Annual bloodwork.

I wouldn't do them routinely - if only for the cost. Might be cheaper there but it costs me close to $300.

Deska only started getting 6mthly panels because he's been on long term NSAIDs so needs monitoring. Tully will probably in the future if she stays on the NSAIDs.
 
I do annual blood work on both of my Shelties, worth it to me to make sure nothing is happening to them. I had rather catch a problem sooner than later.
 
missjenneygirl said:
I do a senior blood panel plus T4 to Michigan State at age 7. We use that as a baseline. Then, at age 10 to compare. After that, as needed if we feel there is something of concern. (There always will be, as they enter the later years).
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That is, actually, an excellent protocol. I may well adopt if for the hospital. I've always been a little reticent on annual bloodwork on normal animals unless an owner expresses an interest, but we do want to have baselines. Implementing that is tricky, but baseline at 7, compare at 10 makes a lot of sense.
 
We didn't do routine blood work on Hollie until she was older. Towards the end of Hollie's life our vet was bought out by a hughe company. that was when things started to change.

With Shelby they pushed a full blood panel and urine every year $$$$. If you refused they would make you feel real guilty about it and almost make you feel as if you were a terrible owner and if your dog died it would be your fault. I felt like they were hoping to find something wrong to treat. But we felt bad and had everything done. As a result every year Shelby has crystals in her urine and this year had protein. Despite showing no symptoms at all and me requesting we adjust her diet and monitor they shamed me into having additional tests done (she could die of kidney failure if you don't do this). After much stress and several tests guess what, there is nothing wrong with her, just change her diet. Maybe her urine sat in the office to long so the initial tests were wrong.

Needless to say because of this and other issues we have changed vets and I do not think we will continue to test for everything unless there is a reason for it. When she gets older I have no problem of doing routine screenings.
 
The Quahog said:
That is, actually, an excellent protocol. I may well adopt if for the hospital. I've always been a little reticent on annual bloodwork on normal animals unless an owner expresses an interest, but we do want to have baselines. Implementing that is tricky, but baseline at 7, compareMy boy at 10 makes a lot of sense.
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If I had a "normal dog", which I don't then I would not do annual bloodwork. But to this point, Shelties are prone to hypotyrodism and should be tested starting for age 6 in my view. If negative, then every 2 years.

I would also recommend a full blood test for Liver at this time as well. Shelties also seem to be predisposed for this disease as well. |Ask for ALT, ALS, etc. By boy has both diseases.

Its been a hard year for him.

Also, keep your eye open for skin funk. If your dog starts losing hair and having oily skin patches...run to your vet
 
My boys are young (8 months) I am just preparing myself. My vet doesn't run bloodwork unless there is a pre-existing problem.

But I'd rather catch a problem early.

I also have 5 year old catahoula bulldog. She was just diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Se was put on .6 soloxine BID
 
I do yearly titer level checks and every other year heart worm tests (I give heart worm preventative year round).

I start yearly blood work at age 5 and bi-yearly at age 7/8. Thank god because if I didn't, my little guy could have ended up very, very sick Pre-anesthetic blood work for an epulis removal showed elevated liver enzymes. He had been acting normal and his usual self, active, eating, etc. Follow up blood work 6 weeks later showed extremely low protein, which led to abdominal fluid build up which then led to an u/s, endoscopy and diet changes. Now all is well. I don't want to think about how sick he could have been had we waited a few months for him to actually show symptoms.

My other dog, an Aussie, gets bi-yearly blood work due to medications for epilepsy and that has helped regulate medications based on what his liver tolerates, and yearly T-4 checks since he is also hypothyroid.
 
I do it before surgery, or if there is an issue. I don't do it routinely, mostly because the SuperChems are up to $128 a pop.

I think my old dogs have all had them in the past year, one young dog had one because he was (and still is) injesting and peeing a TON in the evening.

The kidney dog I had had juvenile kidney disease, and was diagnosed at 4. We've not had an old one yet.

And I don't titer, I think it's a waste of money.
 
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