Thoughts about worthwhile tests

Welcome!  I’m writing today to touch on some tests I think are worthwhile for pets. To be clear, I am not a veterinarian or medical professional. I care very much for my animals and probably like you, want to keep them in the very best health without over doing vaccinations, procedures and medication.

If you’ve read my blog before you know that Desi, my Papillon, was a spot on, healthy little guy. Last September he developed symptoms of chronic pancreatitis. The fluids I gave him at home weren’t quite enough, so we admitted him to the hospital for IV fluids. He was subsequently diagnosed with GME. During his recovery I’ve had to be very aware of his nutritional and medical needs. Many people have asked questions about his diagnosis, treatment, progress etc. The same things come up often, so I thought I’d post about some different tests I found very helpful.

The first is the ultrasound. If you have access to a facility with excellent equipment and an experienced vet to read the scan, this non invasive procedure can tell you what you need to know to help your animal. It can be expensive, but it gives you real time information and again, does not hurt your animal experimenting with drugs that may or may not accurately treat the problem. Ultrasound had been such a useful tool with Desi and my previous dogs when they’ve presented symptoms that after talking with so many people about Desi’s situation, I’ve been thinking it should perhaps be used sooner rather than as a last resort. For example, had I turned to ultrasound sooner with two of my other dogs, I probably could have avoided things that aggravated their problems or at least helped them faster.  Again, I am not a doctor, rather someone who like you, who has had to deal with grave news about the health of animals I care very much about.

The second test I feel can be very useful – almost as part of your new puppy or kitten check up – is a food allergy blood test. There is controversy among doctors as to whether the blood test or skin allergy testing is more accurate. I’ve read everything I can get my hands on and I feel more secure with the blood testing. Bloodwork is generally done when you adopt a new animal and at every annual exam so while it does mean a needle, it doesn’t necessarily mean a separate trip to the vet. You can use this information to start your pet on a nutritional program that is right for his individual needs. In Desi’s case we found that ingredients and foods that are normally considered healthy are a problem for him. Who knew? Remember that all vets are not nutritional specialists. Some vets who are nutritional specialists will recommend any canned diet without any regard as to the quality of the food. Take some time and find a doctor who can help you in this area and get your little pal on a good food plan. It doesn’t have to cost more and it really can make such a difference.

All the best,

Patti and Desi