Research Says Blood Tests Can Help Detect Health Problems In Older Pups

If your dog is over seven years of age, you may want to see if your veterinarian can run some blood tests to screen for diseases. Usually, the blood test they will run is a complete blood count (CBC) and a chemistry panel.

The CBC will check the white and red blood cells and platelets. The white blood cells are the ones that fight bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The types of white blood cells include monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and granulocytes. A high white blood cell count may indicate inflammation or infection, certain cancers will also raise the number of white blood cells in the blood.

Red blood cells can screen for dehydration, anemia, or some immune-mediated conditions. Platelets will help the blood clot and seal any leaks in blood vessels. If the platelet count is too low, then your dog is at risk of bleeding. The chemistry panel looks at enzyme, protein, and other chemicals in the blood. With this information, veterinarians can evaluate the electrolyte and glucose levels, and how well the internal organs are working.

Glucose levels are indications of high or low blood sugar while enzymes will show if the kidney or liver are malfunctioning. A urine sample may also be a good idea to get another view of how well the kidneys are functioning. No one likes to think of their pets as getting older, but keeping them healthy will help them and you! Prevention is worth an ounce of cure!

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