Pet blood work checks red and white blood cells, kidney and liver function, blood sugar and more, and it's worth doing for a pet who is drinking more, losing weight or acting off, before anesthesia, and yearly for senior pets. Petfolk SouthPark is a veterinary clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina, with its own in-house laboratory, so many results come back while you're still at the clinic. Our veterinarian in SouthPark explains each number before you leave.
Call (980) 580-8079 or book online.
How often do SouthPark pets get lab work?
Lab tests are routine at Petfolk SouthPark. From October 2025 to September 2026:
About half of Petfolk SouthPark wellness visits (53%) included some kind of lab test.
More than half of visits for urinary problems (56%) included blood work.
Senior cats were nearly twice as likely to get blood work at a wellness visit as younger adult cats (34% vs 18%).
What does a blood work visit at Petfolk SouthPark look like?
Book, and ask about fasting. Some panels read more clearly after several hours without food, because fat in the blood after a meal can cloud the sample. Water is almost always fine. Ask before skipping any daily medicine. For dogs, a urine sample in a clean container from the morning walk helps; for cats, the team can collect urine at the clinic.
Exam first. Weight, heart and lungs, belly, gums, lymph nodes and coat. Tell the doctor what you've noticed at home, like a cat who has stopped jumping onto the counter.
The draw. A team member holds your pet with Gentle Handling (calm holds, treats and breaks) while blood is taken, usually from a leg vein or the neck. The needle is small.
The lab. Many tests run in the Petfolk SouthPark in-house lab. Some go to an outside reference lab and take longer; the doctor tells you which ones.
Results and a plan. The doctor walks through any number outside the normal range. You get an estimate before any further testing or treatment.
Even my nervous cat did great having her blood drawn today. Jennifer H., Google review
What does pet blood work check?
The Petfolk SouthPark doctor picks the panel to fit the question. The common pieces are:
Complete blood count (CBC). Counts red cells (which carry oxygen), white cells (which fight infection) and platelets (which help blood clot). Low red cells can mean anemia.
Chemistry panel. How the kidneys and liver are working, plus blood sugar, protein and electrolytes (salts like sodium and potassium).
Urinalysis. How well the kidneys concentrate urine; can show crystals, sugar or infection.
Thyroid level. Often added for older cats, which can develop an overactive thyroid, and for dogs with weight gain or a dull coat.
Infectious disease screens. In Mecklenburg County, about 1 in 100 dogs tested were positive for anaplasmosis, a tick-borne infection, in 2025 (1.02%, CAPC county map). A dog who spends time in tall grass or wooded yards may be a good candidate for a tick-borne disease screen.
If blood work raises a question about a specific organ, the next step may be imaging; the pet x-rays page explains that visit.
What does an abnormal result mean?
One slightly high or low value is common and often just needs a recheck. A pattern of changes, read alongside the exam and your pet's history, is what points the Petfolk SouthPark doctor toward a cause.
Why would a healthy pet need blood work?
A normal result from a healthy pet becomes a baseline, so a small shift later is easier to spot. The AAHA recommends regular screening as pets age, and many vets add a yearly panel once a pet reaches its senior years. The senior pet care page covers what changes after that point.
How much does pet blood work cost at Petfolk SouthPark?
At Petfolk SouthPark, lab tests are priced by panel and are added to an exam, such as a wellness exam that starts at $99 (or is included with a PetfolkCare plan). You'll see an estimate first.
When should a pet skip the lab visit and go to an ER?
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital now if your pet collapses, has pale or white gums, is struggling to breathe or is vomiting again and again; lab work can follow once your pet is stable. Petfolk SouthPark is open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, with no overnight care.
Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark is at 4914 Old Sardis Rd, Unit C5, Charlotte, NC 28211, and sees dogs and cats. Call (980) 580-8079 or book online.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark, or see all veterinary services in SouthPark.
Lab test questions from SouthPark pet parents
In Strawberry Hill, off Old Sardis Road