Pets don’t know if they’re sick. Vet visits, worming, and a balanced diet are vital for our pets; however, they’re not always able to tell us how their organs perform. A blood test is among the more thorough of all health checks. They give us current and accurate information regarding the health of our patients.
Most times, the pet’s age and general health will be sufficient to inform you whether they require the blood test. It is suggested that blood tests be done before anesthetics, especially if you suspect a health issue. As pets age more rapidly than humans, it’s a good idea to check for new health issues every year.
Why is blood testing for pets needed?
Often, veterinarians will instruct you to get blood tests done for your pet. But because getting this bloodwork performed is expensive, some pet owners don’t take these tests regularly enough as they ought to. In this article, you’ll discover how important it is to get your pet’s bloodwork tested.
1. Baseline
If you take your pet for the first time to vet facilities like Sharon Lakes Animal Hospital, the vet will likely recommend getting blood tests. Your pet may appear healthy; however, a baseline blood test is still important. This will be helpful in the future in monitoring your pet’s health and making sure that preventative care is given to reduce the chance of developing the disease.
2. Identify Disease
A blood test is helpful when a dog doesn’t show signs of disease or injury but doesn’t look right. A blood test can aid in determining the root of your pet’s symptoms, including sudden weight loss or growth and increased urination and unrest. Results from blood tests can indicate that there is a medical issue. This can help owners get their pets the highest quality of care and save on future vet expenses. Diabetes, renal and liver problems and anemia can be diagnosed swiftly through bloodwork.
3. Pre-Surgery
Bloodwork tests will ensure your pet’s vital organs are healthy before surgery. This will aid the vet in determining whether or not a medication has to be prescribed in advance to improve the test results. This will ensure that the surgery will be successful and your pet will be back in excellent health. You can read more info on this page about the importance and preference of pet boarding before surgery.
4. Identify Other Infection
Blood tests done by veterinary diagnostic services can reveal the presence of a virus or bacterial infection when owners notice their pet’s or cat’s strange behavior. Infections, for instance, generally result in increased levels of white blood cells on diagnostic tests.
If your dog is suffering from heartworm, Lyme disease, canine distemper, or kennel cough, you must have them tested for these diseases by testing their blood. A cat blood test is necessary to determine indications of feline immunodeficiency, feline leukemia virus, or leptospirosis.
5. Monitor Senior Pet Health
Blood tests are typically advised as part of the complete health checkups for mature, senior, and geriatric dogs. They can be helpful as we often see older dogs reverting to a younger state after blood tests indicate the presence of a problem that can be dealt with without hassle.
