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Q: How often should blood work be performed in a seemingly healthy pet?

A: We recommend yearly blood tests, especially in older pets (those age seven and older). Even though our pets may appear to be healthy based on physical appearance and activity, many clinical signs of disease do not develop until late in the disease process.  Pets cannot tell us when they do not feel 100% and because of their instinct to protect themselves, many animals will hide their illness.  

A good example of this situation is a cat with kidney disease.  This patient may be afflicted with kidney disease for months to years before developing signs of disease because a pet can lose up to 75% of kidney function before clinical signs will develop.  Performing blood work will detect early changes in kidney enzymes and allow us to manage this disease process properly—allowing the patient to live a longer and healthier life.

Pets of any age can have problems with their internal organs.  Many young purebred cats and dogs will have congenital liver, kidney, and heart problems.   As pets age, their immune system and health starts to decline and they can have multiple organ problems.

For more information, see our LifeTime Wellness™ Preventive Care Program Article