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Originally Posted by aquinn  Not sure if this is the same thing or not, but when Tucker was neutered they did blood work and never said anything to me about the results. They went ahead with the neuter though so can I assume all is well? Do I need to have any other tests done. Also, if the dog is healthy and isn't displaying any symptoms why would this need to be done every year? Also, is this the same as the heartworm test or something different?
Thanks in advance for any insight!!! |
I do the routine uranalysis only b/c it can pick up a laundry list of issues and is relatively inexpensive. My puppies all need both to detect issues prior to sale. I've never had an annual bloodwork or urine test show any problems with my foundation stock, I just feel I owe it to my puppies to make sure nothing is going on with my Dams / Sires.... Many issues can crop up as animals age such as liver or kidney disease, ect...
Most vets complete a CBC prior to surgery of any kind (not to be confused with blood chemistry, so I'm sure that was routine. Although, a seruim test was certainly not part of that bloodwork.
We tests each year b/c our dogs can't tell us if there is an issue, so it is my best ally in monitoring their health.
Here's a list of our wellcheck (same as Dr. Dodd's):
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
anemia, infection, inflammation and blood cells health (both red and white)
Chemistry Tests
Oragan System functions:
Liver: checks for decreased liver function, inflammation, infection, or neoplasia of the liver and gall bladder
Kidney: monitor the function and health of the kidneys. very useful when combined with a urinalysis
Pancreas: issues with pancreas or carbohydrate metabolism
Muscle and Bone: Calcium and Phosphorus levels give insite in to bone formation and health also issues with muscle damage, trauma or inflammation.
Electrolytes: electrolyte deficiencies or excesses are harmful to an animal's physical and mental well-being.
Urinalysis: can detect kidney disease, possible PSS or other hepatic issues