An Ounce of Prevention: Why Are Yearly Lab Tests So Important?
–by Timothy Hodge, DVM
We love our pets! Am I right? We really, really love our pets. They sleep in our beds. They eat high quality diets. They have their own toy subscription boxes. They travel with us. They have their own groomers, parks, playdates, day- care….and the list goes on. This is how much we love our pets. And that love and bond is affected so very much when our pets become sick or have an illness, especially if that health issue compromises their quality and quantity of life. Well this is where, at a minimum, yearly lab testing becomes so important. When your pet goes
to the veterinary hospi- tal, a history and physical examination are per- formed, and are hall- marks of a routine wellness visit. A wellness visit allows for a “hands on” evaluation of the pet, update any necessary vaccina- tions and provide protection from parasites. But now, that hall- mark includes a physical exam of the inside of the body via lab testing. Why is preventive lab testing so important? It is always better to prevent disease. But, we know that
Maize. Florida Cocker Spaniel Rescue, Dog Days Dade City 2018
kidneys. His veterinarian found severe congenital kidney dyspla- sia. Through dietary management the clinician prescribed, the dog lived to see his third birthday. While the outcome was devastating to his family, his veterinarian estimates that finding the problem and intervening early extended the dog’s life at least a year. In addition, early screening prevented the dog from suddenly presenting with acute kidney failure—poten- tially leading to immedi- ate euthanasia. Time between diagnosis and final decline also allows the veterinary team to prepare the family. It’s a sad case, but early diag- nosis had an impact on the dog’s life—as short as it was.
Case Example: Mature Cat (Seven to Nine Years Old) A mature cat presented for a wellness exam, including blood
prevention has its limits. Early disease detection and proactive approaches allow for our pets to have longer and better lives. Lab testing may not detect all disorders, but we celebrate normal tests. Yearly lab testing allows us to establish your pet’s individual normal results and detect subclinical changes. This can trigger proactive investigation, monitoring and management. If a signif- icant abnormality is detected but your pet is seemingly normal, better to find it now, create a plan and be prepared for the future. Want to see yearly testing in action? How about checking
out a few case studies. This is from a report published by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Case Example: Eighteen-Month Old Labrador
Retriever An 18-month-old Labrador Retriever presented for a wellness exam, including a heartworm test, blood chemistry, and CBC (complete blood count). The young adult dog seemed to be thriving, but his blood chemistry showed abnormal kidney values. Even with no other clinical signs, the values warranted additional testing, including an abdominal ultrasound of the 78 THE NEW BARKER
chemistry and CBC. Blood work was performed and revealed low albumin (a protein value)—not just low compared to reference values, but low for this cat, which the veterinary team knew from screening over several years. These abnormal results triggered additional diagnostics, including an abdominal ultra- sound and biopsy. The diagnosis? Inflammatory bowel disease. While this cat had lost some weight over time, he did not present with the clinical signs of significant weight loss. The veterinarian recommended dietary changes and medication that continue to keep this feline patient stable. Case Example: Six-Year-Old Cocker Spaniel A seemingly healthy six-year-old cocker spaniel came to see
his veterinarian for a wellness exam, including chemistry profile and CBC. The results showed that the dog had a low hematocrit (low red blood cells - Anemia). The veterinarian recommended an abdominal x-ray as a next step diagnostic. The image showed a splenic mass. The dog went into surgery that same afternoon. Pathology report reported the mass as benign. Thanks to preven- tative care screening though, the family avoided a medical crisis, where the dog likely would’ve needed a blood transfusion and would have been at greater risk from anesthesia during emergency surgery. By finding the mass before crisis hit, the veterinary team was able to handle the case proactively.
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