How is blood drawn from cats?
In general, when we draw blood from cats, we tend to draw from their jugular vein. It's the largest vein and the easiest to get the amount of blood that is required in potentially one event. If a cat is not amenable to drawing from their jugular vein, we will look for alternative locations. Often, the inside of the back leg is an easy vein, and cats are okay with that. Sometimes, we'll look at drawing from a front leg as well.
What if a cat really doesn't like the process of getting lab work done?
If we have a cat who really doesn't like the process, we can look at doing sedation, various anti-anxiety medications, and things to make this process easier for your cat and for the staff that are involved in the process.
Is the process of drawing blood painful for cats?
This is not a really painful process. It's a small needle, and they do feel a little pinch with it. Most cats don't like the restraint more than they don't like the needle poke.
How quickly can we expect to get lab results for my cat's bloodwork?
Usually, with most lab work, we can get results back right away. Within 10 to 15 minutes, we can get answers on most of the tests that we tend to run.
Is follow-up lab work ever required?
Follow-up lab work is sometimes required if your pet is on long-term medications, is hyperthyroid, or if we're monitoring a disease such as early renal disease. We want to know how that's progressing so we can intervene to change medications or diet earlier rather than later to give them the longest, healthiest life possible.
If you have any questions about cat lab work or the process that your cat goes through when we request drawing blood from them, please give us a call. Let us know. We're always here to answer your questions. Please give us a call at the office at (319) 220-5926, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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