How does my veterinarian decide which lab tests to order for my cat?

The pet’s age would determine that, along with the results of other tests that you do that might spur you on a different test. We usually do what's most common. We're looking for what's most common, but not all cats read the books, so sometimes we have to dig a little deeper to find an answer to these problems. We usually take it step by step. Owners appreciate it when we're not just running five tests at one time.

It depends on the cat's clinical picture. Depending on the cat's condition, we might prioritize certain lab tests or add additional ones. For instance, if we suspect hyperthyroidism, we'll add a test to check the cat's thyroid levels.

That's going to depend on what we're testing for. So if it's presurgical and an apparently healthy cat, we're going to do a chemistry, CBC, and a urinalysis. If we have a sick cat, the tests are going to be tailored based on what symptoms the cat is showing. If we have a new kitty, we're going to test for leukemia, AIDS, and a stool sample because we want to know if there are parasites or viral diseases that we can unmask.