Answers about their health, not guesswork.
From bloodwork and urinalysis to digital X-rays and ultrasound, Sploot's in-house lab returns most results the same day — so your vet can move from questions to answers to care, fast.
.webp)
Because waiting is the hardest part.
Most Sploot lab tests and X-rays are run right in the clinic, not shipped off and waited on. That changes what a diagnostic visit feels like — for you and your pet.
Same-day answers
Most bloodwork, urine tests, and X-ray results come back before the day is out — no week of wondering.
Less stress for your pet
One visit, one gentle sample collection. No repeat trips just to get a result explained.
Problems caught early
Kidney disease, diabetes, and thyroid changes show up in lab work long before your pet acts sick.
Treatment starts sooner
Fast results mean fast decisions — in urgent cases, that speed can genuinely save a life.
A pet parent's guide to the lab.
Your vet only recommends the tests your pet actually needs — and explains why. Here's what each one does, so the plan always makes sense to you too.
Bloodwork (CBC & chemistry panel)
The workhorse of veterinary medicine. A complete blood count (CBC) looks at red cells, white cells, and platelets, while a chemistry panel checks how the organs are doing — liver, kidneys, protein levels, blood sugar, and more.
- Anemia, infection & inflammation
- Kidney & liver disease
- Blood sugar imbalances — an early diabetes clue
- Clotting issues
Once a year as part of a wellness exam, before any anesthesia, and any time your pet is sick — it builds the baseline everything else is compared against.
A quick blood draw during the visit. Some panels are most accurate after a short fast; we let you know ahead of time if that applies to your pet.
Senior panel
A broader blood screen built for pets 7 and up. It layers thyroid testing and a fuller chemistry panel on top of the standard workup, because aging changes show up in the blood long before they show up in behavior.
- Early kidney & liver changes
- Thyroid disease — especially common in older cats
- Blood sugar trends before diabetes takes hold
- Age-related shifts, tracked visit over visit
Every 6–12 months for senior pets — even the ones who seem perfectly healthy.
The same easy blood draw as regular bloodwork; it simply looks at more.
Fecal testing
A stool sample examined for intestinal parasites — hookworms, roundworms, whipworms — plus protozoa like giardia. When needed, a fecal occult blood test also checks for hidden blood in the stool.
- Intestinal worms
- Giardia & other protozoa
- Hidden gastrointestinal blood
Yearly for adult pets, more often for puppies and kittens, and whenever there’s diarrhea, soft stool, or unexplained weight loss.
Bring a fresh sample from home — a sealed bag or container works — or we can collect one at the visit.
Urinalysis
A urine sample analyzed for concentration, cells, crystals, protein, and glucose. It’s one of the most information-dense tests we run — a lot about kidney and urinary health lives in that little sample.
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Early kidney disease clues
- Glucose in the urine — a diabetes flag
- Bladder crystals & stones
Alongside senior screens, when your pet is having accidents, straining, or going more often, and to monitor known kidney or urinary conditions.
A free-catch sample from home works for many checks; when a sterile sample matters, we collect it in clinic — it’s quick and most pets barely notice.
Heartworm & tick-borne disease testing
A quick blood test that screens for heartworm infection and the common tick-borne diseases — Lyme, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis — before any of them cause visible symptoms.
- Heartworm, before heart & lung damage sets in
- Lyme disease
- Ehrlichiosis & anaplasmosis
Yearly for dogs, before starting or restarting heartworm prevention, and after a known tick exposure with concerning signs.
Just a few drops of blood — results are typically ready during your visit.
Antibody titer tests
A blood test that measures your pet’s existing immunity to core diseases, so booster decisions rest on evidence rather than just the calendar.
- Current immunity levels to core vaccines
- Whether a booster is due now — or can wait
When you and your vet want to confirm protection before re-vaccinating — a common choice for pets who’ve had vaccine reactions in the past.
A simple blood draw. If immunity is still strong, that’s a documented reason to hold off on the booster.
Bacterial cultures
When an infection is stubborn or keeps coming back, a culture identifies the exact bacteria involved — and which medication will actually clear it — instead of treating blind.
- Urinary tract infections (urine culture)
- Ear, nasal & respiratory infections (swab culture)
- Wound & skin infections that resist treatment
Recurring UTIs, ears that flare right back up after treatment, or wounds that aren’t healing the way they should.
A quick sample or swab at the clinic, grown at our reference lab — results take a few days, and treatment can start in the meantime when needed.
