Q:  Why do you require that basic blood work be performed on all pets age 7 years old and older before any surgical/dental procedure or anesthetic?

A:  Pets of any age can have problems with their internal organs.  Many young purebred cats and dogs will have congenital liver, kidney, and heart problems.   As pets age, their immune system and health starts to decline and they can have multiple organ problems.

A normal physical examination cannot give us complete confidence that the internal organs are working properly.  While the anesthetics that we use are extremely safe for your pet and therefore minimize risk, if a pet is not completely healthy then potential complications can occur both during and after the anesthetic procedure.  Pre-anesthetic blood work can alert us to any hidden problems that your pet may have.  With this knowledge, we may elect to forego the anesthetic/surgical procedure, modify the anesthetic regimen, or change your pet’s medication.  While performing blood work cannot guarantee that your pet will not have any problems with the anesthesia or surgical procedure, it can significantly minimize the risk to your pet and give you peace of mind.