My Doctor Suggested Lab Work for My Senior Cat, Do I really need to do that?

It is okay to wonder why your veterinarian recommended the lab work for your aging cat, you aren’t alone. It is important to have the screening done for a number of reasons.

• Cats Cannot Talk- It is easy for humans to be able to tell someone when they are not feeling well, or something hurts. We can also provide information on our symptoms, a time frame, and what you have done differently. When it comes to pets, unfortunately, they cannot. It is up to the pet parent, and even the best paw-rents can often miss signs of discomfort, or even symptoms.
• Cats Are Masters of Hiding Illness- To make things more difficult, cats are so good at hiding their illness. Common diseases in senior cats such as chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroid disease are often easy to miss. For example, feline diabetes in its early stages is easy to miss, unless you are monitoring your cat’s water intake, and measuring the urine clumps in their litter box. It is only when the disease advances that more serious symptoms such as weight loss, lethargy, appetite loss, and increased water intake.
• Lab Work Let Your Veterinarian Detect Diseases Early- The earlier we are able to diagnose your cat, the better the odds are for successful treatment. Diagnostic testing and lab work can help detect illnesses and diseases that are invisible to the naked eye. It is also very important to examine the function of their organs, especially in the older kitties.

There is so much that we can learn and understand from your cat’s urine, and blood tests. The routine screening can help keep an eye on their aging health, and help recognize the signs of possible medical issues. The earlier, the better. Waiting until your cat is showing symptoms is not ideal. It is so easy to effectively monitor your cat’s health, with a simple tool like diagnostic lab work.