“I like to establish a normal baseline for each individual patient, but we also do occasionally catch abnormalities too,” Liff says. “Heartworm infection is a serious medical condition that is easy to prevent, hard to treat and even harder to treat if left undiagnosed for a period of time,” Hohenhaus says.īlood tests. Similarly to puppy tests, tests for heartworm and tick-borne diseases will normally be recommended to be run together, especially in areas where ticks are common. “Identification and treatment of intestinal parasites keeps your dog healthy and protects human family members since some intestinal parasite can affect humans too,” Hohenhaus says. At these appointments, a physical examination will still be an essential component as well as the following tests:įecal test. Vets will often suggest that you bring along a sample of your dog’s stool to the visit. Generally, an adult dog should have yearly wellness visits. “This should be done to make sure your pet can have general anesthesia as safely as possible,” Konecny says.
This could be a variety of tests, but the basics will check for anemia, adequate white blood cells and normal kidney and liver function. Your veterinarian will want to run a pre-anesthetic evaluation before your puppy is spayed or neutered. In most practices, veterinarians will generally run the heartworm test in conjunction with a panel of tick-borne diseases including Lyme disease, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia.īlood tests. Heartworm can be transmitted through your pet's blood via an infected mosquito bite and will cause damage to his heart and lungs if left untreated. Stephanie Liff, DVM and owner of Pure Paws Veterinary Care of Clinton Hill in Brooklyn, N.Y. “If greater than six months of age, we recommend a heartworm antigen test,” says Dr. “Intestinal parasites are extremely common in puppies and can be transmitted through mother's milk.” Additionally, not all intestinal parasites are visible to the naked eye, so a microscopic analysis of the stool is necessary. Susan Konecny, RN, DVM and medical director at Best Friends Animal Society. “A fecal intestinal parasite analysis should occur at the very first visit and at subsequent visits if required,” says Dr.
#Lsu vet lab tick panel series#
During your puppy’s series of vaccinations, you’ll most likely be asked to provide a fecal sample. “One of the most important and also overlooked tests is a physical examination.” An important test at any age, the physical exam will cover looking at your puppy from his nose to tail, checking his vital signs, evaluating his body condition, listening to his heart and lungs, feeling his lymph nodes, assessing his eyes, ears and teeth as well as checking for any bone and joint abnormalities.įecal test. Ann Hohenhaus, staff doctor at NYC’s Animal Medical Center. “A puppy visit is not just about getting that shot injected,” says Dr. This exam will be worthwhile to establish a healthy baseline for your puppy. Get your new puppy’s health off to a good start by running these tests at his first visit and puppy follow-up exams: No matter if it’s your dog’s first-ever veterinary visit or a standard annual exam, plan to arrive equipped with the knowledge of essential tests your vet should run based on your dog’s age and overall health. Most pet owners would gladly pay top dollar to ensure their dog’s health, but do they really have to? And if you tally up everything on the list, it could leave you with a hefty bill.
You may be worried you’ll prioritize the wrong tests, missing out on the ones that are most important. That moment when your vet hands over a long list of tests and says it’s up to you to decide, can be very stressful. If you’ve ever found yourself feeling a bit overwhelmed at your dog’s annual vet visit, you are not alone.
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