Is the optional blood profile prior to spaying a good idea?

Question

My schnauzer is getting spayed tommorow. I was looking over her paperwork and it talks about an optional service of optaining a blood profile for the patient prior to nurgery to ensure she is in a low risk category for recieving anesthesia. It is $50.00 extra, so I was wondering if it is needed.

It would include a complete blood count to check for anemia infection and clotting, kidney BUN levels, ALKP liver levels, glucose levels, ALT liver levels, TP/ electrolytes, and creatinine levels.

Also, post-op pain control is optional, and I was suprised at this. I plan on getting her the meds, but it is an extra $22 for that, and I was wondering if that in necessary as well. I have never been a puppy parent before, so I do not know what is necessary.

Answer 1

I highly encourage the bloodwork and that is a good price! It can detect "hidden" problems that you would want to know about anyway. It makes it safer to put her under and how much to use, etc.

Oh yes, you would assume they would include a lot of things but you need to ask! Please ask if they are using gas with IVs to put her under. Do not assume! You would not believe what goes on behind those closed doors. Not all vets of course but it happens. Normally there is a sedation shot first to calm the dog before going into surgical area to be put under.

We do not use pain meds after. Our vet does send each home with Amoxicillen, antibiotic, just for safe measure. Do they normally keep them overnight there?? If not, make sure you have a valid phone # to call the vet anytime if you feel you should. Normally, there are no problems but ask for the #. They should also give you a "care sheet" for her with after surgery info.

I am with a rescue that has had countless spays/neuters done over our 14 yrs. for our rescue dogs/cats. Our vet only uses gas and not other options available that folks don;t know about, cheaper they say. I have even been allowed to view for myself.

Thank you for being a good parent and spaying your girl.

Answer 2

If you haven't gotten a blood profile on her before, like in the last year, it would likely be a good idea to do it at this time -- two birds with one stone thing... :) It is wise to have a panel like this run annually on a dog anyway to monitor liver and kidney function, primarily - as you want to catch liver or kidney disease early to treat properly, so doing one at this time is not a bad idea anyway. Don't be surprised if the vets charge you for each suture and so much per minute of anesthesia and all that... they are becoming more and more like the 'human' hospitals in that they are adding on anything they can so when you get an 'estimate' or quote, be sure and ask about any of the 'extras' that might be charged that used to just be part of the procedure... with the invent of 'pet insurance' you had best believe the veterinary medicine field isn't going to be far behind the human one in the exhorbidant and rather silly itemization of anything and everything... then they will have the insurance companies deciding medical treatment just like in human medicine (I am in the medical field and have watched this evolution occur over the decades :( I dreaded it when insurance companies figured out they could cash in on the veterinary practice :(....

add: BTW, I would consider the blood work optional for sure -- if money is short I wouldn't bother at this time but would do it annually whenever possible. The odds of there being anything that would interfer with the anesthesia noted is slim to none -- basically we do people because people tend to be pretty unhealthy as a rule! haha Also, the only real test that would indicate an issue that would arise in anesthesia would be like a test for anticholenergics and unless you have been applying a lot of insecticides and stuff to the dog, that is unlikely and they don't test for it in dogs anyway (we do sometimes in humans at areas that are very agricultural - those farmers tend to use a lot of anticholinergics!) - so basically, the optionals ARE optional and the important expense should be altering the dogs and not adding on a bunch of stuff if funds are low at this time... There are surgeries that would require analgesics but usually altering isn't one of them. With a spay, unlike a male neuter, I would want IV fluids available as pressures can drop sometimes. Good luck and thanks for being a responsible dog owner!!!

Answer 3

I would definitely get the pain meds although when I had my first dog neutered 23 years ago, they told me to give him baby aspirin. I didn't realize there were other options and he did great. Was up running around the next day. Recently I have used the other pain meds now that I know they are available. The blood profile is a little iffy if it is a young dog. It would show you if there is anything unexpected and I would probably get it. But really, if it is a young dog, the chances of it showing something aren't as great. If it is an older dog then definitely get it. I had to get my older dog's teeth cleaned and his pre-surgical profile showed some severe liver problems. I also got the profile on a older dog (6 yrs. old) that I had neutered and he was fine. Good luck!

Answer 4

If mine are young and healthy I generally don't get the blood work done. If they are older it is a very good idea. I have never gotten the pain meds...(mine have all been fixed young)... having over 100 animals fixed I have never had one need them. They are usually up and running by the time the anethesia wears off good. If they are in pain I don't think they would be playing so much!! The pain meds are for us to feel better. It seems with the young ones especially, that God gave them built in stuff! I told my Dr. I wish the vet had done my surgery... when they get fixed they are up playing usually within 24-48 hours... it took me weeks after I got fixed!! LOL ANd yes, I took alot of pain meds!

Answer 5

Absolutely get the pain meds. I can't believe that is optional. And for $50 extra dollars I would definitely do the blood profile too. It is only $50 to help ensure that your pup will be safe during surgery.

*I can see Bindi's point, and I know of some veterinarians who also feel the same way. But I personally don't like to feel any pain at all, especially after something so invasive, like an Ovarian Hysterectomy, so I will always give pain meds to my animals after surgery.

Answer 6

true story, 6 month old dog came into our clinic for a spay. everything on her physical checked out. we did the preanesthetic blood work and she had some abnormalities to the point where we decided to postpone her spay. turns out she was diagnosed with addisons disease. if we had not done the blood work and spayed her just based on her physical exam she could have and most likely would have died upon recovery.

preanesthetic blood work and pain medications are always a good idea. animals recover faster from anesthesia when not in pain and i for one would want pain meds especially after having abdominal surgery.

Answer 7

As far as the pre-op bloodwork, I say go for that, you never know what it may turn up. Better safe than sorry.

As for post op pain meds, in my opinion those are only needed to take the edge off. You don't want your dog feeling so good she's running around, you don't want her miserable in pain either. If she's whiny and appears uncomfortable even while resting, I say give a little bit of a pain med. If she can lay around and rest comfortably skip it.

If she's in a little bit of discomfort she'll regulate herself and rest more, thus healing faster. Feeling to good and she could rip out her stitches.

I take this approach with my own dogs as well as myself. I'd rather endure a little discomfort than take the risk of injuring myself further, same with my dogs.

Answer 8

I didn't do the blood work when I had my 6.5 month old puppy neutered. I didn't give him any pain meds either. I did have baby asprin on hand if he needed it.

Thanks for spaying your dog!

Answer 9

you should get the blood profile, its true, better to be safe than sorry. also its good to have it on file in case something happens later down the road. I had it done on my dog before he went in for a dental, needless to say we found things out that will be very help full in the future.