Pre-Anesthetic Bloodwork
What is pre-anesthetic bloodwork?
This is a recommended blood test that looks at the major organs that process anesthetic medications, such as kidneys and liver. Our pre-anesthetic bloodwork profiles check seven blood values: ALT, ALP, BUN, CREAT, TP, GLUC, and PVC.
Anesthetic Safety
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is important for detecting problems in organs that process anesthetic medications and can increase the safety of anesthesia for your pet. If we see abnormal results, we can make necessary changes to the type of medications used, drug dosages, and intravenous fluid amounts to ensure maximum safety. In some cases, pre-anesthetic bloodwork can alert us that patients cannot be safely anesthetized and may need treatments for their disease prior to undergoing anesthesia.
Early detection of organ dysfunction
Bloodwork can uncover early or hidden disease in an otherwise healthy seeming pet. Even young animals may have congenital abnormalities affecting organ function that may go undetected in the early stages of disease. Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is especially important for older pets, as early detection of disease may help with treatment and/or slowing the progression of disease as an animal ages.
Establishing a baseline
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is also an important part of your pet’s medical history. Bloodwork has future value because it allows us to have a reference point to compare with as your pet ages, or should he or she ever become sick.
This is a recommended blood test that looks at the major organs that process anesthetic medications, such as kidneys and liver. Our pre-anesthetic bloodwork profiles check seven blood values: ALT, ALP, BUN, CREAT, TP, GLUC, and PVC.
- ALT (alanine aminotransferase): enzyme that becomes elevated with liver disease or injury.
- ALP (alkaline phosphatase): enzyme that becomes elevated with liver or gall bladder disease, but also can be associated with some hormonal problems, and in young growing animals.
- BUN (blood urea nitrogen): increases can indicate kidney disease or dehydration, while decreases can be associated with liver disease.
- CREAT (creatinine): Increases can indicate kidney disease or dehydration.
- TP (total protein): Abnormal levels can indicate liver, kidney, intestinal disorders or dehydration.
- GLUC (glucose): Increased levels can indicate diabetes, while decreased levels can indicate hypoglycemia, liver disease, and certain types of tumors.
- PCV (packed cell volume): indicates the amount of oxygen-carrying red blood cells present in blood. A low amount indicates anemia while an increased amount can indicate dehydration.
Anesthetic Safety
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is important for detecting problems in organs that process anesthetic medications and can increase the safety of anesthesia for your pet. If we see abnormal results, we can make necessary changes to the type of medications used, drug dosages, and intravenous fluid amounts to ensure maximum safety. In some cases, pre-anesthetic bloodwork can alert us that patients cannot be safely anesthetized and may need treatments for their disease prior to undergoing anesthesia.
Early detection of organ dysfunction
Bloodwork can uncover early or hidden disease in an otherwise healthy seeming pet. Even young animals may have congenital abnormalities affecting organ function that may go undetected in the early stages of disease. Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is especially important for older pets, as early detection of disease may help with treatment and/or slowing the progression of disease as an animal ages.
Establishing a baseline
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is also an important part of your pet’s medical history. Bloodwork has future value because it allows us to have a reference point to compare with as your pet ages, or should he or she ever become sick.
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