Why Do I Need Yearly Bloodwork on My Dog?

If you have been to the veterinarian recently, it is quite likely that they recommended doing bloodwork. It is also likely that you may have had an option just to run a heartworm test or run a "full" blood panel. Pick the cheapest option, it is a no brainer... WRONG!

What does running a full blood panel mean?

A full blood panel includes checking all major organ levels as well as a complete blood count.

Included are:

• Kidney values

• Liver values

• Electrolytes

• Blood protein levels

• Red blood cell counts

• White blood cell counts

• Platelet levels

• if your dog is considered a senior dog (typically over 7 years old) it may also include a thyroid level, cholesterol, triglycerides levels, and a urinalysis

• A heartworm test and screening for tick borne illnesses- Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma

My dog is healthy, so I do not need bloodwork.

This is a common misconception. If your dog is feeling well, this is the best time to run bloodwork. First, it gives your veterinarian a baseline as to where their values are starting. Some dogs will have tendencies to run a little higher or lower on certain tests and this can be very helpful to know prior to them being sick. Second, often blood values will change prior to your dog feeling sick. If we catch the levels prior to them feeling ill, then there may be changes that can be made to help prevent further progression of disease and slow down the chances of your dog feeling sick.

Bloodwork is expensive.

Yes, bloodwork is very expensive. Since the COVID days the price of veterinary care has increased and continues to increase. If you do not have pet insurance it is highly recommended to help with costs. Many veterinary hospitals have wellness packages which include bloodwork, vaccinations, and exams for the year. This allows you to be able to break up the costs into monthly payments rather then getting hit with a large bill all at once.

Next time you are at your veterinarian and they recommend running a full blood panel, I hope you reconsider picking the cheapest option. Even if you cannot afford the biggest blood panel, talk to your vet because often there are cheaper options that still give us a lot of valuable information.