Routine and Pre-Anesthetic Screening
Before your pet goes under anesthesia for any surgery or dental work, your veterinarian will require blood work and an ECG within 6 months of the procedure. In addition, routine evaluations are recommended.
Benefits of an Electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a recording of the electrical activity of the heart. It is a safe, noninvasive procedure that uses clips (electrodes) placed on the skin over the chest and legs. The ECG is used commonly to evaluate the heart rhythm and identify abnormalities (arrhythmias) in the heartbeat. It may also help to identify enlargement of the heart, a common finding with many heart diseases.
How Is an Electrocardiogram Done in Pets?
Specialized equipment is required to obtain an ECG. The ECG is recorded with the pet either standing or lying on his right side. Conductive gel or alcohol is applied to the skin to better transmit the electrical activity of the heart to the EKG machine. Clip or plate electrodes are attached to the pet’s limbs and the chest wall. The ECG machine is started and the electrical field generated by heart activity is recorded. The typical recording is 30 seconds to two minutes in duration. Once the recording is completed, the clips are removed and the ECG tracing evaluated. The traditional ECG machine is located in the clinic and results are available within 24 hours.
Is an Electrocardiogram Painful to Pets?
The ECG exam is noninvasive and is not painful. Some pets resent the clips or bands used to connect the ECG machine to the skin, but most tolerate the procedure very well.
Benefits of Blood work
Blood work is actually the easiest, fastest, cheapest and least invasive way to investigate, discover and monitor many health conditions. It is typically either sent to an outside lab or analyzed in-house, (i.e. at the clinic). Your pet's blood work is handled by well-trained technicians and performed on sophisticated, automated machines. The price of blood work is based on the cost of such advanced and accurate machines, sample preparation, sample handling by the nurses and the analysis by the veterinarian.
Why is blood work performed?
There are several reasons for this test, all with one goal in mind -- making sure that your pet is healthy enough for anesthesia and surgery. Since your pet will most likely not tell the veterinarian what might be wrong, your veterinarian can use your pet's blood work to get a clear picture of what is going on beneath the surface.
What can be found in blood work?
There are two main components to routine blood work: the Complete Blood Count (or CBC) and the chemistry. The CBC provides detailed information about the various blood cells and platelets. Low counts of certain blood cells can indicate hidden conditions such as anemia, bone marrow or immune system disorders. High counts of certain blood cells can indicate conditions such as dehydration, inflammation or infection.
In addition to analyzing the blood cells, your veterinarian can look at the function of your pet's organs by looking at the blood chemistry.
The chemistry consists of a panel of various proteins, enzymes and other chemicals in the bloodstream, these levels can indicate healthy or unhealthy conditions of the organs.
Can blood work change a surgery date?
By performing these fast and minimally invasive tests, your veterinarian analyzes the inner workings of your pet -- especially important before anesthesia or surgery. If a problem exists in the blood work, it can determine whether surgery can be done now, or if your pet's health indicates further testing, medications or alterations to standard anesthetic protocols.
Questions to ask your veterinarian
Why do you want to run blood work on my pet?
Will you contact me with results?
How might blood work change what you do?
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.
Dr. Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS, CVJ
Dog Checkups & Preventive CareDr. Phil Zeltzman is a traveling, board-certified surgeon in Allentown, PA.
Zee Mahmood, a veterinary technician in Reading, PA, contributed to this article.
Before your pet goes under anesthesia for any surgery or dental work, your veterinarian will require blood work and an ECG within 6 months of the procedure. In addition, routine evaluations are recommended.
Benefits of an Electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a recording of the electrical activity of the heart. It is a safe, noninvasive procedure that uses clips (electrodes) placed on the skin over the chest and legs. The ECG is used commonly to evaluate the heart rhythm and identify abnormalities (arrhythmias) in the heartbeat. It may also help to identify enlargement of the heart, a common finding with many heart diseases.
How Is an Electrocardiogram Done in Pets?
Specialized equipment is required to obtain an ECG. The ECG is recorded with the pet either standing or lying on his right side. Conductive gel or alcohol is applied to the skin to better transmit the electrical activity of the heart to the EKG machine. Clip or plate electrodes are attached to the pet’s limbs and the chest wall. The ECG machine is started and the electrical field generated by heart activity is recorded. The typical recording is 30 seconds to two minutes in duration. Once the recording is completed, the clips are removed and the ECG tracing evaluated. The traditional ECG machine is located in the clinic and results are available within 24 hours.
Is an Electrocardiogram Painful to Pets?
The ECG exam is noninvasive and is not painful. Some pets resent the clips or bands used to connect the ECG machine to the skin, but most tolerate the procedure very well.
Benefits of Blood work
Blood work is actually the easiest, fastest, cheapest and least invasive way to investigate, discover and monitor many health conditions. It is typically either sent to an outside lab or analyzed in-house, (i.e. at the clinic). Your pet's blood work is handled by well-trained technicians and performed on sophisticated, automated machines. The price of blood work is based on the cost of such advanced and accurate machines, sample preparation, sample handling by the nurses and the analysis by the veterinarian.
Why is blood work performed?
There are several reasons for this test, all with one goal in mind -- making sure that your pet is healthy enough for anesthesia and surgery. Since your pet will most likely not tell the veterinarian what might be wrong, your veterinarian can use your pet's blood work to get a clear picture of what is going on beneath the surface.
What can be found in blood work?
There are two main components to routine blood work: the Complete Blood Count (or CBC) and the chemistry. The CBC provides detailed information about the various blood cells and platelets. Low counts of certain blood cells can indicate hidden conditions such as anemia, bone marrow or immune system disorders. High counts of certain blood cells can indicate conditions such as dehydration, inflammation or infection.
In addition to analyzing the blood cells, your veterinarian can look at the function of your pet's organs by looking at the blood chemistry.
The chemistry consists of a panel of various proteins, enzymes and other chemicals in the bloodstream, these levels can indicate healthy or unhealthy conditions of the organs.
Can blood work change a surgery date?
By performing these fast and minimally invasive tests, your veterinarian analyzes the inner workings of your pet -- especially important before anesthesia or surgery. If a problem exists in the blood work, it can determine whether surgery can be done now, or if your pet's health indicates further testing, medications or alterations to standard anesthetic protocols.
Questions to ask your veterinarian
Why do you want to run blood work on my pet?
Will you contact me with results?
How might blood work change what you do?
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.
Dr. Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS, CVJ
Dog Checkups & Preventive CareDr. Phil Zeltzman is a traveling, board-certified surgeon in Allentown, PA.
Zee Mahmood, a veterinary technician in Reading, PA, contributed to this article.