Skin & ear cytology
A gentle swab or tape sample from the skin or ears, examined under the microscope. It tells us exactly what’s driving the itch — so treatment targets the actual culprit instead of guessing.
- Yeast & bacterial infections
- Ear mites
- Inflammatory cells behind chronic itching
For itchy skin, head shaking, ear odor or discharge, hot spots, and rashes that keep coming back.
A painless sample taken during the visit, read the same day — treatment usually starts before you leave.
When we need to see inside.
Sometimes the answer isn't in a sample — it's in a picture. Both of these happen right in the clinic, with images your vet reviews on the spot.
Digital X-ray (radiography)
High-detail images of teeth, bones, joints, chest, and abdominal organs. Digital means less time on the table for your pet and images your vet can review on screen right away.
- Fractures & joint disease
- Swallowed foreign objects
- Heart & lung changes
- Some masses & organ changes
After limping or trauma, for coughing or breathing changes, when a swallowed object is suspected, or when the physical exam finds something worth a closer look.
Most pets stay awake with gentle positioning; occasionally a little sedation keeps an anxious or painful pet comfortable.
Ultrasound
Real-time, radiation-free imaging of the soft tissue X-rays can’t show well — the texture and structure of organs, the bladder, the heart, even pregnancy.
- Organ changes X-rays miss
- Bladder stones & wall changes
- Fluid in the abdomen or chest
- Pregnancy confirmation & monitoring
When bloodwork or an X-ray raises a question that needs a closer look at soft tissue, or to guide urgent treatment decisions in real time.
A small patch of fur may be shaved for good contact. Most pets lie comfortably awake for the whole scan.
Point-of-care ultrasound*
A quick, focused ultrasound done during your pet’s visit to assess internal organs and guide immediate treatment decisions.
- Free fluid in the abdomen or chest
- Urgent organ & bladder checks
- Answers for time-critical decisions
During sick or urgent visits, when a fast look inside changes what happens next.
A brief, gentle scan — usually done awake, right in the exam room.
Echocardiogram*
An advanced ultrasound of the heart that evaluates its structure and function, helping diagnose cardiac conditions.
- Heart murmur workups
- Valve & heart-muscle changes
- Heart function measurements
When your vet hears a murmur or suspects a heart condition that needs a closer, expert look.
Arranged through your Sploot vet and performed by a specialist — a calm, non-invasive scan.
*Performed by a specialist through Sploot's MOVES service.
Two labs, one clear plan.
Some tests run right here in the clinic; others go to a specialized outside lab. Neither is "better" — they answer different questions, and your vet picks the right one for each test.
In-house lab
Run in the clinic, while you're here.
- Most bloodwork, urinalysis, fecal tests & X-rays
- Results in minutes to hours — usually the same day
- Ideal for sick visits, urgent cases & pre-anesthetic checks
- Your vet talks you through results before decisions are made
Reference lab
Sent to a specialized outside laboratory.
- Broader & more specialized panels than any clinic can run
- Bacterial cultures, pathology review & advanced testing
- Comprehensive results, typically back the next day or two
- The right call when breadth matters more than speed
Many workups use both. A same-day in-house screen guides what happens now; a reference panel fills in the full picture. Either way, your vet calls or messages you to walk through what the results mean.
Your pet's lab visit, start to finish.
The exam comes first
Testing starts with a conversation and a nose-to-tail exam, so every test has a reason behind it. You get an upfront estimate before anything runs.
Gentle sample collection
A quick blood draw, a urine or stool sample, a swab, or a few minutes of imaging — handled by a team that's great with nervous pets (and generous with treats).
The lab gets to work
In-house tests are usually back the same day. Anything sent to the reference lab typically returns within a day or two.
Results, explained
Your vet walks you through what the numbers and images actually mean, and what — if anything — to do next. No jargon, no mystery.
Starting strong: early screenings.
A first round of lab work gives your newest family member a clean starting line — catching the parasites most young pets carry, screening for conditions that matter early, and setting the baseline every future test gets compared against.
- Fecal testing — intestinal parasites are very common in puppies & kittens
- First bloodwork (CBC & chemistry) as their lifelong baseline
- Heartworm antigen testing for puppies
- FeLV/FIV screening for kittens — it tells us whether vaccination can still protect them
.webp)
Older pets hide things. Lab work doesn't.
Cats and dogs are experts at masking how they feel — and aging changes like kidney disease and thyroid trouble often show up in a senior blood panel long before anything looks wrong at home.
