Pre-ANESTHETIC TESTING

As you know, our Doctors have recommended a procedure with anesthesia for your pet. We are looking forward to providing your pet with the best care. To provide that care, we highly recommend pre-anesthetic testing prior to placing your pet under anesthesia.

At Worthington Woods Animal Care Center, we do not believe in taking risks with your pet's health. Similar to how your human Doctor would run tests on you before you undergo anesthesia, we perform pre-anesthetic testing on your pets. The pre-anesthetic tests for humans and pets are quite similar. While these tests do not guarantee the absense of complications, they do minimize the possibility of complications both before and after anesthesia. Our goal is to provide you and your family with the peace of mind you deserve.

In advance of your pet's procedure, we draw your pet's blood and run a diagnostic profile commonly known as a total health profile. The total health profile tests specific parameters of blood chemistry and electrolytes including:

ALT (SGPT): an enzyme that becomes elevated with liver disease or injury
ALKP (alkaline phosphatase): an enzyme produced by the cells lining the gall bladder and its associated ducts. Elevated levels can indicate liver disease, Cushing's syndrome, or other diseases.
BUN: produced by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. Abnormal levels can indicate dehydration and/or liver and kidney abnormalities.
CREA (creatinine): a byproduct of muscle metabolism that is excreted by the kidneys. Elevated levels can indicate kidney disease or an urinary tract obstruction.
Glucose: High levels can indicate diabetes or alternatively, can simply indicate stress. Low levels can be indicative of liver disease, infection, or certain tumors.
TP (total protein): The level of TP can detect a variety of conditions including dehydration and diseases of the liver, kidneys, or gastrointestinal tract.
Albumin: a protein produced by the liver. Reduced levels of this protein can point to chronic kidney or liver disease, intestinal disease, or internal parasites such as hookworms.
Total Bilirubin: Bilirubin is a breakdown of hemoglobin and is a component of bile. It is secreted by the liver into the intestinal tract and can be useful in diagnosing anemia and problems in the bile ducts and/or liver.
Amylase: An enzyme produced by the pancreas. The pancreas secretes amylase to aid in digestion. Elevated levels can indicate pancreatic or kidney disease.
Phosphorus: Elevated levels can indicate kidney disease.
Calcium: Increased levels can be observed with diseases of the parathyroid gland and kidneys. Elevated levels can also indicate certain types of tumors.
Cholesterol: Elevated levels are seen in a variety of disorders including genetic disease, liver and kidney disease, and hypothyroidism.
Red blood cell counts: A low RBC can indicate anemia, kidney disease, internal bleeding, and leukemia. An elevated RBC can indicate dehydration and/or heart disease.
Platelets: Platelets are also involved in blood clotting and if low, can indicate a potential bleeding problem.
White blood cell counts: A high WBC can indicate infection, the presence of inflammation, or an inability to fight inspection. A low WBC can indicate injury or an autoimmune condition.

Pre-anesthetic testing is preferably completed at a separate appointment prior to your pet's procedure. This allows our Doctors adequate time to review results and customize a treatment plan for your pet. Please note that your pet's procedure must be completed within a medically appropriate timeline or the Doctors may ask to repeat the blood work prior to your pet undergoing anesthesia.

If you have any questions on the pre-anesthetic testing and/or are ready to schedule pre-surgical labwork, please feel free to call our office to speak with one of our registered vet technicians.

Thank you for choosing Worthington Woods Animal Care Center for your pet's care.

With thanks,
Your Worthington Woods Animal Care Center Team