Our vets and nurses recently had the wonderful experience of meeting friendly Rupert, who presented for castration. All of our patients who are admitted for a procedure requiring a general anaesthetic have a thorough physical exam and is typically followed by a pre-anaesthetic blood test. Although Rupert was a young and apparently healthy dog, we still recommended a pre-anaesthetic blood test for Rupert. This testing enables a more thorough assessment of your pet’s overall health for anaesthetic planning.

In Rupert’s case, he was found to have kidney changes. This warranted further investigation and a delay of his procedure to enable time for medication and dietary adjustments to improve his health prior to undergoing an anaesthetic.

Not all changes on bloodwork necessitate a delay in a procedure, but enable vets to tailor medication and surgical planning in a more individualised way to ensure the utmost medical care and safety for your pet.