Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Laboratory Tests and Diag- nostic Procedures: Canine & Feline is designed to provide busy veteri- nary practitioners and students with a complete and quick reference to diagnostic procedures and laboratory tests that are used daily in the diagnosis and management of medical problems of dogs and cats. Our goal in creating this textbook is also to provide up-to-date information in an easy-to-use format. Prior to the publication of this book, this information could be found scattered throughout a variety of clinical resources. We are unaware of another comprehensive book that brings all of these diagnostic procedures and laboratory tests under one cover. The laboratory tests section of the book enables rapid access to clin- ically relevant laboratory tests, with comprehensive information on test preparation, performance, factors that affect each test, and a brief guide to test interpretation. This information can be used to optimize results, while avoiding repeat testing necessitated by problems in sam- ple handling or patient preparation. The diagnostic procedures section is intended to provide clinically relevant information that will enable practitioners to determine quickly whether a procedure is indicated in a particular case. In many chapters, enough information is included to enable veterinary practitioners or technicians to perform a procedure in house. Other chapters provide practicing veterinarians with suffi- cient information to understand a procedure and prepare clients and patients for a possible referral.