Fast, in-house diagnostics so we can answer what’s wrong the same day whenever possible.
Yorktown Heights, NY • Dogs, Cats & Exotics • See our Google reviews
When a pet is sick, waiting on results is brutal. A day can be the difference between getting ahead of something and playing catch-up. Our in-house lab lets us run the most common tests right here, so you leave your appointment with answers, not just maybes.
What Are Laboratory Services?
Our laboratory services combine an on-site lab (blood counts, chemistry panels, urinalysis, fecal exams, heartworm, FIV/FeLV snap tests, cytology) with a trusted reference lab for specialized panels (endocrine, infectious disease, biopsy pathology, culture and sensitivity). You get the speed of in-house testing when it matters and the depth of reference-lab diagnostics when it’s needed.
Why Are Laboratory Services Important?
Catches What the Exam Can’t: Bloodwork and urinalysis find kidney, liver, endocrine, and infection problems before visible symptoms show up.
Same-Visit Answers: Most in-house panels run in 15 to 30 minutes, so we can diagnose and treat in the same appointment.
Baseline for Life: Healthy bloodwork today is the reference we use to spot changes next year. Early baselines matter most in young and senior pets.
Before Anesthesia: Pre-anesthetic bloodwork screens for hidden issues that could complicate sedation for dentals, surgery, or imaging.
What to Expect at a Lab Visit
Before Your Visit
Your vet will tell you if fasting is needed (typically 8 to 12 hours for chemistry panels; water is fine). Bring any prior lab results if you have them.
During the Appointment
Exam First: A physical exam comes first to help us pick the right tests.
Sample Collection: Most blood draws take under a minute. Urinalysis and fecal samples are often collected on the spot.
On-Site Analysis: Common panels process within your visit. We review results with you in the room.
Follow-Up
For reference-lab tests (1 to 3 day turnaround), we call or message you as soon as results land. We walk you through what the numbers mean and what comes next.
How Often Should Your Pet Have Lab Work?
Frequency depends on age, breed, medications, and what we’re watching. As a general guide:
- Puppies & kittens: Initial deworming and fecal, baseline bloodwork around spay/neuter age, and FIV/FeLV testing for new kittens.
- Adult pets: Annual heartworm test for dogs, yearly fecal, and wellness bloodwork at least every 1 to 2 years (more often for breed-specific monitoring or chronic medications).
- Senior pets: Full wellness panels every 6 to 12 months. Early detection of kidney, liver, and thyroid disease is where we extend good years.
Schedule Lab Work in Yorktown Heights, NY
Heights Hospital for Animals runs a fully equipped in-house lab for dogs, cats, and exotic pets in Yorktown Heights, NY. Most diagnostic answers come the same day you walk in.
