Pet Laboratory Testingin Hilliard, OH
When your pet isn’t feeling their best—or when a routine wellness visit calls for a closer look—our in-house diagnostic capabilities at Hilliard Veterinary Hospital help us find answers quickly to provide targeted, well-informed care for dogs and cats in Hilliard, Ohio, and the greater Columbus metro area.
Fast Answers When Your Pet Needs Them Most
One of the most important advantages of our full-service facility is our complete on-site laboratory. Rather than sending samples to an outside lab and waiting days for results, our team can run many diagnostics right here in our hospital—giving us the information we need to make timely, accurate decisions about your pet’s care.
Whether we’re screening a healthy adult pet during an annual exam, evaluating a puppy before their first vaccines, or investigating a sudden change in your pet’s health, our diagnostic capabilities allow us to move quickly and make informed decisions about your pet’s care.
Our Veterinary Diagnostic Services
Pet Blood Testing
Blood work is one of the most informative tools in veterinary medicine. A comprehensive blood panel gives our veterinarians a detailed picture of how your pet’s internal organs and systems are functioning—often revealing concerns that aren’t visible during a physical exam alone.
Our pet blood testing can assess:
- Kidney function — Detecting early signs of kidney disease before symptoms develop.
- Liver function — Identifying inflammation, infection, or disease affecting liver health.
- Pancreatic function — Screening for conditions such as pancreatitis or diabetes.
- Endocrine health — Evaluating the thyroid gland and adrenal glands for hormonal imbalances that can significantly impact your pet’s quality of life.
Blood testing is recommended as part of routine wellness care for adult and senior pets, prior to surgical procedures requiring anesthesia, and whenever a pet is showing signs of illness or unexplained changes in behavior, weight, or appetite.
Urinalysis
Advanced Diagnostics
When blood and urine testing point toward a concern that requires further investigation, we have additional diagnostic tools available to guide next steps. Depending on your pet’s condition, our team may recommend imaging tools such as digital X-rays to evaluate internal structures like bones, joints, and teeth as part of our pet dentistry services.
Our team will always explain what we’re looking for, why we’re recommending a specific test, and what the results mean for your pet’s care—in plain language, without the jargon.
Why Veterinary Diagnostics Matter
Many of the most common and serious conditions affecting dogs and cats—including kidney disease, thyroid disorders, diabetes, and liver disease—develop gradually and may show few outward symptoms in their early stages. Routine diagnostic testing gives our team the opportunity to identify these conditions while they’re still manageable, often before your pet shows any obvious signs of illness.
Early detection through pet blood testing and other diagnostics can:
- Enable earlier, more effective treatment
- Slow the progression of chronic conditions
- Reduce the risk of complications from undetected illness
- Provide a health baseline that helps us spot meaningful changes over time
- Support safer anesthesia planning ahead of surgical procedures
A Fully Equipped Diagnostic Facility
Our complete on-site laboratory is one of the features that sets Hilliard Veterinary Hospital apart as a full-service veterinary hospital. Having this capability in-house means less waiting and allows our team to make timely treatment decisions. Combined with our digital imaging technology and decades of diagnostic experience, our team is well-equipped to investigate a wide range of health concerns with accuracy and efficiency.
Pet Laboratory Testing FAQs
How often should my pet have blood work done?
For healthy adult dogs and cats, we typically recommend blood testing as part of an annual wellness exam. Senior pets and those with known health conditions may benefit from more frequent testing. We’ll make a personalized recommendation based on your pet’s age and health history.
Does my pet need to fast before blood work?
In many cases, yes. Fasting for 8 to 12 hours before a blood panel helps ensure the most accurate results, particularly for tests that measure blood sugar and certain organ values. We’ll let you know what’s required when you schedule your appointment.
What does a routine blood panel check for?
A standard blood panel typically evaluates red and white blood cell counts, kidney and liver function, blood sugar, protein levels, and other key indicators of overall health. Additional panels can assess thyroid function, adrenal health, and more.
How long does it take to get results?
Because we have a full on-site laboratory, many results are available within the same appointment or within a few hours. If samples need to be sent to an external reference laboratory for specialized testing, turnaround times will vary.
My pet seems perfectly healthy—do they still need blood work?
Yes. Many conditions that show up in blood work don’t produce noticeable symptoms until they’ve progressed significantly. Routine pet blood testing allows us to catch subtle changes early, when intervention is most effective.
Will my pet need to be sedated for diagnostic testing?
Most blood and urine collection procedures don’t require sedation. Some advanced diagnostics, such as ultrasound or endoscopy, may require light sedation depending on your pet’s temperament and the nature of the procedure. Our team will discuss what to expect before any testing is performed.
Diagnostics That Support Smarter, Safer Care
Accurate diagnostics are the foundation of effective veterinary medicine. At Hilliard Veterinary Hospital, our in-house laboratory and advanced imaging capabilities allow our team to move from question to answer—and from answer to action—without unnecessary delays. For dogs and cats throughout the greater Hilliard area, that means timely care and informed treatment decisions supported by an experienced veterinary team.
Veterinary Services
Pet Wellness Exams
Pet Parasite Control
Pet Laboratory Testing
Pet Soft Tissue Surgery