Blood Work & Lab Testing in Concord, NC, From Your Local Vet

Pets need blood work when they are sick, before anesthesia, and as a yearly baseline once they reach middle age, because many illnesses show up in the blood before you see them at home. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Concord is a vet clinic at 2425 Herrons Nest Pl NW, Suite 100, Concord, NC 28027, near Concord Mills, and its in-house laboratory means many results come back during the visit.

Call (980) 360-2922 or book online.

Why does a healthy-looking pet need blood work?

Dogs and cats hide illness well, so a panel can show changes before signs appear. A cat's kidneys can lose a large share of their working tissue before she drinks more water or loses weight.

That is why the doctor may suggest a baseline for a healthy adult, in line with life-stage screening guidance from the American Animal Hospital Association. A baseline records what normal looks like for your pet, so a later shift is judged against your pet's own history. It matters most as pets age, which our senior pet care page covers.

What do the common blood tests show?

At Petfolk Concord, blood work usually means a complete blood count and a chemistry panel, plus others when needed.

• Complete blood count. Counts red cells, white cells and platelets. It can point to anemia, infection, inflammation or a clotting problem.

• Chemistry panel. Measures kidney values, liver enzymes, blood sugar, protein and electrolytes, the salts that keep nerves and muscles working.

• Urinalysis. Adds detail on kidney function, bladder infection and diabetes that blood alone can't give.

• Targeted tests. Thyroid levels in older cats, a heartworm test in dogs or a fecal test, depending on age and signs.

Does one result outside the range mean something is wrong?

Not necessarily. Reference ranges are built so a small share of healthy animals fall just outside them, so the doctor reads a single high or low value against the whole picture: the exam, history, urine and other results. Sometimes the next step is repeating a test in a few weeks. Sometimes it is imaging, which the x-ray page explains.

How fast do lab results come back?

Common tests, including a CBC and chemistry panel, run on site, so results are often ready while you are still in the exam room. If your dog came in for vomiting, the doctor can decide on fluids, medicine or more testing in the same appointment. Some tests, such as certain hormone tests or tissue samples, go to an outside reference lab, and the doctor will tell you when to expect a call.

Love the on-site lab so results are available same day. Susan L., Google review

Who gets lab work at Concord

From October 2025 to September 2026, 42% of wellness visits at Petfolk Concord included a lab test. Cats 7 and older were more likely to get blood work at a wellness visit than younger adult cats (24% vs 14%), and 58% of sick visits for urinary problems included blood work. Across Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics, 21% of sick visits did.

A calm draw

Fear-free handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic: treats, a quiet room, soft holds instead of force, and breaks when a pet needs one. A covered carrier helps nervous cats on the ride in.

Before you come in

1. Ask about fasting when you book. Some tests read more clearly after a short fast. Water is fine unless the doctor says otherwise.

2. List medicines and supplements. Some can shift lab values.

3. Bring a fresh urine or stool sample if asked, in a clean sealed container.

What lab work costs

Blood work is usually part of a wellness or sick visit. A wellness exam starts at $99 or is included with PetfolkCare, and lab tests are charged on top. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

Collapse or bleeding: go to a 24-hour ER

If your pet collapses, has pale gums, struggles to breathe or bleeds without stopping, go straight to a 24-hour emergency hospital, which can run the same tests there. Petfolk Concord is open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and has no overnight care.

Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Concord, or see all veterinary services in Concord.