Do your dogs get proactive tests done on a routine basis?

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

I have blood work done on all my dogs yearly (Miko twice a year). Since my dogs eat a high protein diet I want their BUN and creatinine checked.

Now that Bogey is getting older (9) I'm going to have his thyroid checked, get a baseline chest x-ray and get a urinalysis done. He's also had cancer.

I like to think I'm being proactive, but maybe I'm worrying too much.

What do you think? Do others have these type of routine tests done proactively or only when a problem is suspected?

[weezyNollie]

My hospital has put together "Wellness/Early Detection" packages for different ages. It includes a CBC, chemistry panel, and plus or minus urinalysis, fecal, heartworm, thyroid panel, chest x-rays or abdominal x-rays.

I think it's great. Being pro-active is how I found Louise's Addisons. And with Ollie we did blood work for a dental and he had elevated cholesterol, so we re-ran it two days later to double check. But it was normal, had it not been we would have pursued thyroid panel. It really is good for the pet, and can start to treat or find problems before them become one.

Lots of older dogs tend to have splenic masses, thyroid, etc problems. So early detection can help prevent those masses from becoming ruptured spleens, which usually end in death. It's a HUGE life saver!

I think its great you find this important. More people need to be more interested in this preventative health care.

[fairlight]

I have something very similar to weezy's plan. Two out of three of my dogs have semi annual tests done like this.

[GSDNewbie]

we have health checkup all the time to catch changes in our bodies why not our doggy family members too? lol