Even if you keep up with annual wellness visits for your pet, you might wonder why we use some of the most common diagnostic tools. Understanding how your veterinarian examines your pet and what they are looking for can help you get the best care for your furry friend. Do you know why blood work is vital for your pet at a wellness visit? Keep reading to find out:
It Shows If Organs Are Functioning Properly
One of the most critical facets of veterinary blood work is what it can tell us about your pet’s organs. Drawing some blood can give your veterinarian a high-level overview of vital organs like the kidneys, liver, heart, pancreas, and thyroid. If there is evidence of a problem with an organ, the veterinary team will perform further tests to get more information about what is happening. Issues often appear first in the blood, so we are always looking to see if all the numbers look good for your pet’s age, breed, and size.
It Details Complete Blood Count
One of the primary markers we check with blood work is the Complete Blood Count (CBC). This can tell us the makeup of your pet’s red and white blood cells, as well as his or her platelet count. This information can clue us into critical details like how hydrated your pet is, whether or not they are anemic, if they have inflammation, or if an infection is present. A vet might also use a CBC if an animal presents with a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pale gums, or a loss of appetite.
It Provides a Blood Chemistry Profile
Blood chemistry profiles are essential tools for veterinarians to assess the internal health of an animal. These tests show more details like electrolyte levels, endocrine health, blood sugar levels, and other internal processes. It is one of our first glimpses inside of your pet and lets us know if something is amiss and requires us to investigate further.
It Establishes a Health Baseline
It Allows Us to Check for Heartworm Disease
Heartworm disease can be very problematic for animals. Especially if a pet has not consistently been on a monthly preventive, we like to check for parasites like heartworms in the blood work. A heartworm test is essential even if your pet has been on a preventative. Heartworm prevention is effective in most cases but not 100%. As with any diagnosis, the faster we can spot it, the better our chance of treating it successfully.
It Lets Us Know When There Is a Problem
Animals often hide signs of weakness, such as when they are not feeling their best. Because of this, it can be hard to spot specific issues early. Internal diagnostics like blood work will give us a clue when something is not right inside your pet’s body. This is one reason why annual wellness exams are so important for dogs and cats and why blood work is vital for your pet at these exams.
Bloodwork is vital for younger pets as it establishes a baseline for future tests. Your veterinarian can compare your pet’s specific bloodwork results over time against the baseline to identify areas of concern when numbers are out of line.
Westarbor Animal Hospital is here for your annual wellness visits, surgery, nutritional counseling, and anything else your pet might need during his or her lifetime. Preventive medicine is the best way to set your pet up for a life full of health and wellness. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please call (734) 769-5391.
