Creature Feature

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette dog illustration.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette dog illustration.

Why is it important for my dog to have blood tests during his annual exam? Why does he need a blood test even when he's obviously healthy?

Annual blood tests allow veterinarians to establish what they call "baselines" or normals for your pet. These baselines tell the veterinarian what is typical for an animal and makes it easier to diagnose a health problem, which is particularly helpful when dealing with middle-age to older pets.

The American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association recommend annual blood tests for older animals (those 7 years old and older) and six-month tests for even more aged pets. Based on the two organizations' guidelines, a geriatric animal -- my 15-year-old Chihuahua, for example -- could benefit from testing every six months. That's because an elderly pet's baseline levels and health can change rapidly.

An article in Your Dog, a publication of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Massachusetts, explains blood tests and the role they play in uncovering diseases and health conditions.

First, it's helpful knowing what the vet means when he mentions blood tests. Veterinarians routinely test blood for the presence of heartworms and other parasites, plus there's a blood test that allows vets to check for heartworm disease as well as three tick-borne diseases.

Wellness exams and pre-surgical screenings might include two more over-reaching types of blood tests -- the complete blood count, and the blood chemistry or serum panel.

A complete blood count looks at the size, type and number of blood cells to flag any issues pertaining to blood, such as anemia, infection or problems with blood clotting. The blood chemistry test, on the other hand, involves the portion of the blood -- serum -- that doesn't contain cells. A serum test can reveal problems with specific organs, among them the liver and kidneys, by showing levels of enzymes and proteins, among other things.

A complete blood count, according to Your Dog, will show whether an animal's white blood count is elevated. A higher-than-normal white blood cell count could indicate there's a viral, bacterial or fungal infection. Leukemia, bone marrow cancer and other types of cancers also can cause the number of white blood cells to rise. The test also provides information about five specific types of white blood cells, in which changes can present clues to the specific type, severity and cause of a health issue.

The number of red blood cells also can shine a light on a pet's health. A complete blood count might reveal that the red blood cell count is low, which could mean an animal is anemic. A decrease in red blood cells also might indicate chronic kidney disease or intestinal bleeding.

A basic blood chemistry screening gives a veterinarian glimpses into how a pet is doing systemically, according to petmd.com. A typical blood chemistry panel for a dog might check general metabolism, specifically looking for something like high blood sugar, which could mean the dog has diabetes. The test would also show if the dog has low blood sugar.

The serum test shows measurements of electrolytes, as an electrolyte imbalance can be life-threatening. Too much potassium, for instance, could cause abnormal heart rhythms, according to the Your Dog article.

Vets also look to the blood chemistry panels to ascertain how well a dog's liver, thyroid and pancreas are working. If a dog has elevated liver enzymes, he might have a disease of the liver or gall bladder. While the dog might not yet be showing symptoms of disease, the vet will have a head's up and be able to prescribe medication to manage and treat the condition before it becomes life-threatening.

Family on 08/24/2016

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