Regular and routine blood testing is an important part of your pet’s preventive healthcare. It used to be that veterinarians only recommended blood work for older pets, but it’s equally important for younger healthy pets. It’s the best way to detect potential health problems before they become evident through symptoms. It’s also critically important before your pet undergoes any kind of anesthetic procedure, even a routine dental cleaning.
Typically, your vet will run a blood chemistry panel and a complete bloodcount. The College of Veterinary Medicine of Washington State University has an excellent explanation of what these lab tests mean.
Amber, who is probably 11 years old (best guess – she was a stray when I got her as a young adult), gets complete veterinary exams and blood work (CBC, chemistry and thyroid) twice a year.
