pre-op blood test - YorkieTalk.com Forums

janetvav · 06-01-2010, 03:40 PM

So do most vets automatically do a pre-op blood test before being spayed or do you have to tell them that you want it done? I have asked my vet before about doing a bile acid test on my other yorkie and he said that he didn't think that he needed it done since his other blood test was normal. Well lately he hasn't been eating like normal and is getting tired and panting more so I am thinking that I might see if he will do one just to ease my mind. I lost my last yorkie due to liver problems so I am pretty paranoyed about this. My little girl is going to have to be spayed soon so just checking everyone elses input on blood tests.

Patti · 06-01-2010, 04:12 PM

Mine always does the pre surgery blood work. If they didn't I would make sure they did it. I think it is about 40.00. Money well spent.

DvlshAngel985 · 06-01-2010, 04:17 PM

Ask. With my vet the blood work is an extra charge and not all pet owners want to spend the extra $50 for it. If they haven't told you they will do it, ask for the blood work.

mojo · 06-01-2010, 04:20 PM

At my vet, they always give you the option, and it is an extra fee. Well worth it I think.

BanditSocks2 · 06-01-2010, 04:25 PM

They always do it at my vet and since Nala was spayed about 6 months ago and has been in (with Bandit when he had to go in) once or twice since then they did a "mini blood panel" because they ran a full one last time. She said it was up to me but she felt totally comfortable doing the mini-one, especially since she wasn't under anesthesia, just the local. We ran a full one for Bandit's dental because he has stomach issues and he'll be under anesthesia, but both came back fine

OwnedByJezebel · 06-01-2010, 04:29 PM

Ask for it.

My Vet doesn't require it, but if you choose not to do it, you have to sign a statement saying that it was offered and you declined.

janetvav · 06-01-2010, 05:09 PM

So with this test what is all that is tested? I am sure this doesn't include the bile acid test right.

BanditSocks2 · 06-01-2010, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janetvav

So with this test what is all that is tested? I am sure this doesn't include the bile acid test right.

I think the mini one just included liver and kidney fucntions? I'm really not sure though.

MaddiesMommie · 06-01-2010, 05:16 PM

We just did this today. It does test liver and kidney fuctions and IS money well spent. I asked my vet about it and he said he always recommends it but it is not a requirement in his office. I am sure if you ask, they will be more than happy to do it.
ETA: I also asked they to the heartworm test in addition, just becuase it was time to renew their Interceptor.

janetvav · 06-01-2010, 05:28 PM

Thanks everyone I will definitely ask him to do this plus heartworm test hopefully will be acurate since she is only 6 months old. After my daughters dog got diagnosed with heartworm and had to go throught her treatments last week we will for sure keep testing my dogs even though they can't get it from her it is for sure very scary.

2Morkies · 06-01-2010, 06:42 PM

My Vet highly recommends it before any surgery, especially in small dogs. Is this the same Vet you went to with your last dog?? If it is, you might think about getting a new Vet....

Pettysmith · 06-01-2010, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

Ask. With my vet the blood work is an extra charge and not all pet owners want to spend the extra $50 for it. If they haven't told you they will do it, ask for the blood work.

And this is the reason most vets do not require it, COST!!! At my clinic we require it for dentals and STRONGLY recommend it for every other surgery. We would love to require it for all surgeries but as the above poster said, not all pet owners want to spend the extra money. Not only does it gives us a look at how everything is functioning at the time of surgery it also gives us a baseline of what is normal for the patient. Therefore, if somewhere down the road, even several years later, something happens we have a "norm" to look back on. We do have our dentals priced in packages that include bloodwork. Because of the length of time, the bacteria floating around in their mouths, it is important that we make sure everything is functioning normally. It is a sensible, intelligent decision.

mojo · 06-01-2010, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pettysmith

And this is the reason most vets do not require it, COST!!! At my clinic we require it for dentals and STRONGLY recommend it for every other surgery. We would love to require it for all surgeries but as the above poster said, not all pet owners want to spend the extra money. Not only does it gives us a look at how everything is functioning at the time of surgery it also gives us a baseline of what is normal for the patient. Therefore, if somewhere down the road, even several years later, something happens we have a "norm" to look back on. We do have our dentals priced in packages that include bloodwork. Because of the length of time, the bacteria floating around in their mouths, it is important that we make sure everything is functioning normally. It is a sensible, intelligent decision.

Which I just don't get. You are spending $500-$1000 on a surgery, really, what's an additional $40??.
I was at the vet one time and there was a lady having a fit because she had to pay an additional fee for an iv for her dog. I just wonder if she were having surgery, would she want that iv?

dwerten · 06-01-2010, 07:19 PM

When dex and dee dee were spay and neutered and they were done by two different vets they never asked me about it

I would have paid too. Not sure if they did a quick in house or not but back then I had no clue about all this stuff but now i get it done as well as urine checked as that checks how the kidneys are functioning before dentals are done so I would ask.

motomomma317 · 06-01-2010, 07:21 PM

Everything is itemized with our vet. Our vet recommends the blood work but it's not mandatory but we have always signed if we choose not to use something they put down as a recommendation. I had to sign a release on my JRT for blood work once when she was attacked by a larger dog( I would of had to wait over night for the results of the blood work when I wanted the surgery done that day)
9 times out of 10 a pet owner will put a few more dollars out for a safety feature but you still have that 1 out of 10 that wants it done on the cheap. We have a local vet that does the bare minimal spay and neuters that don't do blood work or pain meds. after.

