Westlake Village Animal Hospital recommends a heartworm test as well as comprehensive blood work, urine and fecal tests annually.

The urinalysis is important to garner medical information about the kidneys and bladder, including the liver, pancreas, and other organs. Our vets can make a diagnosis, but additionally, a urinalysis can determine a prognosis and best treatment. Early detection of bladder infections, kidney disease, and liver disease will help a pet live a longer and a better quality of life.

A fecal examination is an evaluation of feces to determine the cause of a pet who is vomiting, has serious diarrhea, straining, or has a lack of appetite. Annual fecal examinations are recommended as part of a yearly health exam, especially for puppies and kittens. Fecal examinations detect parasites, such as whipworms, Giardia, coccidia roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.

Early detection by having a fecal exam can increase the chance of success and can reduce the cost of overall treatment. Our in-house laboratory equipment allows us to run comprehensive blood panels within 30 minutes. Many other specific tests may be run on-premises as indicated for each patient. An outside laboratory is used for diagnostic testing outside the scope of our in-house laboratory. Most of these results are still available within 12-24 hours.