Quote:
Originally Posted by marcerella02  Crystal, is there a special test you ask for at the vet to get her calc/phos checked beyond just a blood panel? |
Not that I know of.
While blood tests do show calcium levels, the problem is if the body is low it will start to pull it out of the bones. The test might come back normal because it is a measure of what is in the blood, not the bones, but the bones could be being depleted the whole time (if I understand this right).
Michigan State University does some kind of extra blood testing having to do with minerals but it probably isn't even worth it for an average, healthy dog.
If a food meeting AAFCO requirements is being fed, the dog is at a good weight and pretty much healthy, their eyes look good (Ellie's nutritionist's notes said something about having the vet check her eyes...maybe the iris...probably something about the way it looks and poor nutrition could give it a different look???
) and blood panels are normal, I would be happy with that.
I trust the recipe that Ellie is on, so we don't do any special or extra testing because of diet. Ellie has started to get a blood panel once a year though and I do look at calcium, phosphorus... because it comes with the package...