When you take your pet to the veterinarian, whether it’s for a wellness check-up, or to diagnose or treat an issue, your veterinarian may suggest certain tests or procedures to ensure your pet is in optimal health. This type of testing is called preventative testing.
Preventative testing helps to establish a baseline for your pet, which can be compared to future tests for changes. It also helps you catch issues earlier, before they become full-blown problems or even emergencies, helping your pet live a longer, healthier, more trouble-free life.
When these tests are done at the point of care, you’re able to get those results quickly.
What is preventative testing?
Research shows that diseases and underlying issues can be detected earlier by monitoring your pet’s trends through regular preventative testing. Preventative lab testing is sometimes the only way to identify health issues before they become something serious.
Preventative or diagnostic testing is typically run and analysed at your usual vet clinic, providing quick results. If something is detected, you can then decide the next steps (additional testing, admission to the clinic, or a referral for additional care or treatment) with your vet.
Common preventative tests for pets
What types of tests your vet may recommend for your pet depends on their breed, age, and lifestyle. Some of the most common preventative, diagnostic, or monitoring tests that can be run and analysed in-clinic through preventative testing include:
Blood tests
These tests can provide indicators of the health and function of your pet’s pancreas, liver, kidney, intestine, thyroid, and many of their other organs and body systems.
Haematology tests
The most common haematology test is the Complete Blood Cell Count (CBC), which looks at red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It can help detect conditions like anaemia and leukaemia, and can detect inflammation, blood clotting concerns, and possible infections.
Urine tests
Urine tests, which may be performed alongside chemistry blood testing, look for the presence of blood, protein, glucose, or other abnormalities in the urine. This shows not just how well your pet’s kidneys are working, but also provides insight into other areas such as bacteria in the urine (which could mean a urinary tract infection).
Benefits of preventative testing
You'll get peace of mind that unseen disease may be caught early.
Early detection means problems can be treated quickly and monitored going forward, lessening the impact on your pet's wellbeing.
When disease is detected early, it can reduce the cost you’ll have to spend to get the condition under control.
Ask your vet about running some preventative tests for your pet or call your local VetSouth clinic to find out more.
