Why does the veterinarian recommend blood work?
We recommend annual blood work for all of our patients, especially our senior patients (those that are seven years of age or older). These tests provide baseline levels for your pet and become part of his or her medical record for future reference. A healthy-appearing pet may be hiding symptoms of a disease or aliment. For example, a pet can lose up to 75% of kidney function before showing any visible signs of illness. Blood work can aid in early detection of disease and allow us to begin treatment before symptoms occur. Blood work is always recommended for pets that are sick or pets that are not acting normally. This can help us quickly and accurately determine the cause of illness. Blood work is also strongly recommended prior to anesthesia. It’s our job to ensure that your pet can properly process and then eliminate the anesthetic he or she is given. Before we perform any procedure requiring anesthesia, we recommend running blood tests to confirm that your pet’s organs are functioni