- Wellness exams every 6 months once your pet turns 7
- A senior panel with a fuller chemistry screen & thyroid testing
- Urinalysis alongside the bloodwork for the full kidney picture
- Results tracked over time, so small trends get caught early
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork: the safety check.
Before any procedure involving anesthesia — a spay or neuter, a dental cleaning, or a surgery — a quick blood panel confirms your pet can handle it safely and lets us tailor the anesthetic plan to them.
- Organ function — liver & kidneys process the anesthesia
- Red & white blood cell counts
- Clotting ability, checked before the first incision
Run in-house, so results are back — and reviewed — before the procedure day.
See more. Know more.
When your pet's health mystery calls for answers, DeepScan dives past the surface. It's Sploot's advanced cfDNA diagnostic panel — a blood test with higher sensitivity than standard panels, enabling earlier detection of complex conditions like cancer, inflammation, and organ damage in dogs. Because the sooner we know, the sooner we can help.
Learn about DeepScan10% off every lab test & X-ray.
Diagnostics are where SplootPack quietly earns its keep — routine screens, senior panels, and the tests you didn't see coming all cost less.
- 10% off bloodwork, urinalysis, fecal tests, X-rays & imaging
- 3 free exam visits a year ($267–$297 value)
- 15% off dental services & 25% off spay/neuter
Pet lab tests, answered.
Why does my vet recommend bloodwork when my pet seems healthy?
Because pets hide illness remarkably well. Routine bloodwork establishes a baseline for your pet's organ function and is the single best way to catch silent conditions — kidney disease, thyroid changes, early diabetes — while they're still easy to manage. It's the same reason we recommend a yearly wellness exam: prevention beats treatment.
Does my pet need to fast before bloodwork?
For some panels, yes — a short fast (usually overnight, with water always okay) makes results like blood sugar and certain chemistry values more accurate. Not every test needs it, so we'll tell you exactly what to do when you book. When in doubt, ask us before the visit rather than skipping breakfast unnecessarily.
How do I collect a stool or urine sample at home?
For stool: the fresher the better — ideally collected within a day of your visit, sealed in a clean bag or container, and kept cool. A piece about the size of a grape is plenty. For urine: a clean, dry container catch works for many tests, but don't stress if it's tricky — we can collect both at the clinic, and for tests that need a sterile urine sample we'll collect it there anyway.
How fast do results come back?
Most X-rays and lab tests are processed in-house with same-day results — often while you're still at the clinic. Tests sent to our reference lab, like cultures and specialized panels, typically come back within a day or two. Either way, your vet reaches out to walk you through what the results mean.
Do puppies and kittens need lab tests too?
Yes — a starter round of screening is one of the best gifts you can give a new pet. That usually means a fecal test (intestinal parasites are very common in young pets), a first CBC and chemistry panel as a lifelong baseline, heartworm antigen testing for puppies, and FeLV/FIV screening for kittens — which also tells us whether vaccination can still be used to protect them. Most of it folds right into their first wellness visits.
What is DeepScan?
DeepScan is Sploot's advanced cfDNA diagnostic panel — a blood test with higher sensitivity than standard blood panels, enabling earlier detection of complex conditions like cancer, general inflammation, inflammatory diseases, and organ damage in dogs. Ask your vet whether it makes sense for your pup, or read more about how cfDNA testing works.
How much does bloodwork for dogs and cats cost?
Routine bloodwork typically ranges from $80–$200 depending on the panel. You'll always get an upfront estimate before any test runs — no surprise line items — and SplootPack members get 10% off all diagnostics.
Will my pet need sedation for X-rays or ultrasound?
Usually not. Most pets handle both awake with gentle positioning and a calm, experienced team. If a pet is painful, anxious, or needs to hold very still for a precise image, a light sedative can keep the experience comfortable — we'll always discuss it with you first.
What's the difference between an X-ray and an ultrasound?
An X-ray is a still snapshot that's excellent for bones, joints, the chest, and spotting swallowed objects. An ultrasound is a live, moving image that shows the texture and inner structure of soft tissue — organs, the bladder, the heart. They complement each other, and it's common for an X-ray finding to lead to an ultrasound for a closer look.
Does SplootPack apply to lab tests?
Yes — members get 10% off bloodwork, urine and fecal testing, X-rays, and imaging, plus 3 free exam visits a year. If your pet is due for an annual screen or twice-yearly senior labs, the membership tends to pay for itself quickly.
Wondering what's going on? Let's find out.
Book at any of our vet clinics in Denver, Chicago, Colorado Springs, or Salt Lake City — open 8am to 8pm, every day of the year. Most lab results come back the same day.