Jordan Ranch Veterinary Hospital
Bringing home a new puppy or kitten comes with a long list of veterinary care. Vaccines, parasite prevention, nutrition, spay or neuter planning, and plenty of questions usually take center stage.
Bloodwork may not be the first thing on your mind.
As that pet grows into an adult and eventually a senior, however, bloodwork can become an increasingly useful part of their health care.
At Jordan Ranch Veterinary Hospital, we recommend testing based on the individual pet rather than one schedule for every dog and cat.
Here is what West Jordan pet owners can expect at different life stages.
Puppies and Kittens: Does My New Pet Need Bloodwork?
Not necessarily at every visit.
Healthy puppies and kittens usually have frequent appointments for exams, vaccines, parasite prevention, and developmental care.
Bloodwork may be recommended if a young pet is not eating well, has repeated vomiting or diarrhea, seems weak or unusually tired, is not growing normally, or has another health concern.
Another common time is before anesthesia.
If your puppy or kitten is scheduled for a spay, neuter, or another procedure, pre-anesthetic bloodwork gives us information that a physical exam alone cannot provide.
What Are We Checking?
Veterinary bloodwork can include several tests.
A complete blood count looks at red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A chemistry panel provides information related to the kidneys, liver, blood sugar, proteins, electrolytes, and other internal processes.
Depending on your pet, we may recommend urine testing, thyroid testing, infectious disease screening, or another test too.
The purpose is not to run every test possible. We choose diagnostics based on your pet’s age, symptoms, history, and what we are trying to learn.
Adult Pets: The Quiet Years Are a Great Time for a Baseline
Healthy adult pets may not give us much to worry about, which is exactly what we want.
Bloodwork during these years can establish a baseline.
When we know what your pet’s results look like while they feel healthy, future testing becomes easier to compare.
A number does not always need to be dramatically abnormal to get our attention. If a value changes steadily compared with your pet’s earlier results, that trend may be worth watching.
Some healthy adult pets may have bloodwork annually. Others may need a different schedule based on age, breed, lifestyle, health history, and previous results.
Senior Pets: When “They’re Just Getting Older” Deserves a Second Look
Pets naturally change as they age.
But not every change should automatically be blamed on getting older.
If your senior dog begins drinking more water, your cat starts losing weight, or your pet sleeps more, eats differently, or needs more bathroom breaks, tell your veterinarian.
Bloodwork can help us look for conditions involving the kidneys, liver, thyroid, blood sugar, blood cells, and other systems.
Some senior pets may benefit from testing every six to twelve months. Pets with chronic conditions or medications may need more frequent monitoring.
There is no universal senior age. Large dogs tend to reach this stage sooner than smaller dogs.
Your Pet’s Lifestyle Matters Too
Age is important, but it is not the only thing we consider.
Tell us if your dog hikes, travels, spends a lot of time outdoors, goes to daycare or boarding, or regularly interacts with other animals.
Those details can affect which preventive tests make sense.
Two dogs of the same age may have very different lifestyles and health histories, so their recommendations do not have to match.
When Should You Call Before the Next Routine Visit?
If your pet develops symptoms, do not wait for the next annual exam.
Persistent vomiting or diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, increased thirst, frequent urination, reduced appetite, weakness, pale gums, collapse, significant tiredness, or a major behavior change can all be reasons to contact your veterinarian.
Bloodwork may help us understand what is happening.
Depending on the results, we may recommend urine testing, imaging, or another diagnostic step.
What About Pets Taking Medication?
Some medications require regular bloodwork.
We may need to monitor kidney or liver values, blood cells, electrolytes, or whether treatment is working the way we expect.
Your pet may need testing after starting a medication, after a dose change, and periodically once they are stable.
Even if your pet feels completely normal, those rechecks can help us make sure treatment remains appropriate.
Why Bloodwork Before Anesthesia?
Before surgery, dentistry, or another procedure requiring anesthesia, we want as much useful information as reasonably possible.
A physical exam tells us a lot. Bloodwork adds information about your pet’s internal health.
If a result is unexpected, we may adjust the anesthetic plan, recommend another test, or postpone an elective procedure.
Normal results are valuable too and become part of your pet’s health history.
Your Pet’s Plan Should Change as They Grow
The veterinary care your puppy needs today will not be exactly what they need five or ten years from now.
At Jordan Ranch Veterinary Hospital, we consider your pet’s age, health history, lifestyle, medications, symptoms, and previous results when recommending bloodwork.
If you are unsure whether your new puppy, adult pet, or senior companion is due for testing, ask us at their next visit. We can help you make a plan that fits where they are today.