Wellness Programs
Blood Work Opens a Window to Your Pet’s Health
It was a typical day during Dental Awareness Month at Bingle Vet, when a client called Mrs. Jones bought Angel in for her annual dental cleaning. Angel is a beautiful, spunky, white, five-year-old toy poodle, who knows and is loved by everyone in the clinic. On this day, like every time she visits, Angel bounced through the clinic, head high, little pompom tail wiggling as fast as it could from side to side, a picture of perfect health.
Prior to dental cleaning, we always recommend blood work to assure that the pet is healthy enough to withstand sedation. Our typical day turned gray when we completed Angel’s blood test and learned that she had an acute liver problem. If we had sedated her, she might have had complications.
Even if she had survived sedation and dental cleaning, however, Angel’s liver problem would have gone undetected, likely until the disease had progressed too far to save her. As I said, she was the picture of health. With the blood test, we were able to prescribe the proper medication. After four weeks we tested her blood again, and she was able to have her teeth cleaned. More importantly, her liver problem was caught early.
The facts are clear. Approximately 20% of all senior dogs that appear healthy during a physical examination actually have an underlying, undetectable disease. Undetectable, that is, without a blood test. Blood work identifies a variety of health problems, including diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, infection, anemia, Addison’s disease, and malnutrition. If these conditions are caught early, they can be treated before further complications set in. Once a pet starts showing signs of sickness or symptoms of disease, the condition is often so far advanced that it is difficult and costly to treat.
As Angel’s case illustrates, annual blood work should be considered an important part of any pet’s wellness program. I can perform physicals all day long, examining everything from your pet’s nose to the tip of its tail, but without blood work, there is no way for me to know what is going on internally. While physically, a pet may look and act healthy, the question begs, “What is going on inside?” The only way to know that is to “look” inside.
Blood work is an early detection tool that will help extend your pet’s life. It is a window into the body.
— Dr. Robert Vaughan, II
Bingle Veterinary Clinic
In an effort to help all pets live longer, healthier and happier lives we recommend:
- Twice-a-year wellness exams to help detect, treat and prevent health problems before they become serious
- Disease prevention based on your pet’s lifestyle, the threats in your area and other risk factors
- Pet owner education, especially awareness of the pet aging process
WELLNESS EXAMS - For the Health of Your Pet
The key to a healthy pet is the early detection and prevention of disease.
The gradual onset of health problems in an apparently healthy pet often go unnoticed. Once symptoms appear the condition may be too difficult or costly to diagnose and treat. Age is not a disease; however, there are many conditions, that if diagnosed early, can be completely reversed or controlled for extended periods of time
Regular dental care, vaccinations, parasite control and a balanced diet are essential for the health of your pet. Laboratory testing plays an integral role in the early detection of changes in your pet's health. Diagnostic tests provide essential information by which your veterinarian can identify blood disorders, kidney and liver disease, diabetes, infection, cancer, thyroid disease and other hormonal problems.
For a more detailed explanation of diagnostic laboratory testing, ask our veterinarian today about participating in a wellness program - for the health of your pet.
Early Detection Questionnaire
- Bad breath or drooling
- Change in appetite or weight
- Change in attitude or responsiveness
- Change in sleeping patterns
- Change in urination (amount or frequency)
- Change in water consumption
- Confusion or disorientation
- Constipation, diarrhea, or vomiting
- Coughing
- Heavy or rapid breathing at rest
- Incontinence
- Lethargy or depression
- Lumps or bumps on or under the skin
- Noticeable decrease in vision (e.g., bumping into furniture)
- Sneezing
- Stiffness (e.g., trouble jumping, climbing stairs, or walking)
A Pet Owner's Guide to Laboratory Testing.
Many technologies that help humans live longer, healthier lives are available to your pet. By performing a few basic tests your veterinarian is able to gather a wealth of information concerning the well-being of your pet.
There are four basic wellness tests your veterinarian will use to diagnose the health of your pet:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
This tests for anemia, infection, inflammation and the healthiness of blood cells. - Chemistry Tests
These panels survey many of the organ systems of the body to make sure they are working properly. - Thyroid Function Tests
These tests are useful in diagnosing increased (hyper) or decreased (hypo) functions of the thyroid gland. - Urinalysis
This test assesses the health and function of the urinary system. This is especially important in older animals to help with the early detection of kidney disease.