Cytology may be recommended by your veterinarian when your pet presents with a skin or ear concern. Cytology is usually one of the first diagnostic tests your vet will recommend because it is quick and easy to perform, and they can gain valuable information during a short consultation.
When your vet takes a sample for cytology, one of the things they will look for is the presence or absence of infection. If there are signs of infection, your vet will identify these microorganisms as either gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria, yeast or fungi. What your vet is seeing under the microscope will dictate what therapy is chosen. If a medication is chosen without diagnostics, there may be no improvement in clinical signs, or in some cases, signs may worsen.
Your vet will also use cytology as a way of monitoring your pet’s response to therapy and this can dictate how long they need to stay on medications. If medications are stopped prematurely, the infection may return, or if medications are continued for longer than required bacterial resistance can develop. Always follow your vets’ instructions when administering medications.
Contact your veterinarian for further information.