The Importance of Wellness Blood Work for Your Pet
Pets can’t tell us when they are sick. That is why annual blood analysis for your pet is so important. Your pet can appear healthy, but have hidden medical problems that could become serious or even life-threatening if they are left undetected. Annual blood work is essential in detecting and identifying these diseases at their most treatable stage.
Why is wellness blood work important for my young healthy pet and my senior pet?
- It establishes healthy baseline values for your pet
- Many pets show only subtle changes in their blood values over time. The changes are harder to identify if your veterinarian does not have your individual pet’s healthy baseline values.
- It helps to identify diseases not yet expressing symptoms at the early stages.
- Identifying disease at the early stages can often lessen the cost of treatment
- It can serve as a pre-anesthetic for any surgical or dental procedures to be performed
- Annual blood profiles can help your veterinarian prescribe medications that are the most safe for your pet’s medical condition.
Sick or senior pets can have more than one disease affecting them. Blood work helps your veterinarian pinpoint the issues affecting your pet and better determine the best diagnosis and treatment for your pet. Older animals are more prone to have liver, kidney and endocrine problems. In sick or senior pets, it is recommended that they have blood work done every 6-months to better monitor the progression of their disease.
What does wellness blood test look for?
- Complete Blood Cell Count (CBC) can indicate the following:
- Show how the immune system and bone marrow are functioning.
- Provide important information about the white and red blood cells and number of blood cells in your pet’s blood.
- The red blood cell count can reveal anemia, blood parasites, iron deficiencies, and other diseases.
- The white blood cell count can detect infections, stress, parasites, and other conditions.
- The fluid portion, (protein fraction), can be altered by cancer, liver, kidney, and intestinal diseases. The platelet count helps assess the ability of the blood to clot if injury occurs or during surgery.
- Blood Chemistry Profile. Provides key information to your veterinarian about internal organ functions. It can indicate the following:
- High glucose levels can indicate diabetes.
- High calcium levels can detect cancer and bone disease.
- High sodium levels indicate dehydration.
- High cholesterol and triglycerides can indicate thyroid issues or obesity
- It can disorders of the liver, kidneys, pancreas and adrenal glands
- The test can also be used to monitor the effects of medications on the organs
Dr. Alex of Pet Xpert Animal Clinic recommends wellness blood work annually for all pets, and every 6 months for senior animals or those on long-term medications. Wellness blood work often can find underlying infections or pre-existing conditions that cannot be found during physical exams or that you never knew about before. Treating problems early, before they make your pet very sick or debilitated, will provide better outcomes for you and your pet. Call 407-886-PETS (7387) today to schedule your pet’s wellness blood work.
