09/22/2026
Why We Recommend Routine Diagnostic Screening
Great question! Diagnostic screening tests can act as an early warning system, helping us identify health problems before your dog shows obvious signs of illness.
Dogs can often hide illness, and many diseases—such as **kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, anemia, thyroid problems, and certain infections or inflammatory conditions—may begin with subtle changes that are not noticeable at home. Routine bloodwork allows us to look for these changes while your dog is still feeling well.
Why Test Every Year?
One of the most valuable aspects of routine screening is that we can compare your dog's current results with previous results. A single result may fall within the laboratory's normal range but still be different from what is normal for your individual dog.
For example, if your dog's kidney values have gradually increased over several years, we may recognize a trend before the values become significantly abnormal. This gives us an opportunity to investigate further, make lifestyle or dietary recommendations, and potentially begin treatment earlier.
What Can Screening Bloodwork Tell Us?
Depending on the tests performed, screening can provide information about:
* **Kidney function** and hydration
* **Liver health and liver enzymes**
* **Blood sugar and diabetes risk**
* **Red and white blood cells**, which can help identify anemia, infection, inflammation, or other abnormalities
* **Platelets and blood clotting potential**
* **Electrolytes and protein levels**
* **Thyroid function**, when indicated
* Other changes that may warrant additional testing or monitoring
Early Detection Matters
Finding a problem early does not always mean that your dog will need medication or extensive treatment. Sometimes the best next step is simply to **repeat the bloodwork, monitor a trend, make a dietary change, or perform a more specific test.**
The goal is to identify changes **before they become a significant health problem** and while we have more options for managing them.
Think of routine screening bloodwork as establishing a **baseline for your dog's individual health**. Over time, these results give us a much clearer picture of what is normal for your dog and allow us to recognize meaningful changes sooner.
Even when your dog looks and feels completely healthy, routine screening can provide valuable information about what is happening beneath the surface.
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