Why Bloodwork is So Important

In veterinary medicine, we are at a distinct disadvantage to our human doctor counterparts. Our patients cannot speak. They cannot say ,” Doc, I often have to get up and urinate during the night” or “ I get nauseous every time I have an empty stomach.” Many things can be detected by a very observant owner but, let’s face it, we all have busy lives and sometimes,  multiple pets. “ Axel” the 8 year old Doby may just hold that urine until morning comes, despite being uncomfortable for a few hours.  “Princess” the 9 yr old Yorkie, may have early kidney disease leading to gastritis on a nightly basis. 

Without the ability to ask our patients important questions, we have to rely on a good physical exam, bloodwork and often radiographs. In urgent care, things get even more difficult as we may have not seen your pet before. 

 

Baseline bloodwork at your wellness check up

It is very helpful to have some baseline bloodwork of your pet. This may be done yearly at your wellness visit. I highly recommend yearly bloodwork after 7 years of age. Did you know that 89% of veterinarians run Senior bloodwork panels on their own pets when they are over 7, but often do not recommend that for their patients?!

If your patient comes in on urgent care and has new symptoms such as vomiting, inappetence, diarrhea or weight loss, we can often compare new bloodwork to your baseline. This will help us to differentiate something new that has come up and a more chronic condition your pet has been dealing with. 

If you have some bloodwork results for your pet, I recommend having copies in your possession in case of emergency. This can be helpful if you are forced to use an Emergency Clinic. Any additional information we can get to the ER doctors will be very appreciated.

 

Some interesting statistics:

• 17% of older cats that appear healthy have underlying disease likely detected with lab work.
• 23% of senior dogs that appear healthy have underlying disease likely detected with lab work.
• 5% of young pets that appear healthy have underlying disease likely detected with lab work. 

The primary veterinarians at Somerset can do baseline bloodwork at your wellness visit for a reasonable fee. Think of it as an investment into your pet’s health.  Urinalysis is also helpful and may be recommended by your primary care provider.

 

What are we looking for?

1. Diseases which we could find that may be fatal.
2. Diseases or conditions which may cause pain and suffering.
3. Diseases or conditions which may cause inconvenience or mild illness.

 

What can we do if we find something?

1. Food as medicine. We may recommend a prescription diet to help stop or slow a disease process.
2. Nutritional support in the form of supplements. Especially with liver disease or some GI diseases.
3. Weight management to help prevent diabetes or joint issues. 
4. Finally, we may need to add a medication to help your pet live longer and better.

 

Be proactive: “Senior Wellness Begins at Birth”

Some things you may request for you pet to prevent some common old age issues with your pet:

1. Genetic testing to help know what risks may be in the future for your pet.
2. FIV/ FeLV and HW screening for you cat. Even if indoors, these tests should be done at least once in his/her lifetime.
3. SDMA to detect early kidney disease ( this is a great idea for young and middle aged patients)
4. Urinalysis – Can often detect kidney disease earlier than bloodwork. Also detects diabetes, infection, protein losing nephropathy and even crystals!
5. Troponin levels to help diagnose heart disease in cats.
6. Consult with your veterinarian about diet. Our patients eat the same thing day in and day out. A good quality diet specifically formulated for your pet may prolong his/ her life.

 

Bloodwork gives us so much information

In addition, other laboratory tests may be requested to get even more information so that we may properly diagnose your patient and treat them accordingly. 

Luckily, we have the ability to get most bloodwork results in a very short time, right in the clinic. This helps us make the right decision for your pet. 

 

We look forward to serving your pet on Urgent Care at Somerset Veterinary Clinic. We

hope this information will help you make decisions about your pet’s health even before you have an urgent need for veterinary care.