Health Care for the Life of your Pet    

       

   

Pet Wellness and Blood work

None of us like to think about the fact that we will most likely out-live our pets.  In fact, on the average, our pet’s age 7 times faster than we do.  That means that at 4 years of age your pet is considered middle-aged and by age 7, large breed dogs are considered seniors.

The good news is that thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, pets are living longer and healthier than ever before.

Working together with your veterinarian there are things you can do to ensure this.

First:  Be aware of your pet’s habits at home and alert your veterinarian of any changes in your pet’s behavior, appetite, weight, or personality.  Don’t assume that alterations in your pet are just a result of “getting old”.  Many changes signal serious medical conditions.  For example, a senior dog urinating in the house may have bladder or kidney stones, arthritis or weak bladder muscle tone.  An old cat who’s less active may be losing vision, have arthritis, or early heart disease.  Weight gain could signal an under active thyroid gland or diabetes.

Second:  Ensure your senior pet has a Wellness exam every six months as recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association. These exams review all body systems and will assist your veterinarian in diagnosing, treating or even preventing problems before they become life-threatening.  Your veterinarian should also review your pet’s changing nutritional needs and any behavior issues at this time.

Third:  As part of the Wellness exams, discuss having preventative screening tests run with your veterinarian. 

These tests could include:

Complete Blood Count

-evaluates the red blood cells, five different white blood cells, and platelets.

-screens for anemia, some cancers, infection, and evaluates the immune system

            Chemistry Panel

-screens for major organ function: kidney, pancreas and liver

-measures electrolyte levels in the blood

            Thyroid screen

            Blood pressure check

            Urinary Analysis

evaluates kidney function

screens for urinary tract infection and stones

screens for diabetes

Developing a schedule for the above tests over several wellness exams will give you piece-of-mind that your senior pet is healthy and comfortable in their golden years.

Demystifying Animal Blood

What does it mean when your veterinarian recommends blood work?  What information does it actually reveal about your pet’s health?

Blood is made up of cells and fluid.  Examination of the cellular part of the blood is called a complete blood count.  The fluid portion of the blood contains the chemicals (proteins, enzymes and electrolytes).  Analysis of the fluid part of the blood involves measuring these substances to determine if they are at a healthy level for that pet.

A complete blood count (CBC) examines the cellular part of the blood.  Generally, this part of the analysis is done by a machine which counts and measures all the different cells in the blood using laser technology.  A certified veterinary technician (CVT) also examines a blood smear under a microscope.  This visual exam serves to confirm the values from the machine and also give a picture of the cells themselves.  Sometimes, the technician is able to identify red blood cell parasites with microscopic examination.

The following cells are analyzed in a CBC:Erythrocytes or red blood cells (RBCs) carry oxygen to all other cells of the body.  Elevated numbers indicate dehydration.  Lowered numbers indicate anemia or bleeding.  Evaluation of the size, shape, and color of the RBCs determines if the bone marrow is appropriately making new cells. 

There are 5 types of white blood cells (WBCs)—neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.  WBCs are part of the immune system and help fight infection.  Increases can indicate infection, inflammation, or certain types of cancer.  Decreases could mean viral infection, bone marrow suppression, or sepsis (blood poisoning).

Platelets are also measured in a CBC.  They are an integral part of the blood clotting process.  Decreased platelets can cause serious bleeding. 

Chemistries and electrolytes are measured in the fluid part of the blood called serum or plasma.  The following are some of the things commonly measured: 

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine are waste products of cellular metabolism which are excreted by the kidneys.  Elevations indicate serious dehydration, kidney failure, or an obstruction in the urinary system causing urine not to be expelled from the body. 

Total protein measurement gives an assessment of multiple organ systems and overall health.  Decreases point to problems with the GI tract, liver or kidneys.  Albumin and globulin are types of proteins.  Increased globulins indicate chronic inflammation.

Glucose or blood sugar is elevated with diabetes or extreme stress in cats. Decreased glucose occurs in starvation, insulin overdose, and insulin secreting tumors.

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is an enzyme inside liver cells that is released when they die.  Increased levels occur with liver damage causing cell death and pancreatitis. 

Aspartate aminotransferase AST is similar to ALT but is also released with muscle and cardiac cell death.

Serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) is an enzyme that is elevated in liver disease, bile duct obstruction, Cushing’s disease, steroid administration and in young growing animals.

 Bilirubin is a pigment produced when red blood cells die.  It is removed from the body by the liver.  Increases indicate liver disease or increased death of red blood cells.

Cholesterol is elevated in hypothyroidism, diabetes, pancreatitis, and liver disease.

Calcium and phosphorus alterations can be indicative of kidney disease, parathyroid disease and certain types of cancer.

Abnormal electrolyte levels (sodium, chloride, and potassium) can be life threatening.  They are important in evaluating vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and cardiac disease.  It is also important to know electrolyte levels for correct fluid administration during surgery.

At Companion Animal Care, we recommend bloodwork every time an animal needs anesthesia and annually on healthy pets.  Geriatric or sick pets often have bloodwork done more frequently.  This helps us monitor their disease state and detect subtle changes while they are still reversible. 

Next time your veterinarian recommends bloodwork, you will understand why it is important and what information it can reveal about your pet’s health.  Understanding what is going on inside the blood can greatly improve your pet’s healthcare and therefore prolong his life.