Pet Blood Work & Lab Testing
Blood and urine tests show what's happening inside the body, often before a pet looks sick. Petfolk Johns Creek, at Medley in Johns Creek Town Center, runs most samples in its in-house lab, and sends advanced tests to an outside lab.
Lab work starts with an exam and a clear reason to test. Book at our Johns Creek clinic.
Call (470) 964-6691 or book online. Open 8am–6pm, seven days a week.
When to go to a 24-hour emergency hospital
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital for pale or white gums, bleeding from the nose or gums, collapse, trouble breathing, or a pet who stops eating and drinking and becomes weak.
Petfolk Johns Creek is open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. We don't provide overnight care, so anything that can't wait until morning belongs at a 24-hour emergency hospital.
What Common Tests Show
Complete blood count (CBC): red cells for anemia, white cells for infection or inflammation, and platelets for clotting.
Chemistry panel: kidney and liver values, blood sugar, protein, and electrolytes.
Urinalysis: kidney function, urinary infection, crystals, and signs of diabetes.
Thyroid testing: especially in older cats with weight loss.
Heartworm and tick-borne disease screening: for dogs, often from the same small sample.
When Lab Work Is Recommended
Before anesthesia, to make sure your pet can safely handle it
For a sick pet, when the exam doesn't explain the signs
For seniors, to set a baseline and catch slow changes
For pets on long-term medication, to check how the liver and kidneys are handling it
Tick-Borne Disease in Georgia
The Georgia Department of Public Health reports that tick-borne diseases occur year-round here. The lone star tick is the state's most common tick and carries the bacteria behind ehrlichiosis. The American dog tick, the second most common, carries Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
In people, DPH counted 143 spotted fever cases, 130 Lyme cases, and 50 anaplasmosis or ehrlichiosis cases among Georgia residents from 2020 to 2024. Dogs pick up the same ticks on the same trails and yards.
Some dog screening tests check for exposure to these infections along with heartworm. If your dog spends time in brush, on trails, or in a wooded yard, ask whether tick-borne screening makes sense, especially if your dog has had unexplained fever, lameness, or low energy.
How to Prepare
Ask when you book whether your pet should fast. Some tests are more accurate after a fast; many don't need one.
Water is usually fine unless the clinic tells you otherwise.
For a urine test, the clinic may ask you to skip the last potty break, or collect a sample at home.
Bring a list of medications and supplements, since some affect results.
The Draw and the Results
The sample is small and usually comes from a leg vein. You can stay with your pet, and our Gentle Handling team keeps the draw quick and calm. Petfolk runs most samples in-house; if a test goes to an outside lab, the vet will tell you when to expect it.
The vet explains what the numbers mean for your pet, not just which ones are out of range.
“They truly care for your pet and explain everything in great detail, so you know the level of care your pet is receiving.”
— Cortez S., Petfolk client
When You May Not Need Lab Work
A healthy young adult with a normal exam often doesn't need a full panel every year. A single upset stomach in a pet who bounces back may not either. The vet will tell you when testing would change the plan, and when it wouldn't.
What Lab Work Costs Depends On
Which tests or panels are needed
Whether a test runs in-house or goes to an outside lab
The exam that goes with it
Any recheck testing
You'll get an estimate before the sample is drawn. PetfolkCare members get exams covered up to $99 per visit and 10% off lab work.
Numbers That Change the Plan
Book an exam at Petfolk Johns Creek or call (470) 964-6691, and leave knowing what the results mean for your pet.