06-01-2010, 03:40 PM	#1
janetvav Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: iowa usa Posts: 212	pre-op blood test So do most vets automatically do a pre-op blood test before being spayed or do you have to tell them that you want it done? I have asked my vet before about doing a bile acid test on my other yorkie and he said that he didn't think that he needed it done since his other blood test was normal. Well lately he hasn't been eating like normal and is getting tired and panting more so I am thinking that I might see if he will do one just to ease my mind. I lost my last yorkie due to liver problems so I am pretty paranoyed about this. My little girl is going to have to be spayed soon so just checking everyone elses input on blood tests.

06-01-2010, 04:12 PM	#2
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	Mine always does the pre surgery blood work. If they didn't I would make sure they did it. I think it is about 40.00. Money well spent. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

06-01-2010, 04:17 PM	#3
DvlshAngel985 Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles, California, USA Posts: 12,693	Ask. With my vet the blood work is an extra charge and not all pet owners want to spend the extra $50 for it. If they haven't told you they will do it, ask for the blood work. __________________ Littlest JakJak We miss you Kaji

06-01-2010, 04:20 PM	#4
mojo Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Here, there Posts: 2,693	At my vet, they always give you the option, and it is an extra fee. Well worth it I think. __________________ Bella (I miss you) Sachi Emmy

06-01-2010, 04:29 PM	#6
OwnedByJezebel YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,921	Ask for it. My Vet doesn't require it, but if you choose not to do it, you have to sign a statement saying that it was offered and you declined. __________________ Life is merrier with a Yorkshire Terrier! Jezebel & Chuy ... RIP: Barkley Loosie & Sassy

06-01-2010, 04:25 PM	#5
BanditSocks2 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Crofton, MD, USA Posts: 1,522	They always do it at my vet and since Nala was spayed about 6 months ago and has been in (with Bandit when he had to go in) once or twice since then they did a "mini blood panel" because they ran a full one last time. She said it was up to me but she felt totally comfortable doing the mini-one, especially since she wasn't under anesthesia, just the local. We ran a full one for Bandit's dental because he has stomach issues and he'll be under anesthesia, but both came back fine

06-01-2010, 05:09 PM	#7
janetvav Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: iowa usa Posts: 212	So with this test what is all that is tested? I am sure this doesn't include the bile acid test right.

06-01-2010, 05:16 PM	#9
MaddiesMommie LoveMy2 Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 4,060	We just did this today. It does test liver and kidney fuctions and IS money well spent. I asked my vet about it and he said he always recommends it but it is not a requirement in his office. I am sure if you ask, they will be more than happy to do it. ETA: I also asked they to the heartworm test in addition, just becuase it was time to renew their Interceptor. Last edited by MaddiesMommie; 06-01-2010 at 05:17 PM.

06-01-2010, 05:28 PM	#10
janetvav Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: iowa usa Posts: 212	Thanks everyone I will definitely ask him to do this plus heartworm test hopefully will be acurate since she is only 6 months old. After my daughters dog got diagnosed with heartworm and had to go throught her treatments last week we will for sure keep testing my dogs even though they can't get it from her it is for sure very scary.

06-01-2010, 06:42 PM	#11
2Morkies YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: USA Posts: 798	My Vet highly recommends it before any surgery, especially in small dogs. Is this the same Vet you went to with your last dog?? If it is, you might think about getting a new Vet.... __________________ MuffinBoomer

06-01-2010, 07:19 PM	#14
dwerten BANNED! Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA Posts: 11,073	When dex and dee dee were spay and neutered and they were done by two different vets they never asked me about it I would have paid too. Not sure if they did a quick in house or not but back then I had no clue about all this stuff but now i get it done as well as urine checked as that checks how the kidneys are functioning before dentals are done so I would ask. Last edited by dwerten; 06-01-2010 at 07:20 PM.

06-01-2010, 07:21 PM	#15
motomomma317 YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: ohio Posts: 319	Everything is itemized with our vet. Our vet recommends the blood work but it's not mandatory but we have always signed if we choose not to use something they put down as a recommendation. I had to sign a release on my JRT for blood work once when she was attacked by a larger dog( I would of had to wait over night for the results of the blood work when I wanted the surgery done that day) 9 times out of 10 a pet owner will put a few more dollars out for a safety feature but you still have that 1 out of 10 that wants it done on the cheap. We have a local vet that does the bare minimal spay and neuters that don't do blood work or pain meds. after.