How blood testing works

Have you ever wondered what happens when we take blood from your pet?

Most blood samples are taken from the jugular vein in the neck. This vein is large enough to provide a good sample and allows us to collect the blood as quickly as possible. This is important as blood will start to clot if it is not collected quickly enough and this can affect the results.

Most pets are also more relaxed when blood is taken from their jugular however, if necessary, a smaller sample can be taken from a vein in the leg.

Once the blood has been collected we place pressure over the vein for a minute or so to prevent any bruising. This can sometimes be hard in wriggly patients!

The blood is placed into tubes appropriate for required tests. Some tests can be run on machines we have in house but there are certain tests that require more extensive machinery and so the blood sample is sent to an external laboratory.

Blood tests can give us a wealth of information about your pet’s health. For example, we can work out if your pet is dehydrated, has underlying kidney disease or liver changes and we can get lots of information about your pet’s red and white blood cells. All of this helps diagnose any underlying health problems and will improve the level of care we can provide to your pet.

If you have any questions about your pet’s blood tests we are always happy to help.