One of the most anxiety-inducing experiences for pet owners is having to take their furry friend in for surgery. Whether it's a routine procedure or something more serious, no one wants to see their pet go through anything uncomfortable, and it's normal to feel a bit nervous when sending your four-legged best friend into surgery. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help make the experience as smooth as possible—both for your pet and for yourself.

Dogs and cats can get diabetes just like humans. The most common type of diabetes in dogs and cats is diabetes mellitus, which is similar to Type II diabetes in humans. Although diabetes can happen to any pet, overweight and obese cats and dogs are most at risk along with certain dog breeds.
 

When a dog is taken to their veterinarian because they’re not feeling well or acting out of character, the first course of action is a physical examination and lab work. Tests can include blood work, urinalysis, fecal test, or skin sample depending on what your veterinarian suspects is wrong from the physical exam. While no dog owner wants to subject their pet to any discomfort, lab tests can provide critical information that will help identify the issue and provide a course of action.

Blood tests are an easy, safe, and relatively inexpensive way to peer inside your pets and find potential health problems. Analysis of the numbers and structure of blood cells is important in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease and infection. These tests can help us identify a problem before clinical signs or symptoms appear. But what exactly are we looking for when we do a blood draw on dogs and cats?