It is essential for pet owners to understand the importance of comprehensive and regular health care for their canine companions. The cornerstone of preventive veterinary care is blood work, and knowing how often your dog should have blood work is key for monitoring their overall health. Bloodwork is an invaluable tool in diagnosing and treating various medical conditions. It can detect early signs of illness and alert us before these conditions become advanced. Knowing how often to have your dog’s blood tested is an essential part of pet ownership, and it will help you ensure that your pup is healthy and happy. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of blood work and explore how often your dog should have it done. We will go over the benefits of regular blood work, the types of blood tests, and why it’s important for pet owners to stay up to date on their dog’s blood work.
DOG ESSENTIALS Fab 4 – Four natural essentials to keep your dog healthy.
Make a natural meal plan for your dog quickly and easily.
Dr. Veterinarian Peter Dobias, DVM, has been practicing for 30 years. He wrote, taught, and assisted people in achieving health naturally, without the use of drugs, chemicals, or processed foods because of his love of dogs and his passion for natural healing and nutrition.
Today, I want to discuss blood testing and lab testing in general. Someone in our neighborhood recently asked me if blood tests are necessary or if they’re “just a money grab.” You may already be aware that I place a high priority on preventing disease through a raw and home-cooked diet, consistent cleansing and detoxification, and necessary supplements, but I guess I haven’t really talked about blood tests or testing in general, with the exception of canine hair testing. Blood testing has been one of the most crucial tools I’ve used in my work with thousands of dogs and their owners in the following areas:
Even for young dogs and puppies, you can further reduce the risk of complications by asking your veterinarian for a blood test. Anesthesia is now much safer than it once was. You might be surprised to learn that a lot of dogs, even puppies, have undiagnosed abnormalities that can affect how well they handle the stress of anesthesia. The issues that I frequently discover include elevated liver enzymes, kidney disease, undiagnosed UTIs, and hormonal imbalances like hypothyroidism. As a veterinarian, I always choose the same tests for my patients as I would for my own dog. This makes the suggestion-making process easy. The pre-anesthetic bloodwork can be compared to a seatbelt or a motorcycle helmet. No matter what age your dog is, it greatly improves their safety while under anesthesia.
I think one of the reasons I haven’t lost a dog under anesthesia in my 30 years of practice is pre-anesthetic blood testing. Before I put the patient under, I could address any issues I found.
A blood test is crucial to determine whether your dog needs dental cleaning and other oral care because many dogs with teeth problems have elevated kidney or liver values. This is partly because dogs who have severe periodontal disease, broken teeth, or abscesses run the risk of causing organ damage, as well as the spread of pathogens and toxins in the bloodstream. Here is information about a natural approach to dental care. Pre-anesthetic blood tests are useful for identifying post-anesthetic issues like NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) side effects. Additionally, I have witnessed numerous dogs—especially older ones—develop renal failure as a result of the use of these medications.
I considered replacing our old fridge a few months ago because, eventually, refrigerators start to leak. Then Christmas came. Our refrigerator was the last thing on my mind because I was so busy. Sure enough, a month later, the fridge started leaking. No way am I comparing your dog to a refrigerator, but this scratched our hardwood floors, and we had to pay for a floor repair in addition to buying a new fridge. Nevertheless, similar to the new refrigerator, preventive blood work identifies any issues (a k. a. organ issues, blood parasites, infections, anemia, and other “leaks” before they worsen
It’s best to identify the issue if a house has a termite infestation before there is structural damage. Similarly, prevention is best for your dog because it is typically less expensive than treatment. Most importantly, it results in your dog living a happier and longer life, which is what you ultimately want.
Generally, your dog’s screening test should include the following:
Generally speaking, it is wise to begin with the core test results and add additional tests based on those results or your local environment. The Lyme disease test in regions with a high prevalence of this tick-borne illness is a good example.
A greater number of tests might be required initially if your dog is in a more serious situation in order to make the diagnosis as soon as possible.
The answer is both yes and no. There are blood tests to confirm the exposure if a dog consumes antifreeze or rat poison and the owner either knows about it or notices clinical symptoms.
