The importance of routine blood tests

Dr. Watts
Published: May 4, 2008

Several times this column has discussed the importance of regular laboratory screenings as part of routine physical examinations. This past week, three patients in my practice were dramatic reminders of the incredible benefit of routine blood testing.

The first patient was one of my former neighbors’ dogs. A year ago we performed a wellness blood profile when we ran his annual heartworm test. Everything was normal. His organs appeared healthy for a middle-aged dog. Just three months ago, we repeated the blood panel prior to a minor surgical procedure. To everyone’s surprise, the dog’s kidney values had elevated from the previous test. The values were abnormal, but not high enough to cause any symptoms.

The second patient is a cat that belongs to a veterinary technician who has seen the value of routine screening firsthand. Every year this technician has a blood panel run on her beloved pet. This year something changed. Two months ago the kitty’s kidney values also climbed out of the normal range for the first time. Like my neighbor’s dog, the cat was showing no detectable symptoms.

After learning of their pets’ declining kidney health, both owners put their pets on therapeutic diets and increased their pets’ access to water. This week both came in for recheck panels. Remarkably, both had completely normal kidney values. Because the problem was detected early, these pets only have a 30 percent chance of dying from kidney disease.

We would expect pets with this history to average two or more years of quality life after the diagnosis of kidney disease. All from a $59 blood test and spending about $20 more per month on a therapeutic diet.

Unfortunately, patient number three was not so lucky. A year ago, this 10-year old cat was in for a routine examination and vaccines. We recommended a blood panel to screen for asymptomatic disease. The cat’s owner informed us that she was always very healthy and she did not think she needed to spend extra money on lab tests. This week, during the annual vaccine visit, our exam revealed weight loss and shrinking kidneys. The owner reported the cat had been feeling a little off for a few weeks, but nothing major. Due to the weight loss, the owner agreed to allow the blood panel this year.

When the results came back from the lab, they revealed advanced kidney failure. The blood levels were high enough that hospitalization is required to treat her. Three days in the hospital and $800 to $1,000 will tell us if the toxins in her blood can ever be reduced. If we can flush out enough of the toxins in her blood stream, she may be able to go home on a therapeutic diet, blood pressure medication, and special vitamins. Despite the intensive treatment, the odds are overwhelming that this cat will die before her 11th birthday.

These three patients came into my office within two days of each other. I only wish patient number three was given the benefit of annual blood screenings a year ago. It is likely we would have detected early problems. It is likely we could have prevented the cat a great deal of suffering and an early death. It is also likely that it would have been financially easier for the cat’s owner.

Even some veterinarians fall into the trap of trying to “save” money for pet owners by not explaining the importance of wellness blood testing. Some wait until pets are old and are likely to have already developed problems. None of the above was over ten years of age when the screenings were beneficial.

I ask my clients if they would rather their doctor wait for a heart attack to find out they have high cholesterol. A heart attack is more painful, more expensive, less treatable, and more fatal than addressing the cholesterol elevation. You save the most money and pain by preventing the heart attack in the first place. The same is true for pets. An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure.

Next time you visit your family veterinarian, please insist on a wellness panel. Then insist again next year. It may save your pet’s life.

Dr. Watts is a companion animal general practitioner and owner of Clevengers Corner Veterinary Care. He can be reached through ClevengersCorner.com or by calling 428-1000.