Preventative care is not only limited to vaccines and heartworm prevention or annual heartworm test and fecal exam. Blood work is also recommended for all patients of any age, either at time of spay or neuter surgery, or during annual examination.
What does it mean when the doctor recommend blood work on your pet? Blood work – presurgical or otherwise – is usually a combination of a complete blood count (CBC) and a blood chemical analysis. Blood work is a basic evaluation tool. Just like when we go to a medical doctor, blood work provides the veterinarian further information on our pets systemic health. Generally, various levels of annual blood work is recommended on our furbabies throughout their life, not just the older pets. Additionally, blood panels allow monitoring progression of diseases, or catch problems before they make our pets sick. When the blood sample is drawn from your pet, both the cells and the fluid they “travel” in are examined.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
The cell part of the blood is examined in the CBC. The CBC determines the number of erythrocytes (red blood cells), the number and type of leukocytes (white blood cells), the number of platelets (thrombocytes), the hemoglobin level, and the hematocrit (packed cell volume, PCV). Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. White blood cells fight infection, respond to inflammation in
the body and are part of the immune system. There are five different types of white blood cells: neutrophils, lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, and monocytes. Each cell may respond to different diseases in the body. Platelets are clotting proteins and indicate how fast your pet’s blood can clot; slow clotting can be a serious problem. A CBC can tell your veterinarian if your pet has an unusual number of red blood cells (anemia, polycythemia), white blood cells, or platelets.
Blood Chemistry
A chemistry panel (blood chem, chemistry screen), tests kidney function, liver function and liver value levels, electrolyte levels, etc. Blood chemistries are run on the fluid in the blood sample called serum or plasma (The CBC is the examination of the cells in the blood sample). Changes of any of these values may indicate endocrine or metabolic disease going on in the body.
Endocrine Panel
Older pets are at increase risk of endocrine diseases, such as overactive or underachieve thyroids. Discuss further with your veterinarian.
Don’t forget urine!
Urine is described by internal medicine specialist as liquid gold. A urinalysis can provide a lot of information to a pets overall health. It can show changes or disease in the liver, and kidneys, screen for diabetes, indicate high blood pressure and more! Underlying or early disease can be not just evaluating for urinary tract infection or bladder health.
What does this all mean?
Changes in any of these blood values may indicate underlying metabolic disease such as diabetes, suggest endocrine disease such as Cushing’s or Addision’s disease, or suggest possible cancer or tumor present. Blood panels can also indicate dysfunction of vital organs such as liver and kidneys.
What else can be done to screen my pet health annually?
Along with blood panel and urinalysis to survey a pets overall health, as our pets age (over 6 years of age), annual blood pressure checks, full eye exams, and x- rays (radiographs) of chest and abdomen can help screen for possible disease before they make our pets sick. Discuss with your veterinarian further at your pet’s next wellness exam.
