
The Benefits of Annual Bloodwork
Annual bloodwork is a simple, routine procedure which offers a wealth of understanding about the health of your animal family member, today and for the future. By providing information about organ function, blood cell count, and more, your veterinarian can best guide your family as you pursue health and wellbeing for your animal family member. Below are some of the key benefits of electing to participate in annual bloodwork for your dog or cat.
Early Detection of Diseases
Regular bloodwork can detect early signs of diseases, such as kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, or hormonal disorders, before symptoms become apparent. Early detection often leads to more effective treatment, and in some cases prevention of disease. This can be particularly pertinent for senior dogs and cats, as health conditions begin to creep over the horizon with age. Detecting disease early can contribute to overall longevity and wellbeing of your animal family member.
Baseline Health Data
Yearly tests provide baseline health data for your pet. By having a library of bloodwork results over the years to refer to, your veterinarian will have an understanding of what is normal for your animal family member as an individual, and be able to recognize when something is amiss. This information becomes crucial in aiding a speedy diagnosis and treatment plan when your pet falls ill.
Medication Monitoring
For pets on long-term medications, annual bloodwork is crucial to monitor the effects of these drugs on the body’s organs and to adjust dosages if necessary. For those who have not previously been on regular medications, but the need arises with age or diagnosis of disease, bloodwork can be imperative to ensure organ function is compatible with new medications.
Identifying Hidden Conditions
Animals may display signs of unwellness in ways too subtle for us to detect, if at all. Some dogs or cats may appear healthy, but could be silently suffering from a hidden issue. If your dog or cat suffers from chronic symptoms, which can equate to a myriad of possible issues rather than something more specific, bloodwork is a critical diagnostic tool which can narrow the top differentials to your veterinarian, helping them determine the issue which produces the symptoms.