Pet Owners & Breeders

Pathology testing for pet owners and breeders

Pathology Testing for Pet Owners and Breeders

 

This area contains general information specifically for owners of animals. For detailed information regarding pathology testing for your animal, please refer to your veterinarian.  If you require assistance identifying a suitable veterinarian please feel free to contact us on 1300 307 190 or email us at vets@gribbles.com.au.

 

Why is pathology important for your pet?

Pathological testing helps your vet make accurate decisions about the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting your pet. This helps keep animals healthier for longer and avoid unnecessary delays in accessing the best possible treatment for their condition. It also helps you find out how their treatment is working and it avoids your pet from suffering unnecessary side-effects from inappropriate treatments.

Veterinary pathology also plays an essential part in screening and disease prevention programs which promote the overall health and well-being of our community.

By reducing the impact of preventable and treatable diseases in our pets, the pathology sector is helping to create a healthier future for all animals.

 

What is Pathology?

Often a physical examination can only provide part of the picture of an illness. To gain a complete picture, the veterinarian needs accurate, expert, specialist information about what is occurring in the blood and body cells.

 A veterinary pathology laboratory has many specialized departments, each with a highly trained team of professional pathologists, laboratory scientists, technicians and computer experts supported by couriers and specimen reception staff, who are all dedicated to providing fast, accurate and reliable results.

 

What happens in the Laboratory?

Once specimens are collected from patients, testing and patient details are entered into the computer and the samples are sent to the laboratory for processing. Often the same specimen, whether it is a sample of blood, urine, faeces, or a piece of tissue such as skin, may have several different tests performed on it by one or more departments. Different tests may require varying lengths of time to be completed because some involve very complex procedures. When all of the results are available, the pathologists and scientists are able to interpret them and then assist your veterinarian to obtain an accurate diagnosis of your pet’s disease.

 

Different types of pathology

  • Chemical Pathology is the use of chemical analysis to test tissue, blood and body fluid samples.
  • Haematology is the testing of blood, blood cells and blood products.
  • Cytopathology involves the evaluation of cells under microscope magnification. Veterinary pathologists examine cells obtained from body fluids or solid tissues (including skin lumps) aspirated through needles. 
  • Histopathology is the preparation of samples of body tissue for tests to diagnose and detect disease.
  • Genetics is the diagnosis of genetic conditions from tissue, blood and body fluid samples.
  • Immunopathology is the examination of tissue, blood and body fluid samples for immune responses associated with the disease. 
  • Microbiology is the study of microscopic organisms in tissue, blood and body fluids.

 

Why should you test your pet?

  • To give you the peace of mind you deserve.
  • To ensure your pet gets the best treatment it deserves.
  • Giving you the understating of your pet's illness.
  • Saving you time and money – incorrect treatment can prolong recovery and increase your veterinary bills.
  • Preventing future health problems to your pet.