Clinical Pathology

Our veterinarians have access to extensive laboratory services which help them determine the cause of a pet’s illness. Common laboratory services and tests include blood chemistries, complete blood counts, blood clotting times, urinalysis, fecal examination, and infectious disease testing. Our animal hospital is equipped with an In-House Laboratory that allows our veterinarians to quickly perform many diagnostic tests to achieve an accurate and rapid diagnosis. This is especially important in very ill animals and those requiring immediate or emergency treatment. While not all samples can be analyzed in-house; when this capability is combined with our outside laboratory services, a full comprehensive laboratory evaluation is obtained. Depending on the nature of the test being performed, most results will be available to our veterinary pathology specialists either immediately or within 24 to 72 hours. Some specialized testing may require 1 to 2 weeks to be complete. Ask your veterinarian when to call for your laboratory results.

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Our veterinary pathology specialists have access to blood chemistry and urine analyzers which perform evaluation of major organ functions. These tests allow rapid diagnosis of conditions affecting the liver and kidneys and can make an expedient diagnosis of conditions such as diabetes. These tests are indicated in any ill animal and are also performed prior to anesthesia or surgery to evaluate general health.

Coagulation (blood clotting) tests are necessary in pets that are suspected of having bleeding disorders. Bleeding disorders are diseases in which the blood does not clot normally, causing a tendency to bleed abnormally or excessively after minor bumps or cuts. The most common causes of bleeding disorders include low numbers of platelets or blood clotting factors. Our hospital’s veterinarians have access to in-house laboratory tests that measure platelets and clotting factors to help them achieve a rapid diagnosis and institute an appropriate treatment plan in the event of a bleeding emergency. Our veterinarians can also send coagulation samples to an outside laboratory for the identification of inherited bleeding disorders such as hemophilia.

Veterinary Referral Associates is equipped with an In-House Stat Laboratory that allows our veterinarians to quickly perform most diagnostic tests to achieve an accurate and rapid diagnosis. This is especially important in very ill animals and those requiring immediate or emergency treatment.

Recent innovations in veterinary and minimally invasive surgical technology are changing the face of veterinary soft tissue surgery. New minimally invasive surgical approaches have been developed to compliment or replace traditional techniques. In many cases, quicker recovery time and superior visualization have also been demonstrated with minimally invasive techniques. Most minimally invasive procedures require 2 small incisions, but more advanced procedures can require 4-6 small ports for instrumentation. Some of the minimally invasive soft tissue procedures offered are listed below:
Urogenital

  • Laparoscopic kidney biopsy
  • Laparoscopic assisted ovariohysterectomy (spay)
  • Laparoscopic ovariectomy
  • Laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy
  • Laparoscopic assisted cystoscopy (bladder stone removal)
  • Laparoscopic assisted cystopexy
  • Laparoscopic assisted cystostomy tube placement

Gastrointestinal/Abdominal

  • Exploratory laparoscopy with multiple biopsies
  • Laparoscopic assisted gastropexy
  • Laparoscopic assisted foreign body removal (intestinal)
  • Laparoscopic liver biopsy
  • Laparoscopic pancreatic biopsy
  • Laparoscopic abdominal mass explore and biopsy
  • Laparoscopic assisted colopexy
  • Laparoscopic adrenalectomy
  • Laparoscopic assisted feeding tube placement (low-profile gastrostomy, gastrostomy, jejunostomy)
  • Laparoscopic assisted cholecystectomy


Veterinary Referral Associates’ veterinarians have access to common viral screening tests, such as FeLV and FIV for cats and parvovirus testing for dogs. This is especially important in very ill animals and those requiring immediate or emergency treatment. Results from these tests help our veterinarians make educated decisions on your animal’s treatment and allow proper prognosis for pet owners.