In order to provide our patients with the best possible health and medical care we perform certain tests before your pet undergoes any scheduled anesthetic.
It is common for many pets to hide symptoms of existing health problems. During routine surgeries, your pet will be put under an anesthetic. We perform Pre-Anesthetic Bloodwork on your pet to identify any of these possible health problems, and ensure that your pet does not have any underlying health problems, which may cause complications both during and after the anesthetic. It also helps us to begin treatment of your pet's condition as soon as possible. The anesthetic itself is very safe for pets if they are healthy and do not have any underlying conditions.
THe Blood Profile
· Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
An enzyme that becomes elevated with liver disease or injury.
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALKP)
An enzyme produced by the cells lining the gall bladder and its associated ducts. Elevated levels can indicate liver disease or Cushing's syndrome.
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
BUN is produced by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. Abnormal levels can indicate dehydration, and liver and kidney abnormalities.
- Creatinine (CREA)
Creatinine is a by-product of muscle metabolism and is excreted by the kidneys. Elevated levels can indicate kidney disease.
- Blood Glucose (GLU)
High levels can indicate diabetes. Low levels can indicate liver disease, infection, or certain tumors.
- Total Bilirubin (TBIL)
Bilirubin is a breakdown product of hemoglobin and is a component of bile. Bilirubin is secreted by the liver into the intestinal tract. Blood bilirubin levels are useful in diagnosing anemia and problems in the bile ducts.
- Total Protein (TP)
The level of TP can detect a variety of conditions including dehydration and diseases of the liver, kidney or gastrointestinal tract.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A CBC provides detailed information on red blood cell counts (RBCs), white blood cell counts (WBCs) and platelets. The total WBC and differential (individual cell counts) can indicate infection, leukemia, stress, inflammation, or an inability to fight infection. Low platelets can indicate a bleeding problem. We might advise that surgery be delayed if anemia, infection or especially a low platelet count is present because these conditions could cause serious surgical complications.
We run all of the preceding tests to determine your pet's health status. The answers we get from the Pre-Anesthetic Blood Screen help us make the best medical decisions for your pet, especially before administering any anesthesia. Although performing these tests cannot guarantee that complications won't occur, it can reduce the risk to your pet and provide you with peace of mind.
If results of the Pre-Anesthetic Blood Screen are within normal ranges, we can proceed with confidence knowing the anesthetic risk is minimized. On the other hand, if results are not within the normal ranges, we alter the anesthetic procedure to safeguard your pet's health.
These tests also can help protect your pet's future health. They provide baseline levels for your pet and become part of his or her medical chart for future reference.