In general, our environment contains too many toxic substances, making it challenging to determine blood exposure to multiple toxins. Results from blood tests typically represent a “snapshot” in time rather than long-term exposure or deficiency.
I advise using the HairQ test to check your dog for toxins and deficiencies as it has made the process much simpler than in the past. The minerals from plasma in the hair shaft are sealed as your dog’s hair grows, acting as a “time capsule” One inch of hair, or less, when collected, contains data on your dog’s mineral composition and heavy metal levels for the previous four to six months (depending on how quickly your dog’s hair grows).
The results are very helpful in determining whether your dog’s diet is balanced or whether toxins are present in your dog’s environment or food. Check out our Facebook live video for more information on hair testing!
I previously wrote a lengthy piece titled “The Holistic Approach to Heartworm Prevention.”
There is one exception to the general rule that general preventive blood testing should begin when your dog is five years old, and that is dog titer testing. A titer measures your dog’s level of immunity to the most prevalent illnesses, including rabies, leptospirosis, distemper, and parvovirus.
I advise having your dog undergo a titer test for the first time at 12 weeks, followed by tests at 5 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Here is a comprehensive manual for vaccinating dogs holistically.
Blood tests, hair tests, and a semi-annual cleanse can all be very beneficial tools in your dog’s health and longevity toolbox if you want to keep them healthy for many years to come. According to my observations, many veterinarians continue to under-recommend testing out of concern that their clients will object or think it’s too “salesy.” ”.
The best query to ask your vet is: “What tests would you do for your dog?” I’m confident she or he will give you an honest response if you’re trying to keep your dog safe!
The Benefits of Blood Testing Your Dog
Dogs require thorough blood tests in addition to vaccinations and yearly physicals. Having your dog’s blood tested is valuable for confirming its health. Veterinarians can assess your dog’s overall health using blood work, down to the smallest detail. While physical examinations can help determine whether your dog appears to be in good health, blood tests will spot any underlying abnormalities before they pose a threat to your dog’s life or are fatal.
Therefore, when viewed in this light, canine blood tests are extremely beneficial instruments in a veterinarian’s toolkit that aid in the detection, identification, diagnosis, and even treatment of illness or disease.
Dog lab work can also help to identify and detect complex issues with various body systems. For instance, abnormal hormonal-chemical responses to external and internal stimuli can be found in dog blood tests, alerting a veterinarian to a potential problem with the dog’s endocrine system.
Understanding dog blood tests is second nature to us. But we recognize that you might not feel the same way. We always fully explain the outcomes of canine blood tests to the dog’s human caregivers for this reason. Blood test results require a knowledgeable and coordinated team effort for arrest and treatment. A complete blood count or a blood chemistry (serum) test will most likely be requested if we are ordering blood work for dogs.
Blood or lab tests allow us to obtain information about your dogs health that can only be found from collecting a sample of blood and having it analyzed. This includes a CBC (complete blood count) and blood chemistries, which analyze chemical components in the blood.
The complete blood count, or CBC, provides the vet with data on your dog’s immune system response, blood clotting capacity, anemia, infection, and level of hydration. When a dog exhibits symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pale gums, or loss of appetite, a CBC is imperative. A CBC can identify bleeding disorders or other hidden abnormalities if your dog needs surgery. Specifically, a CBC provides detailed information including:
FAQ
How often should dogs get blood test?
To ensure your pet’s health, it is advised that blood work be performed on them once a year. Senior pets, defined as dogs and cats that are 8 years or older, should undergo routine blood testing every six months because as they age, their health tends to deteriorate more quickly.
Do dogs need regular blood work?
Contrary to popular belief, routine blood tests for both healthy and sick animals are crucial. When your pet is young and healthy, having blood work done gives your veterinarian a trustworthy baseline to compare results with when they get older or become ill.
What tests do dogs need yearly?
The complete blood count (CBC), biochemistry profile, urinalysis, and thyroid hormone testing are the four major categories of wellness tests that are advised for dogs. Your veterinarian will give you advice on how extensive the testing should be for each category.
How much does it cost to run blood work on a dog?
The price of dog blood work varies significantly depending on the test and your location. Costs for a complete blood count and a full chemistry panel should be between $170 and $200. If you’re at the emergency vet, expect higher prices.