Starting from a young age, your veterinarian will recommend annual blood work for your dog. When your dog is young and healthy, you may question how puppy blood work is beneficial. Learn more about what kinds of blood tests are recommended and the importance of annual blood work for your young dog.
What kind of blood tests should my dog get?
Your veterinarian will recommend several blood tests during your pet’s annual wellness exam.
Complete blood count (CBC)
A CBC looks at the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets your pet has. The CBC contains a lot of important information about your dog’s overall health. For example, a dog who is anemic due to a hookworm infection will have a low red blood cell count on the CBC. A dog with an active infection or parasite infestation will have elevated counts of specific white blood cells. A dog with a bleeding disorder may have decreased platelet counts.
Serum biochemistry
A blood serum biochemistry panel is how your veterinarian monitors the health of your dog’s organs, such as their kidney or liver. A dog with congenital kidney disease might have elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine on their blood test, for instance. The blood chemistry can also show electrolyte levels, which can easily become altered by issues such as vomiting, diarrhea or kidney disease. Blood chemistries also frequently include a measurement of your dog’s thyroid hormone level.
Heartworm test
The heartworm test is required annually in order for you to purchase heartworm preventive. This test can be performed in-house with a few drops of blood.
Benefits of routine blood tests in young dogs
The two main benefits of routine blood tests are that:
- They allow the veterinarian to determine your young dog’s baseline blood values so that changes can be monitored over the years.
- They allow for earlier detection of chronic health conditions like kidney disease, liver disease, hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease.
Blood work is also performed before surgeries to make sure your young dog is healthy enough for anesthesia.
Understanding blood work results
Your puppy’s blood work has reference ranges listed for each blood characteristic, such as potassium level or number of red blood cells, included on the report. Reference ranges are the range of values that are considered normal for most healthy dogs. The blood work will show if a value is below or above the reference range.
A value being slightly above or below reference range may or may not be relevant. It’s important to review blood work with your veterinarian, who can combine their knowledge of your dog’s history and physical exam with the findings of the lab work.
The big picture
It can be tempting to forego blood work when your puppy is young to save money, but your young dog’s blood work is important for establishing what’s normal for them and for early disease detection.
