Our Pet Mobile Vet - Dr Julia Malcolm
What Your Pet’s Blood and Urine Tests Can Actually Reveal
Why does your veterinarian recommend routine testing of blood and urine, particularly in senior dogs and cats?
The goal of every veterinarian is to identify any problems your pet may have very early, because sometimes, early detection can mean better treatment options or possibly slowing the progression of a disease.
It is amazing what can be learned about your pet’s health with a few tests conducted on samples of blood and urine.
Drawing the blood sample or catching a bit of urine is the first part of the equation.
So what happens after your veterinarian obtains samples of your pet’s blood and urine?
Your vet will select a suitable set of tests, depending on what is the concern: old age, weight loss, lethargic or to monitor medications used to control a disease.
Blood test can review the number and quality of red and white blood cells, electrolytes, blood sugar levels, liver, pancreas and kidney function and more.
More specific tests may be required depending on the results of the initial screening tests.
Blood tests also monitor the levels of certain medications including epilepsy medications, or even hormone levels prior to breeding.
Urine testing is used to look for glucose in the urine, blood and inflammatory cells even protein or bacteria in the urine.
The Older They Get: Common Health Problems in Senior Cats and Dogs
The risk for some diseases increases with the age of your pet.
Listed below are some common problems found in senior dogs and cats, many of which can be present without your pet showing any outward signs until the disease is quite advanced.
So the next time your vet recommends that blood be drawn for a specific test or for wellness screening, remember: Early detection can make a difference!
If it is time for your pet’s health check or medication review, or you feel your pet is not 100%, remember blood and urine can tell us a lot.
Call us at Our Pet Mobile Vet on 0438 535 878