Diagnostics

Workup guides for lab testing, imaging decisions, staging, screening, and result interpretation across common small-animal problems.

Audience

Pet owners trying to understand the next test, and veterinary teams framing a diagnostic pathway.

Editorial Job

Show what each test can and cannot answer, and when referral or urgent care changes the plan.

170 articles in this category · showing 11–20.

Last updated 2026-09-02

Topic Map

Drug Safety & Toxicology118 Clinical Pathology59 Dermatology51 Vaccination & Infectious Disease40 Gastroenterology38 Endocrinology30 Canine Osteoarthritis27 Oncology26 Diagnostic Imaging25 Antibiotics & Anti-Infectives22 Cardiology19 Urology17 Feline CKD13 POCUS4

A domestic cat in a veterinary emergency and critical care setting near cardiology diagnostic imaging and clinical monitoring equipment.

DiagnosticsAugust 27, 2026 · 21 min read

Saddle Thrombus in Cats: The 5 P's, Survival Data & Euthanasia Decisions

Saddle thrombus (feline ATE) emergency guide: 5 P's on exam, silent heart disease, Borgeat general-practice survival data, TPA trials, and euthanasia decisions.

Ran Chen#Cardiology #Emergency & Critical Care

A companion dog in a veterinary dermatology consultation setting near diagnostic skin scrape supplies and parasitology reference materials.

DiagnosticsAugust 27, 2026 · 18 min read

Sarcoptic Mange in Dogs: Why Scrapes Miss It & Labeled Treatments Win

Why negative skin scrapes miss canine sarcoptic mange: pinnal-pedal reflex accuracy, FDA-labeled selamectin and moxidectin, isoxazolines, and zoonotic risks.

Ran Chen#Dermatology #Parasiticides

A domestic cat in a veterinary consultation setting near clinical wound care and retrovirus reference documents.

DiagnosticsAugust 25, 2026 · 18 min read

Cat Bite Abscesses: Why Closed Pockets Need Drainage & FeLV/FIV Testing

Why cat bite abscesses need veterinary drainage and antibiotics: Pasteurella biology, Convenia vs Clavamox, FeLV/FIV testing clocks, and bite risks.

Ran Chen#Antibiotics & Anti-Infectives #Emergency & Critical Care #Vaccination & Infectious Disease

A young puppy in a veterinary clinic setting near fecal flotation testing equipment and diagnostic reference materials.

DiagnosticsAugust 25, 2026 · 20 min read

Coccidia in Puppies: Why Dewormers Fail & Sulfadimethoxine Is FDA-Labeled

Why routine dewormers fail against coccidia in puppies: Cystoisospora vs Giardia, flotation vs antigen testing, sulfadimethoxine labeling, and hygiene.

Ran Chen#Parasiticides #Gastroenterology #Clinical Pathology

A companion dog in a veterinary ophthalmology setting near tear-testing and corneal diagnostic reference materials.

DiagnosticsAugust 25, 2026 · 20 min read

Conjunctivitis in Dogs: Tear Tests, Fluorescein & IOP Checks Before Drops

Why red eyes in dogs require a diagnostic triad (Schirmer tear test, fluorescein stain, tonometry) before eye drops, plus look-alikes and safety risks.

Ran Chen#Clinical Pathology #Emergency & Critical Care

A domestic cat in a veterinary clinic setting near otoscopic diagnostic tools and parasite reference documents.

DiagnosticsAugust 24, 2026 · 18 min read

Cat Ear Mites: Coffee-Ground Wax, Diagnosis, and Why Spot-Ons Beat Drops

Understand cat ear mites (Otodectes cynotis): why coffee-ground wax isn't diagnostic, why spot-ons beat ear drops, household treatment rules, and 2026 vet…

Ran Chen#Parasiticides #Dermatology

A domestic cat in a veterinary clinic near rapid diagnostic test materials and clinical pathology documents.

DiagnosticsAugust 24, 2026 · 17 min read

FeLV & FIV Testing in Cats: SNAP vs PCR, Kitten False Positives & Staging

Complete guide to FeLV and FIV testing in cats: SNAP combo mechanics, antigen vs antibody, kitten maternal antibody false positives, IFA/PCR confirmation, and…

Ran Chen#Vaccination & Infectious Disease #Clinical Pathology

A companion dog on a clinic examination mat near veterinary dermatology diagnostic folders.

DiagnosticsAugust 24, 2026 · 18 min read

Why Is My Dog Licking His Paws? Yeast vs Allergies vs Foxtails & Cysts

Why is your dog constantly licking or chewing their paws? Discover the difference between yeast, environmental allergies, foxtails, and interdigital cysts.

Ran Chen#Dermatology

A young Bulldog in a veterinary ophthalmology setting near third-eyelid reference documents.

DiagnosticsAugust 23, 2026 · 22 min read

Cherry Eye in Dogs: Replacement vs Removal, Surgery Costs, and Dry Eye Risk

Understand cherry eye in dogs: why nictitans gland removal causes severe dry eye, how Morgan pocket surgery works, recovery timelines, and 2026 costs.

Ran Chen#Clinical Pathology #Pet Insurance & Claims

A floppy-eared dog in a veterinary exam room near otology and surgical reference documents.

DiagnosticsAugust 23, 2026 · 20 min read

Dog Ear Hematoma: Drainage vs Surgery vs Steroids and Why Aspiration Fails

Understand canine aural hematoma: why needle aspiration fails 80%+ of the time, 5 treatment options compared, cauliflower ear risk, and 2026 surgery costs.

Ran Chen#Dermatology #Anesthesia & Analgesia #Clinical Pathology