Your pet has a great appetite, boundless energy, and normal elimination habits, which sounds like a clean bill of health, but your pet could be carrying all manner of pet illnesses and diseases inside their seemingly healthy body.

Wellness blood work gives your Williamsburg Animal Clinic veterinarian a deeper understanding of your pet’s total health and offers insights into their needs for staying well throughout their lifetime.

Have you ever considered postponing your pet’s wellness blood work because your pet “seems healthy?” Here are four reasons that should change your mind.

#1: Wellness blood work creates your pet’s health baseline

Every pet is unique, and so is their blood work. Although each blood work value has established normal ranges, some pets have benign (i.e., harmless) variations, such as a persistently elevated liver enzyme or a borderline low kidney value. If your pet is otherwise healthy and their other results fall in the appropriate range, these “abnormalities” are generally considered part of your pet’s baseline (i.e., their normal). 

Information about your pet’s baseline becomes valuable when your pet is sick, acting abnormally, or multiple blood work changes occur at the same time. Knowing that your pet’s liver enzyme is always slightly high or a kidney value is always borderline-low can help your veterinarian make a more accurate diagnosis, because they know these specific differences are normal for your pet. 

#2: Wellness blood work improves early disease detection in pets

Every time you consent to wellness blood work for your pet, their health database (i.e., medical record) becomes more detailed and comprehensive. This allows your veterinarian to appreciate subtle trends and patterns by comparing recent and past results. If your veterinarian notes an unusual change, they can recommend more specific testing to determine if the abnormality is a cause for concern. Because many conditions can now be identified months or years before they have visible signs (i.e., a sick pet), wellness blood work can literally save a pet’s life when disease is detected and diagnosed early. In some cases, early detection and treatment allow veterinarians to cure diseases that would otherwise be terminal.

#3: Wellness blood work can reduce veterinary care costs

Early stage diseases and illnesses generally respond to less-invasive or aggressive treatments, and veterinarians can choose simple, more affordable options that are less stressful for pets and easier on their owner’s pocketbook. For example, a condition could be managed with oral medication instead of proceeding to surgery or cancer could be treated only with chemotherapy and not radiation as well.

#4: Wellness blood work informs your pet’s care routine 

Finally, wellness blood work helps everyone on your pet’s care team, including you, to make the best decisions for your pet’s long-term health. Normal blood work results are a great way to validate your pet’s current care routine, including wellness visits to Williamsburg Animal Clinic, nutrition, medications or supplements, and exercise. 

Some changes in your pet’s wellness blood work can signal that small changes, such as medication, a therapeutic diet, or weight loss, are necessary. Such small alterations to your pet’s daily care routine can make a big difference months or years from now by slowing or halting chronic disease (e.g., kidney failure, liver problems).

What’s included in your pet’s wellness blood work

Wellness blood work provides a detailed snapshot of your pet’s health. Although your veterinarian will recommend fewer tests than they would for a sick pet, a standard wellness profile still provides rich information about your pet’s critical systems.

Wellness blood work generally includes:

  • Complete blood count (CBC) — The CBC evaluates the cellular portion of your pet’s blood, which includes red and white blood cells and platelets. CBCs are helpful for identifying anemias, infection, and bone marrow changes.
  • General chemistry profile — General chemistry values measure your pet’s organ health, including liver, kidney, pancreas, and gallbladder, as well as electrolyte and blood sugar levels. 

As your pet ages, additional diagnostic testing, such as thyroid testing (T4) and a urinalysis (UA), may be recommended to complement your pet’s wellness profile.

Is your pet as healthy as they seem? 

Your pet may look and act healthy, but only blood work can tell the complete story of their internal health. If you want to better understand your pet’s general health and wellbeing and to improve their chances for a long, healthy life, contact Williamsburg Animal Clinic to schedule an appointment.