Yearly Check-ups Vs Semi Annual ?

[Jennifer and Jack]

Jack went for his six month check up for his normal cortisol and electrolyte testing.. (still don't have the results)

I was just wondering how often and to what extent do you have testing done on your dog.  Jack is going to turn five in March.. I took him a bit early for his birthday check up because of my upcoming surgery.

I know I am crazy when it comes to him but I chose for him to get the "Senior Panel" of blood work done as opposed to the junior panel because I want all his bases covered. The vet writes a separate note stating that all the lab work is done to ensure Jack's Addiosonian medications are working so insurance pays for it all minus his deductible.

He had his teeth cleaned in July and with that he had full blood work and they did and EKG for pre anesthesia .

This time for the senior panel...

They did, CBC, CMP, Liver enzymes, Pancreatic Enzymes,  Kidney levels, urine test for something. Cortisol and Thyroid test. Heartworm and Lymes    I am pretty sure that is a through exam. I know when someone used to come to the ER those were the standard tests we would run on them (minus heart worm and Lymes) if we didn't have something specific that was standing out to us.  I know he isn't a "senior but still a junior" but I think it would be easier if we had established levels to look for trends.

Jack needs to lose weight. he is 19.2 pounds and needs to be around 15- 16 at the most. That is a lot of weight to lose.  That is of course our fault he is overweight. He actually has trouble jumping on things and you can see him struggle a bit ….that is a lot of extra weight for a little dog to be carrying and I swear, he still have the tummy tuck curve…. but his ribs are not easily felt and you can feel fat pads on his hips…. We are working it out now.

Do you do semi-annual check ups, or yearly and if so what tests do you have done?  I think I will stick with the senior panel yearly.. ( even though insurance covers it, it was cheaper to buy a package then to have individual testing done) and then every six months we will do cortisol and electrolytes.

Does that sound right?  I just figure they age so fast I don't want something to sneak up on us.  

[F, Calla & Luca]

I do a yearly checkup. I get no other testing unless needed.  Aside from Luca having surgery and Calla having a dental we have had no need. The vet urged me to have a heartworm test on Calla last year because she had never had one.  It was negative. I give heartworm pills year round and will try to avoid further testing. Insurance may cover testing but unless it is needed I think it just drives all our costs up. I think before any testing is done on people or animals we need to think of the reason and if anything will change given then possible outcomes. Pancreatic enzymes, liver panel? What will you do if some tests come back out of range and if you do enough tests some inevitably will. People coming to an ER are quite different than a dog going for a yearly physical. The people presumably have symptoms and are seeking treatment for an MI, or abdominal pain or something. Jack may need certain tests. I do think this is excessive though, soon he will be anemic from all this testing.   Luca will be 6 in March and I wouldn't think of getting any of these tests. He thankfully seems fine. If he doesn't then, along with his vet, I would consider just what tests were indicated.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I understand your thinking..heart worm is rampant here so we always get that ... I just think Jack doesn't have a way to say if something is wrong........ I laughed out loud about your anemia comment.

If I found a high level in his kidneys or liver I would have it further evaluated ....if his WBC was elevated I would watch it...I would hope to catch something early instead of hey your dog has cancer sorry he has a few weeks to live....

It is funny because with my own body I am the polar opposite...I am behind on everything normal testing wise......I just feel so responsible for him....and I don't think he can say hey I don't feel good...I read story after story of dogs who showed no sign of sickness until they were near death....I would hope to catch it early....if there was something to catch.

You would be surprised or maybe you wouldn't at ppl who show up in the ER screaming of Belly pain 10 out of 10 as they are texting eating Cheetos ....I used the ER panel as an example of blood work that shows general overall health.

Who knows with me...maybe I just want to control all things Jack ....

I don't think I will ever be sorry for having him tested for something but I will be if I didn't....

That's just me.... And the human world of pediatricians said amen that I didn't get a human child. :)

[Bonnie and Kona]

It makes sense to me that you are concerned that you know what is going on with Jack because he has Addison's. My guys have been healthy so I just get them a yearly check up with no additional tests. 

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thanks Bonnie , what do they do in a yearly check up ? Do they do any blood work.

[Bonnie and Kona]

No, just weight, temperature, physical exam. The only time our doodles have had blood work was before Kona's tail surgery and when they had the flu and were dehydrated this fall.

[Doris]

We go twice a year because Bodi gets the shots for heartworm prevention.  The pills made him sick. . . . But we also go every time I feel a lump or a bump or he has the runs too long  for my carpet comfort!!  I think my vet's office loves us over-protective moms!!

[Jennifer and Jack]

I am positive the vets like over protective moms.

[Diana Erhart]

Charlie has his vaccines spread out so he goes twice a year for a checkup.  But they only do the bloodwork once a year.  He has been having all the tests for the last 3 years (he is now 7 going on 8) because he had one mild seizure 3 years ago. He also gets the senior panel now.  Good luck with the weight loss.  It may come off of him faster than you think.  After Charlie put on about 4 extra pounds I figured out it was all the cheese he was getting that did it.  Cut that out and he lost the weight pretty quickly.  Every time he stays with my parents though, they give him cheese and he puts on a pound or two.  Still comes right off when he gets back home and goes without the cheese but I assume as he gets older it will take longer to lose that "cheese weight"!

[Jennifer and Jack]

Yes Jack loves cheese!!! I have cut it and all treats out!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We do an annual full check-up and fecals every six months.  I did one full blood panel (I think it was their first annual check up) to serve as a baseline.  Other than that we've just done individual blood tests when they've been ill (the tick borne illness for Murph and the pancreatitis for Guinness).  We also did a full thyroid panel for Murphy when he was initially showing the behavioral issues.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Over testing (IMO) puts up costs all round and just keeps the medics, in this case Vets in better financial circumstances. There's a fine balance between necessary and waste of money. I would never dream of having all these tests done if my dogs looked and acted healthy. First sign of a problem then we check it out but not before. The yearly check is good enough for us. I have often thought if you took a sample from 100 apparently healthy people you would get lots of strange test results, such is the human condition and I suspect it's the same in dogs. Don't get me wrong, I'm first down to the vets as with Boris and his shoulders at the first sign of a problem. I would concentrate on getting that weight down and only you can do that, all else will fall into a better place. You will know yourself if there is a problem  as you are so tuned into Jack so I wouldn't worry that you wouldn't be aware that something was amiss.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Having been a laboratory director in my ancient past what you think about test results is absolutely true. I agree with all you said.