Pet blood work checks organ function, blood cells and infection, and vets recommend it before anesthesia, once a year for middle-aged and senior pets, and whenever a pet is sick without a clear cause. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Huntersville offers pet blood work and lab testing in Huntersville with an in-house lab, so many results come back while you are still at the clinic.
Numbers on a lab report can show a problem months before a pet acts sick.
Call (704) 800-4149 or book online.
What does a CBC tell the vet?
A complete blood count (CBC) counts and looks at the cells in the blood. At Petfolk Huntersville, the vet reads three parts:
Red blood cells carry oxygen. Low numbers (anemia) can come from blood loss, fleas, tick-borne infections or a bone marrow problem.
White blood cells fight infection. Which kind is high or low points toward infection, inflammation or stress.
Platelets help blood clot. Low platelets can show up with some tick-borne diseases and matter a great deal before surgery.
What does a chemistry panel measure?
A chemistry panel measures substances in the liquid part of blood:
Kidney values (BUN, creatinine and often SDMA), which can rise before a pet drinks more or loses weight.
Liver enzymes, which go up with liver disease, some medicines and certain hormone problems.
Blood sugar, a key number for diabetes, especially in overweight cats.
Proteins and electrolytes, which show hydration and salt balance after vomiting or diarrhea.
The Petfolk Huntersville vet picks the panel to fit the question; a young pet before anesthesia may need a smaller panel than an older cat losing weight.
How often is lab work part of a Huntersville visit?
At Petfolk Huntersville, about 4 in 10 wellness visits (44%) include some kind of lab test, and nearly 6 in 10 visits for urinary problems (59%) include blood work (Petfolk data, October 2025 to September 2026). Senior cats are about three times as likely to get blood work at a Huntersville wellness visit as younger adult cats (37% vs 11%) in the same window.
Why would the vet want a urine sample too?
Urine shows how well the kidneys concentrate and can reveal infection, crystals, blood or sugar. At Petfolk Huntersville, kidney numbers in the blood and urine concentration read together give a clearer picture than either alone, and cats in particular often need both.
Can blood work catch tick-borne disease?
Often, yes. Many dogs get a yearly screen that checks for heartworm and antibodies to some tick-borne infections in the same sample. North Carolina sees real tick-borne disease: ehrlichiosis was the most reported tick-borne illness in people in the state in 2024, with 278 confirmed and probable cases in the NCDHHS surveillance summary. The same ticks bite dogs, and low platelets or anemia on a CBC can be the first clue.
When does a healthy pet need blood work?
Petfolk Huntersville recommends blood work for healthy pets at three points:
Before anesthesia, for a spay, neuter or dental cleaning, to check that the liver and kidneys can process the drugs.
Once a year for middle-aged and senior pets. Normal results give a baseline, so small changes stand out later. Our senior pet care page covers what else changes with age.
On long-term medicine, such as some arthritis or seizure drugs, at set points after starting.
The American Animal Hospital Association publishes guidelines vets use to match screening tests to each life stage.
Does my pet need to fast before blood work?
Usually for 8 to 12 hours, with water allowed, unless the Petfolk Huntersville vet says otherwise. A recent meal can cloud the sample and change a few values. Diabetic pets and very young animals should not fast without the vet's instructions; call before the visit if you're unsure.
Who explains my pet's lab results?
The vet does. Many common tests run in the Petfolk Huntersville in-house lab during the visit, and some specialized tests go to an outside lab and take a few days. The vet walks you through each value, including any slightly outside the reference range and whether it matters.
The doctor went over all of the lab findings and the vet techs were angels on earth.
Reggie R., Google review
Which symptoms can't wait for a lab appointment?
Lab work is planned care, but some symptoms that lead to it are not. Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet has pale or white gums, is breathing hard at rest, has collapsed, or is a male cat straining to pee with little or nothing coming out.
Pet parents who want a veterinarian in Huntersville to run lab work can book at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Huntersville, 14227 Boren St, Suite 100, Huntersville, NC 28078.
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Lab work questions from pet parents
Our Huntersville lab is on Boren St