Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Fish blood tests and disorders in pet and farmed fish
By Grant, Krystan R·Published in The veterinary clinics of North America. Exotic animal practice·2015·Colorado State University, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Fish hematology and associated disorders.
Plain-English summary
As fish become more popular as pets and in farming, their health is increasingly important. Taking care of fish can be different from caring for land animals, as it often requires special skills and tools due to their unique needs. One helpful way to assess fish health is through blood tests, which can be done without expensive equipment and can guide treatment decisions. However, there are challenges in collecting and analyzing blood samples from fish, such as safely handling them and drawing blood. This article discusses ways to overcome those challenges for both bony fish and cartilaginous fish.
Abstract
Fish health is a growing concern as pets, education, and aquaculture evolves. For the veterinary staff, fish handling, diagnostics, medicine, and surgery may require specialized training and equipment in comparison with terrestrial and arboreal animals, simply because of their aquatic nature and diversity. Fish hematology is one diagnostic tool that may not require additional equipment, may be inexpensive, and provide useful information in guiding treatment options. Challenges involving hematology may include handling and restraint, venipuncture, evaluation, and interpretation. In this article, strategies for these challenges are discussed for teleost (bony fish) and elasmobranch (cartilaginous fish) fish types.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25421028/