Wellness Testing

Why Does My Pet Need Wellness Testing Each Year?

The natural instinct of our pets is to disguise or hide any outward appearance of illness. This behavior has obvious benefits in the wild but can be harmful, if not life-threatening, in domesticated companion animals.

It’s important to identify the early signs of illness in order to begin treatment or take measures to prevent further injury or progression of disease.

Animals age at an accelerated rate compared to people, roughly seven years to each one year of our lives. We recommend annual wellness exams and testing for your pet; some pets, for example older pets, may need exams twice a year.

The doctor may recommend wellness testing:

- before a surgical procedure (spay/ neuter, dental cleaning, etc.)

- before prescribing medications
- after prescribing medications to monitor for adverse reactions

- or simply to collect a baseline for future reference.

Tests May Include:

• Hematology Tests (evaluation of blood cells)

• Blood Chemistry Tests (evaluation of organ function and electrolytes)

• Urinalysis

• Heartworm Test

• Intestinal Parasite Check

• Other Tests Based on Age, Breed, and Existing Medical Conditions

Hematology Tests

Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A CBC evaluates a patient’s red cells, white cells, and platelets. Prior to surgery it is important to determine if a patient is anemic (low red cells), has an infection or inflammation (high white cells), would be unable to fight an infection (low white cells), and has the ability to form blood clots if bleeding (platelets).

Blood Chemistry Tests
Screening tests identify abnormal levels of the substances listed below that may signal the presence of disease.

Liver Tests
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Albumin (ALB), Total Protein (TP), Total Bilirubin (TBili)

Kidney Tests
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Creatinine (Crea), Calcium (Ca2+)

Other Tests
Glucose (Glu), Electrolytes Tests

Thyroid
Hypothyroidism (most common in dogs)
Hyperthyroidism (most common in cats)

Adrenal
Hyperadrenocorticism (most common in dogs)
Hypoadrenocorticism (most common in dogs)

Complete Urinalysis (UA)
Urine is produced by the kidneys which constantly filter the patient’s blood. The circulating blood contains metabolites and waste products (normal and abnormal) from all organ systems. Performing a complete UA will evaluate the physical and chemical properties of the urine. Abnormal UA results may suggest disease from one or several body systems.

Heartworm Test
Heartworm larvae (immature heartworms) are transmitted from an infected dog to non-infected animals (including cats) by mosquitoes. Adult heartworms generally live in the heart and major arteries of the lungs but they can be found in other areas of the body. Heartworm disease can be prevented but all patients should be tested before beginning the once monthly medication. Michigan is an endemic area (area of high incidence of heartworm disease), and annual testing is recommended.

Intestinal Parasite Check
Certain gastrointestinal (GI) parasites are common to animals and humans and our increased mobility (pets and owners) has increased the spread and risk of GI parasitic disease. To ensure the health and well-being of your pet, a stool sample check for parasite eggs and cysts may be recommended by your veterinarian.

Pre-Anesthetic Screening

Why We Recommend Pre-Anesthetic Health Screening.
Use of sedatives and general anesthesia for procedures is common and considered safe, but there are potential risks even for a young, healthy animal. Age, pre-existing medical conditions and the stress of surgery and anesthesia increase the risk of complications. Therefore, knowledge of a patient's complete health status prior to any procedure requiring sedation or anesthesia is not just good medicine, it is critical to help ensure a successful outcome. Identifying underlying conditions will enable your veterinarian to select the best combination of drugs, fluid therapy, and monitoring tools ultimately reducing the risk of complications to your pet.

You Can Help Reduce Your Pet’s Risk of Disease
Your veterinarian or a qualified member of their staff will be happy to discuss correct frequency of health exams and appropriate tests for your pet based on breed, medical history and lifestyle.

Ask for Wellness testing today.
Confirm your pet's good health or identify signs of disease early and intervene to give your pet a longer, healthier life.

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