needed for a definitive cancer diagnosis.
Do you run bloodwork for exotic pets like rabbits and ferrets?
Yes. We run species-appropriate bloodwork for exotic pets and interpret results using species-specific reference ranges. This is an important distinction — rabbit or ferret values that look abnormal on a dog/cat reference range may be perfectly normal for that species.

Ready to book an appointment?

Our team at All Creatures Great & Small Veterinary Hospital in San Antonio is here to help. Call or text us today.

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