Senior Wellness Testing
What is senior wellness testing?
It is the term given to a group of tests that is performed specifically to detect signs of early disease in a pet that is apparently healthy.
Why do senior wellness testing?
Pets cannot tell you how they are feeling, and as a result disease may be present before you are aware of it. If a disease or condition can be detected before a pet shows signs of illness, we can often take steps to manage or correct the problem before irreparable damage is done. Wellness testing is particularly important in the geriatric pet, since there is a greater chance that underlying disease may be present.
When is senior wellness testing done?
Senior wellness testing is usually done once yearly, and many pet owners combine wellness testing with a visit to the veterinarian for their dog’s physical examination, vaccination, or heartworm testing. Your veterinarian may recommend more frequent testing depending on your dog’s age or specific health concerns. Monitoring your pet’s health status on a regular basis makes it easier for the veterinarian to detect minor changes that signal the onset of disease.
What is involved in testing?
There are four main categories of wellness testing for the geriatric dog: complete blood count (CBC), biochemistry profile, urinalysis, and thyroid hormone testing.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
This tests for anemia, infection, inflammation and the healthiness of blood cells. - Chemistry Tests
These panels survey many of the organ systems of the body to make sure they are working properly. - Thyroid Function Tests
These tests are useful in diagnosing increased (hyper) or decreased (hypo) functions of the thyroid gland. - Urinalysis
This test assesses the health and function of the urinary system. This is especially important in older animals to help with the early detection of kidney disease.
Cost of the Diagnostic Cbc/Chemistry $94.50 |
Cost of Senior Wellness Testing: Cbc/Chemistry, Urinalysis, Thyroid (T4) $89.00 A Savings of $84.50!
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