FAQs About Diagnostics at Animal Hospital of Lake Villa
Changes in your pet’s bathroom habits, appetite, energy level, or digestion can sometimes point to an underlying health concern. Explore these FAQs to learn about signs of kidney failure in dogs, symptoms of urinary tract infections in cats, and common reasons dogs vomit.
Signs of kidney failure in dogs include increased thirst and urination, decreased appetite, weight loss, vomiting, bad breath, lethargy, and dehydration. If your dog is showing these symptoms, prompt diagnostic testing with the Animal Hospital of Lake Villa in-house laboratory can quickly evaluate kidney function and help begin treatment as soon as possible. Early diagnosis gives your dog the best chance for effective management and improved quality of life.
Signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI) in cats include frequent urination, straining to urinate, urinating outside the litter box, blood in the urine, crying while urinating, excessive licking of the genital area, and passing only small amounts of urine. Because these symptoms can also indicate a urinary blockage or other urinary tract conditions, prompt testing is important. The Animal Hospital of Lake Villa in-house laboratory can quickly evaluate your cat's urine to help diagnose the cause and begin the appropriate treatment as soon as possible. Early diagnosis is especially important, as urinary blockages can become life-threatening.
Common reasons your dog may be vomiting include eating too quickly, dietary changes, eating something they should not have, food allergies, infections, parasites, or underlying health conditions. Occasional vomiting may not be serious, but frequent vomiting, blood in vomit, lethargy, loss of appetite, or signs of dehydration should be evaluated by a veterinarian. Diagnostic testing at the Animal Hospital of Lake Villa can help identify the cause and determine the appropriate treatment for your dog.
Laboratory Services We Offer
While we collaborate with several reference laboratories for advanced testing, we’re able to perform a variety of diagnostic tests on-site—no shipping samples out, no waiting days for results. Just clear answers, often within the same visit. If your pet needs lab tests, we may conduct:
Bloodwork
Blood testing is one of the most valuable tools in veterinary medicine. It helps us assess your pet’s organ function, detect infections or chronic diseases, and monitor conditions like diabetes, liver disease, and more. Blood tests we can run include:
- CBC (Complete Blood Count)
- Blood Chemistry Panel
- Thyroid Levels
- Pre-Anesthetic Panels
Fecal Exams
No one loves talking about poop—but fecal testing is essential for your pet’s health. Many intestinal parasites don’t cause symptoms right away, but they can make your pet sick (and are sometimes transmissible to people). Regular fecal tests help us catch:
- Roundworms
- Hookworms
- Whipworms
- Coccidia
Urinalysis
When pets start peeing more, having accidents, or emptying the water bowl, a urinalysis can reveal the cause. It helps us diagnose:
- Urinary tract infections
- Bladder crystals or stones
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
Cytology
Does your pet have a new lump or a stubborn ear infection? Cytology involves taking a tiny sample and examining it under the microscope to check for infection, inflammation, parasites, or abnormal cells. This helps us determine whether something is benign or if further action is needed. We can perform cytology on:
- Ear debris
- Skin or mass cells
- Hair samples
- Fluid (urine, blood, abscess, etc.)