- Location
- Andorra and Spain
And have regular (at least annual) blood panels and biochemistry taken as a matter of course. Mine have them every six months.
Fleas!!
- Thread starter HAH
- Start date
Really? What are you looking for, anomalies or specific markers? I’d never thought of this and it feels a bit nonspecific - edging into asymptotic screening, although I might well have got the wrong end of the stick
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
Ella has had blood tests annually (roughly). I see it as being similar to the annual blood tests you have as a human. Check all of the key levels and add to the history of data for the individual.Really? What are you looking for, anomalies or specific markers? I’d never thought of this and it feels a bit nonspecific - edging into asymptotic screening, although I might well have got the wrong end of the stick
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
Sorry, meant to add that it's good to find their (and your) "normal". Imagine the normal range for liver enzymes is say 1-8 and each year your dog sits around 1-2 then one year it's 8. If you hadn't had any other blood tests, you'd be inclined to think it's fine because it's in the normal range. However, if you've had the regular blood tests, you would see that there had been a sudden jump that might be worth investigating.
That's not something I'm familiar with does everyone have blood tests annually?
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Not in the UK unless there is an indication eg diabetes or hypertension.
I believe there is a growing market in private health checks either via private medical insurance or paid for from someone's own pocket.
In my opinion they create a bunch of "worried well" and this far over rides detection rates for any serious illness.
Screening should be properly targeted for at risk populations.
(*steps down from soap box*)
I believe there is a growing market in private health checks either via private medical insurance or paid for from someone's own pocket.
In my opinion they create a bunch of "worried well" and this far over rides detection rates for any serious illness.
Screening should be properly targeted for at risk populations.
(*steps down from soap box*)
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
For adults, yes, I think so. Blood count, iron, liver, kidneys, cholesterol, blood sugar etc.
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
Well yes, unless you go to a bulk billed dr here (where you show up, sit down and wait until your number is called), you pay to see the dr.
Oh the private screening people I find them very unethical. They offer screening but have no follow up.
This is very firmly my view @Jacqui-S.
absolutely agree Swampy, plus the screening itself is often unethical (screening for low prevalence/ rare conditions meaning false positives go through the roof leading to further testing, more errors, more worry and drives people to an overstretched health service for unnecessary treatment).
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
I have an under active thyroid and take medication for it and do not have an annual blood test, I think I should.
Ask for one
Cath
MLF Sales Coordinator
My Doctor will not let me have my medication until I do. Yes ask for one to make sure your medication is at the right level.
Agreed.
I hate the wait for your smear results - I know that’s a necessary one to have, but that wait is awful!
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
This is the "morbidity" referred to as a non financial "cost" to screening
Ah!.....see the Lambies for Rourke post!
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
My lot get tested for all the potential nasties here - leish, tick-born diseases, heartworm. Things that they can carry for a long time without being symptomatic. And, because some of these diseases carry the risk of organ damage, it gives information on this. As @Emily says, it's great to have the history of what is normal for your dog, so that any changes can be investigated. I consider the tests to be routine, they don't concern me, just give me information.Really? What are you looking for, anomalies or specific markers? I’d never thought of this and it feels a bit nonspecific - edging into asymptotic screening, although I might well have got the wrong end of the stick
I would still do the same if I were in the UK, even without the same range of possible diseases. Information is powerful and, if something were to crop up, it would give me a better position to argue for an intervention if I felt it was necessary.
Dogs are very good at hiding it when they feel a bit crappy, so this allows us to detect issues before they develop into something really problematic.
- Location
- Isle of Man
yeah - the private company posts the results to the patient's GP suggesting they might like to "do something" !