Check Up for My Dog
Most veterinarians recommend an annual visit for routine tests, a physical exam and dental cleaning. This check-up helps prevent many illnesses through early diagnosis and treatment. The dog can get yearly booster shots and be thoroughly examined. The veterinarian will discuss any changes in diet, behavior and overall health with you and check the weight and physical condition of dog. The doctor will usually examine stool, urine and blood samples to check for worms and other infections. Even if you brush your dog’s teeth regularly, a full dental cleaning oncea year can prevent low-grade mouth infections from beginning and spreading to other parts of the body. Most dogs need to be briefly anesthetized for this procedure.
A wide variety of tests are used to certify good health or indicate the presence of infection or disease. The major tests and some of the common vocabulary in lab reports are explained below.
A Complete Blood Count indicates the number and type of cells in the dog’s blood.This standard test can identify anemia and leukemia, as well as the presence many infections. A Blood Profile includes a variety of tests that examine the functioning of organs, such as the liver and thyroid. If these tests indicate any abnormality, careful screening helps pinpoint the problem. Bacteria and fungus cultures can indicate the presence of diseases caused by those agents. Additional treatment of the culture may suggest effect. medication. A Fecal test can indicate the presence of parasites. A Urinalysis looks for disfunction in the kidneys, urinary tract and liver. It can also identify diabetes and other diseases.
Some of the terms described below are used in lab reports.You may never have occasion to hear or use them, but you will at least be familiarwith the general use of the term.
Alkaline Phosphatase: High levels indicate bone disease, liver disease or bile flowblockage.
Albumin: High levels indicate dehydration and loss of protein.
Basophils: A rise in these white blood cells indicates the presence lead.
Cell Volume: Indicates the size of the red blood cells; can be normal, small(microcytic) or large (macrocytic).
Cholesterol: Increased levels indicate liver or thyroid disease, an overly rich diet ormay result from congenital defect.
Eosinphils: These large white blood cells increase in number in the presence ofallergies or parasitic infections.
Globulins: Decreased levels indicate problems with antibodies, immunodeficiency 00.
viruses or risk infectious disease. Increased levels may indicate stress,
Glucose: High levels (hyperglycemia) indicate diabetes, stress or pancreasinfection. Low levels (hypoglycemia) may indicate I.r disease, tumors, endocrinedisorders or stanration.
Lymphocytes: These smooth, round white blood cells increase in number with acute infection and decrease with attacks on the immune system.
Monocytes: These large white blood cells increase in number in the presence of very acute infections.
Neutrophils: These special white blood cells constitute neartytwo-thirds thewhite cell count. The number rises in the presence of bacterial infections and tissue damage and decreases with viral infection.
Platelets: These small, flat cells aid blood clotting. With too few platelets, excess. bleeding may occur; with too many, excessive clotting or stroke can result.
Red Blood Count: The number of red blood cells telythocytes, in a fixed amount of blood.
Sodium: These levels will ,fall with vomiting, diarrhea, heart dfailure, adrenal gland
problems and diabetes. High levels indicate dehydration, kidney failure or certain kinds of diabetes.
Total Bilirubin: This indicator reflects changes in liver function. High levels can lead to jaundice and indicate destruction in the liver and bile duct.
Total Protein: Increases indicate dehydration or blood cancer; decreases indicate , malnutrition, liver or kidney disease, bleeding or burns.
White Blood Count: The number of white blood cells (leukocytes) in a fixed amount of blood.