Unfortunately, when our pets do not feel well, they cannot always communicate their concerns to us. Dogs and cats have a natural ability to “hide” illness from us. As such, we often have to wait until advanced symptoms are present to detect certain health issues.

Life Stages Wellness Plans help us to detect various health problems, such as thyroid disease, liver disease, kidney disease, elevated blood pressure, urinary infections, diabetes, etc., before your pet begins to show any symptoms.

Early intervention can often change the course of the disease. Early intervention is much more successful than trying to “fix” a problem after your pet is already feeling ill.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?

The information we obtain will be beneficial for pets of any age. If the results are all normal, this is great news! The results will be saved, and can be used for comparison if your pet would become ill any time in the future.

SHOULD WE TEST ANNUALLY?

The ideal situation would involve a wellness examination and the wellness testing each year. However, you do not have to commit to any level of frequency for testing. Some people prefer to test every other year, or only when their pet reaches a certain age.

WHAT IF WE FIND A PROBLEM?

Your Doctor may be able to make a specific diagnosis, or may discuss additional testing with you. In some cases, we may need to “monitor” the abnormality over time.

 We offer two levels of testing, based on your pet's age. We also offer additional options at a discounted price.
 LEVEL I : Pets up to 5 years old
Chemistry Profile & CBC

LEVEL II : Pets over 5 years old
Chemistry Profile & CBC
& Urinalysis

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS:
Fecal (Stool) Analysis
Heartworm Testing
Tick Disease Panel
Thyroid Testing
Tonometry
Blood Pressure

Testing may be scheduled during your pet's annual Wellness Examination. Please note that the test results may take one to three weeks; therefore, Wellness Plans are not suitable for pets with obvious symptoms of illness. 

WHAT DO THE TESTS TELL US?

A CHEMISTRY PROFILE will measure electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and chloride), blood proteins, various liver enzymes, kidney values, glucose (blood “sugar”), cholesterol, and calcium levels. These results may give clues for liver or kidney problems, and certain hormone-related diseases.

 A COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC) will measure the red and white blood cells, as well as the platelets (clotting cells). This will help us detect anemia, dehydration, infection / inflammation, platelet disorders, and certain types of cancer.

 A URINALYSIS may allow us to detect kidney disease, infectious and inflammatory conditions, diabetes, and urinary crystals / stones.

 A FECAL ANALYSIS may help to identify parasites or abnormal bacteria in your pet's feces.

 A HEARTWORM TEST will screen your dog for exposure to this parasite that lives in the heart and blood vessels. Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes.

 A TICK DISEASE PANEL will screen your dog for exposure to Lyme Disease, Ehrlichia canis, and Anaplasma, which are all transmitted by ticks.

 A THYROID SCREEN may allow us to detect hyperthyroidism (elevated thyroid levels) in cats and hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels) in dogs. Thyroid function is essential for normal metabolism.

 TONOMETRY is a pressure measurement of the eye that allows us to screen for glaucoma and uveitis (inflammation) in the eyes. This test is not indicated in all pets or all breeds.

 BLOOD PRESSURE measurements allow us to screen for hypertension (elevated blood pressure), which is especially important in pets with heart disease, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and many older pets.