The Utilization of Practical Clinical Pathology for Diagnostic Success_

摘要

For the veterinarian treating an avian animal patient, clinical pathology is often an essential tool in formulating a definitive diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan. Clinical pathology is not a luxury but a necessity for every clinical practice that sees avian patients. Birds do not allow any guesswork for the attending clinician and will quickly succumb to a disease process if not properly treated. The diagnostic test results will give the veterinarian a snapshot window to "look" inside the patient at that particular point in time. By developing a baseline of values the practitioner can follow the progress of a disease process through a treatment period. If the patient responds to the treatment it is continued or if the patient does not responda treatment alternative is considered. One must always remember to collect the samples that will be affected by stress at the beginning of an examination and follow with those that are least affected by the physical and emotional stress. In most cases,blood is collected for a complete blood count (CBC) and plasma chemistry panel first because a stressed patient is likely to adversely affect the white blood cell count.