Laboratory Services

Laboratory Services at White Oak Animal Hospital

At White Oak Animal Hospital, we are committed to providing accurate and timely diagnostic testing to ensure the best possible care for your pets. Our state-of-the-art laboratory services allow us to diagnose and treat conditions quickly, often providing same-day results.

In-House Laboratory Services

Our in-house laboratory allows us to perform various tests with rapid turnaround times, ensuring we can diagnose and treat illnesses efficiently.

In-house services include:

• Basic Blood Panels: Evaluating organ function, blood cell counts, and overall health.
• Hematocrits: Measuring red blood cell levels to detect anemia and hydration status.
• Heartworm Testing: Detecting heartworm infections early for timely intervention.
• Basic Urinalysis: Assessing kidney function, urinary tract infections, and metabolic conditions.
• Ear Swab and Cytology: Diagnosing ear infections by identifying bacteria, yeast, or mites.
• Intestinal Parasite Exams: Detecting and diagnosing internal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and giardia.

Outside Laboratory Services

We partner with Idexx Laboratories, a leading veterinary diagnostic company, for specialized testing to provide advanced diagnostics beyond our in-house capabilities.

About Idexx Laboratories

Idexx Laboratories is renowned for its cutting-edge veterinary diagnostic services, offering a wide range of tests that help detect and monitor various health conditions in pets. By partnering with Idexx, we can provide access to:

• Comprehensive Blood Work: Advanced panels that assess organ function, endocrine disorders, and metabolic diseases.
• Pathology Services: Detailed histopathology and cytology evaluations to diagnose cancers, infections, and other conditions.
• Specialized Endocrine Testing: Assessments for hormonal disorders such as thyroid and adrenal diseases.
• Infectious Disease Screening: Detection of tick-borne illnesses, FeLV/FIV, and other infectious diseases.

Idexx’s advanced diagnostic solutions ensure that we can provide precise and timely results for complex cases, allowing us to tailor treatment plans for your pet’s needs.

Specialty Laboratory Services

We offer specialty laboratory services for more complex cases, partnering with industry-leading institutions to provide your pet with the most accurate and beneficial diagnostics.

• Titer Testing: We partner with Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for titer testing, which measures your pet’s immunity levels to determine whether booster vaccinations are necessary. Titer testing benefits pets with a history of vaccine sensitivities or those following individualized vaccination protocols. By assessing existing immunity, we can help minimize unnecessary vaccinations while ensuring your pet remains protected against disease.

• Urolith Analysis: If your pet is experiencing urinary stones, we utilize Minnesota Urolith Center for detailed stone composition analysis. Understanding the type of stone allows us to determine its cause and recommend appropriate dietary changes, medications, or other treatments to prevent recurrence. This service is essential for managing urinary health and ensuring long-term wellness.

• Allergy Testing: Pets suffering from chronic itching, recurrent ear infections, or digestive disturbances may benefit from allergy testing. We use Heska allergy testing, which identifies environmental and food allergens that may trigger your pet’s symptoms. By pinpointing specific allergens, we can create a tailored treatment plan to improve your pet’s comfort and quality of life, including dietary modifications, immunotherapy, or environmental adjustments.

At White Oak Animal Hospital, we take pride in offering comprehensive diagnostic services to ensure your pets’ health and well-being. If you have any questions about our laboratory services or need to schedule an appointment, please contact us today!

People Also Ask:

What types of tests can be done in-house at White Oak Animal Hospital?

At White Oak Animal Hospital, we offer a variety of in-house diagnostic tests that provide quick and accurate results, often on the same day. Our in-house laboratory services include basic blood panels to assess overall health and organ function, hematocrit tests to check for anemia and hydration levels, and heartworm testing for early detection. We also perform basic urinalysis to evaluate kidney function and urinary tract health, ear swabs and cytology exams to diagnose infections, and intestinal parasite exams to detect worms and other parasites. By conducting these tests in-house, we can quickly diagnose health concerns and begin treatment immediately, ensuring your pet receives prompt and effective care.

What is the difference between in-house testing and outside laboratory services?

While in-house testing allows us to diagnose and treat common conditions quickly, some cases require more advanced diagnostics beyond our on-site capabilities. We partner with Idexx Laboratories, Kansas State University, Minnesota Urolith Center, and Heska Allergy Testing for specialized testing. These partnerships allow us to provide comprehensive blood work, specialized endocrine, and infectious disease screenings, titer testing to evaluate vaccine immunity, urolith analysis to identify bladder stones, and allergy testing to determine food and environmental sensitivities. Outside laboratory testing ensures we can offer the highest diagnostic accuracy for more complex cases, giving us the information needed to create the best possible treatment plan for your pet.

What is titer testing, and why is it important?

Titer testing measures antibodies in your pet’s blood to determine their immunity to specific diseases, such as distemper and parvovirus. We send our titer tests to Kansas State University, a trusted facility known for its accuracy in veterinary immunology. This test is beneficial for determining whether your pet still has immunity from previous vaccinations, which can help prevent unnecessary booster shots—significant for pets with vaccine sensitivities. It is also valuable for assessing immunity in pets with unknown vaccination histories, such as rescues or senior pets. By performing titer testing, we can create a personalized vaccination plan to protect your pet while avoiding over-vaccination.

How can urolith (bladder or kidney stone) analysis help my pet?

If your pet has been diagnosed with urinary stones, identifying their composition is crucial in determining the best course of treatment and prevention. We send bladder stones to the Minnesota Urolith Center for detailed analysis. This testing helps us identify the type of stone—such as calcium oxalate, struvite, or urate—and understand its underlying cause, whether it be diet, infection, genetics, or other factors. Knowing the specific stone type allows us to develop a customized treatment plan, which may include dietary changes, medications, or other preventative measures to reduce the risk of recurrence. By accurately diagnosing and managing urinary stones, we can help maintain your pet’s urinary health and prevent future complications.

How does Heska allergy testing help pets with chronic itching or digestive issues?

Chronic itching, ear infections, skin irritation, and digestive problems can all be signs of allergies in pets. We use Heska Allergy Testing to identify the specific environmental and food allergens that may be triggering your pet’s symptoms. This test allows us to create a targeted treatment plan based on your pet’s unique sensitivities. Depending on the results, we may recommend dietary changes to eliminate food allergens, immunotherapy to desensitize your pet to environmental allergens, or modifications to their home environment to minimize exposure to irritants. By pinpointing the cause of allergic reactions, Heska allergy testing helps improve your pet’s comfort and quality of life, providing long-term relief from frustrating and uncomfortable symptoms.