Is bloodwork supposed to be part of a dog's annual check-up?

Question

Our 11 year old dog passed away last week from late stages of liver cancer. 5 days prior she was given a clean bill of health after her 5 minute annual. If bloodwork had been done, this would have been detected, but I can't get a straight answer if this should have been done.

Thank-you!

Answer 1

Sorry for your loss. Most vets recommend that once your dog reaches senior status (7 years med-small breeds , 5 years large-giant breeds) you should get a complete blood and urine workup including complete thyroid panel and diabetes screening to establish a baseline for your particluar dog. Dogs who have reached Senior status should also see the vet at least every 6 months, and blood and urine should be rechecked at least annually.

Sounds like your vet dropped the ball. I would find a new vet if you decide to get another pet.

Again, I am sorry for your loss. Liver cancer is an aggressive type of cancer, and doesn't respond well to chemotherapy.

Although there may not have been much that you could have done to prevent cancer from taking your pet's life, had you known earlier you could have helped to ease any suffering or pain he was feeling or at least you would have been better prepared to say good-bye.

Good luck and I am sure your dog is waiting for you happy and cancer free at the rainbow bridge.

Answer 2

I'm not sure what the standard is, but in my experience, bloodwork is generally an option with the annual check-up. Whenever I take my dog in, they ask if I want to pay an additional amount of money (I think it's something like $58) to have her bloodwork done. I say yes, and then I have to sign a little form. They'll do the bloodwork and the next day the vet will call me back to tell me if anything is wrong. My dog was fine this time, but the year before last we found out that she had heartworm, so I was very glad that the bloodwork was done. In short, I don't think that bloodwork is a requirement. However, as you obviously know, it's probably a good idea.

I am so sorry to hear about your dog. I wish there was more I could say to make you feel better. :(

Answer 3

First of all, my sympathy at the loss of your dog. 11 years is a long time to have anyone in your life. To have them die is devastating.
A dog that is 11 should have had bloodwork done with her annual exam. Older dogs, like older people are more likely to have health issues. While doing blood work THIS year would not have helped keep your family pet alive, annual bloodwork might have.
Cancer is a tricky, tragic thing.
Also, a good physical exam should have detected something wrong, even if just this year. Jaundice should have been detectable with a good exam for a while.
I cannot believe she should have been given a "clean bill of health" by a competent vet.
Again, my sympathy.

Answer 4

Most vets don't give your animals such detailed exams as to find liver problems via abnormal white blood cell count in the blood. A visit to the vet would turn into a 3 day stay. They normally have all the work load they can handle now. True it might have given your dog another day of life if they had caught it but that day would have been at the vets place with strange alien smells and no friendly faces. I'm sorry about your dog but things probably worked out for the best. Your pet was able to be at home when it went.

Answer 5

In my experience, vets will only suggest bloodwork on an older dog if they are A) Showing signs of illness, or B) Being anesthetised for surgery.

Vets will also perform bloodwork if you ask for it specifically, but unfortunately I do not believe that it is considered "routine" for an older dog's checkup -- maybe it should be!

So sorry to hear about your girl -- but it sounds like she was healthy and happy up to her last days, which is really a blessing in disguise, IMO. I've had too many dogs "waste away" from cancer over a long period of time.

Very hard either way. My sympathies to you!

Answer 6

I find it irresponsible not to provide core vaccines for puppies...vaccines DO prevent disease, and the benefits outweigh the costs when it comes to puppyhood vaccines. I do feel that yearly vaccines are way too much, and ideally, everyone would titer before administering a vaccine a second time, but the AVMA schedule of once every three years for core vaccines is much preferable to the "old" thought that every year was necessary. Core vaccines offer immunity from 3 years to life. I have a hard time with hearing that vaccines aren't necessary at all-vaccines are the reason that things like rabies and distemper are no longer such a danger to dogs, and vaccines are the reason that you probably don't know a single person with polio today...overvaccinating is not necessary, but I feel that vaccines save the lives of many people and pets, and that at least a puppy series (DHLPP and Rabies-which is required by law nearly everywhere, if not everywhere in this country) is the right thing to do for your dog. I don't allow my dogs around unvaccinated dogs (even though mine have been vaccinated)-I told a member of our hunting group that his dog was not welcome in our group until he was neutered and vaccinated (he just didn't want to pay for either, there were no moral/medical objections-he did get both done so that his dog could hunt with ours). I'm not willing to take any unnecessary chances with my dogs, so they do get re-vaccinated...and with Lepto (which has been surging in my area recently), I didn't even ask for a titer-it had been 3 years since vaccination, and I had my hunting dogs revaccinated because I wanted them to be safe. By the way, there is no proof that vaccines cause autism, some people with autistic children feel that they do, but as far as scientific proof, it does not exist.

Answer 7

No, bloodwork is NOT part of a normal exam. And most cancers would NOT show up on a routine or in-depth blood test. If you told the vet she was fine, he would have believed you. Be glad that your dog had 11 happy years and didn't suffer.

Answer 8

I am very sorry for your loss. :-(

Any pet I've had did not have bloodwork as a part of the annual check up. Usually if the vet sees some signs of concern or if there is weight loss, they will order bloodwork. As my pets age I usually request bloodwork every so often. It might be different with different vets, though.

Again, so sorry....

Answer 9

Usually vets don't do blood work on a dog if they are healthy, when the vet finishes the check up and finds that something is wrong then they will do blood work. Vets will also do blood work if you say something has been going on with your dog and to find the answer they have to check blood. But since your dog had only gottn a check up 5 days earlier it wouldn't have done anything to help. I am so sorry about your loss :-(, I hope you feel better :-)

Answer 10

Typically bloodwork on animals is not done. But I would think that there should have been some symptoms of cancer that should have been noticed. Pain, not eating properly, lethargy,... If there were no symptoms thay you noticed, then the Vet may not have known to look for anything out of the ordinary.