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Question:
I How come my vet does a great big
blood test when we really only need
information about my dog's kidney
problems?
I've asked him several times about
this but he does a full blood test
every 6 weeks to see how the kidneys
are doing and it's getting expensive
if all that's needed is kidney
information. |
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Answer:
blood tests...
chemistry panel... what is
First, you don't
have to do anything you don't
approve. As
the dog's owner your duty is to take
the best care of your pet that you
can reasonably afford.
Nevertheless, do not be reluctant to
ask the veterinarian to do "the
least expensive test for what you
need to know".
Some
veterinary laboratories actually
charge the clinic nearly the same
fee for a "Chem 24 Panel" testing 24
biochemicals as for a "Chem 6 Panel"
which only provides six values.
So, the doctor may think for a very
slightly increase in your fee why
not gain insight into more values
just in case other organ systems are
beginning to fail?
Kidney problems... or any organ
system dysfunction... have a
universal impact on the patient.
In kidney disease toxins not
filtered out by the kidneys impact
the entire body especially the
liver. Blood pressure issues
secondary to kidney problems are
common and red blood cell
regeneration is hindered if the
kidneys are not producing a
substance erythropoietin.
You
can specify whatever you want or
don't want. Remember, though,
the doctor has an obligation to make
the best recommendations for each
patient. No doctor with a
failing patient ever wants to hear
"why didn't you check for that?" |
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Doctor's Notes:
Chemistry panel tests are very similar
to what human physicians utilize
whenever we have blood drawn for
annual checkups, when
sick or prior to a surgical procedure.
Dentistry...
Prior to a dentistry under anesthesia a chemistry
panel and other tests may be done to
evaluate the entire patient!
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Question:
Before
my veterinarian would do a surgery for a torn ACL I had to have a
blood chemistry and CBC done. My dog is perfectly healthy and I saw
no reason to spend money on these tests.
Do all veterinarians do these tests before every surgery?
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Answer:
blood
chemistry tests... CBC... why do...
In today's
medical world a concept exists called Standards Of Practice. It
delineates what constitutes good medical behavior and what doctors need to
offer their clients/patients regarding treatments, tests, alternative
actions and probable outcomes. One of the most valuable and
accessible things a doctor can do is obtain a patient's blood chemistry
report and a CBC. The CBC refers to a complete blood count of
red and white blood cells. These routine blood tests, along with a
urinalysis and a good physical exam will truly set the stage for a proper
and accurate assessment of the patient.
So why do it in an apparently healthy animal
prior to a surgery or dental procedure? Because on occasion a
patient has a metabolic problem that hasn't been recognized just
yet. If the red blood cell count is low, perhaps there's a clotting
problem or a bone marrow issue... and to do surgery on such a patient
might just lead to a disaster that could have been avoided. If liver
enzymes indicate a problem in that organ anesthesia might not go
well. What if the patient has very low blood sugar and will miss a
meal the day of surgery?
So it truly is a good standard of care to
recommend doing in-depth evaluations of any patient that is about to have
anesthesia and surgery, or is not feeling well, or feels well but is aging
and may be starting to have compromised organ systems. The data
revealed by doing a CBC and Chemistry Panel on our pet dogs and cats is
money well spent.
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Doctor's Notes:
Annual Exams...
Most veterinarians recommend testing blood and
urine samples once a year. One never knows for sure if a subclinical
disorder is present without doing some basic testing.
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Question:
Our 12 year old Springer
Spaniel recently had his annual checkup, blood tests and urine
check. About two months later he began to limp and in a matter of
days couldn't use his right rear leg at all.
The veterinarian discovered evidence on some
x-rays that our dog had bone cancer near his knee. Why didn't the
doctor know about this cancer with all the blood and urine tests that were
done?
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Go
to
VeterinaryMedicalImages.com
to see a number of photos of dogs and cats with
various conditions and diseases. View a few
x-rays (radiographs), surgery images and parasites,
too. |
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Answer: blood test for cancer...
You certainly did all you
could for your dog and it is understandable that with all that good care
the cancer wasn't detected early. Unfortunately there is no specific
blood or urine test for bone cancer in dogs. If the cancer had
invaded the liver or other organ, abnormalities in those organ tests would
have triggered a search for the cause and full body x-rays might have
revealed a much smaller, early cancer in the bone.
There are four kinds of bone cancer in dogs
and each has its own peculiar rate of growth and degree of pain
induced. Perhaps at the time the physical exam was done there was
little evidence of the cancer; it really is shocking just how fast these
can grow.
As informative as the Chemistry Panel, CBC and
urine analysis are they do not reveal evidence of a number of disorders or
conditions. Medicine is an art and a science. When the science
alone does not give us answers doctors make their best judgment regarding
what to do next for the patient. Biopsies, bacterial cultures, genetic
studies, ultrasonography and imaging techniques are additional
"tests" doctor employ to zero in on subtle and sometimes
mysterious disorders.
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Doctor's Notes
Annual Exams...
Most veterinarians recommend testing blood and
urine samples once a year. One never knows for sure if a subclinical
disorder is present without doing some basic testing.
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A chemistry panel is a group of assorted tests for specific
blood chemicals, the results of which give an insight into the
health of the patient.
