Veterinarians depend on laboratory testing to determine many facets of your dog's health. You should think ahead and have basic lab tests done when your dog is young and in good health. This gives your veterinarian a baseline of your dog's normal levels to help check for abnormalities as he ages. Subtle changes in new tests can help detect the presence of a disease in its early stages and may allow you to stop it, or at the least begin aggressive treatment to control it.
Once your veterinarian has established a baseline for your dog, you should have the tests repeated yearly. For geriatric dogs, testing every six months is recommended.
The following basic tests are recommended:
Complete blood count - The complete blood count test measures the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in a given sample of blood. The numbers and types of these cells help to diagnose anemia, infections, and leukemia. It also helps your veterinarian monitor your dog's response to some medical treatments.
Urinalysis - Laboratory analysis of urine is used to detect the presence of specific substances that normally do not appear in urine, such as blood, protein, white blood cells, or sugars. Measuring their concentrations in urine helps in diagnosing diseases. Urinalysis is also used to diagnose urinary-tract infections, diabetes, dehydration, kidney problems, and many other potential health problems.
Blood-chemistry panel - The blood-chemistry panel measures electrolytes, enzymes and chemical elements such as calcium and phosphorous. This information is invaluable to your veterinarian in checking the function of organs such as the kidneys, pancreas, and liver.
Parasite evaluation - Microscopic examination of your dog's feces can help detect various problems, such as digestive difficulties, internal bleeding, and pancreatic disorders. The most routine function of this test is confirming the presence of intestinal parasites, such as whipworm, hookworm, roundworm, tapeworm, and giardia.
Depending on your dog's condition, your veterinarian may recommend other tests, such as blood pressure evaluation; heartworm check; urine protein evaluation; cultures; imaging such as x-rays, ultrasound, and echocardiography; electrocardiography, and special ophthalmic evaluations.
Additional testing may be necessary to further evaluate senior pets that show signs of illness or who are being prepared for anesthesia and surgery.
Credit: dogtime.com
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