Here are three reasons why the doctors at Burr Ridge Veterinary Clinic recommend annual blood testing for senior pets:

  • Testing helps establish normal baseline values, creating a point of comparison for the future
  • Early disease detection often gives us more effective and less costly treatment options
  • Fluffy or Fido may seem healthy but many problems common to senior pets (like kidney or heart failure) may not present symptoms until your pet becomes seriously ill

BRVC co-owner Dr. Jeffrey D. Palmer, DVM shares the following story about a beloved pet whose medical condition would have gone untreated without annual senior bloodwork.

Lexie, a cute 12-year old Shih Tzu, recently visited me for her annual exam, diligently scheduled by her mom over the years.  Lexie’s yearly exams always went well, she seemed to be in very good health, received her required vaccinations, and we drew blood to check for heartworm and tick-borne diseases.  Once Lexie reached the age of eight – the age most pets are considered seniors – we added a senior wellness blood panel to screen for early signs of any health issues.

In the past, Lexie’s results were perfect but this year’s results were a little different because her calcium levels were elevated above the normal range.  Elevated calcium levels (hypercalcemia) can occur with kidney disease, a poor diet, excess vitamin D consumption, neoplasia (cancer) or a hormonal disease.  Lexie’s kidneys were healthy, she was fed a well-balanced diet, she wasn’t on any vitamin D supplements, and there were no signs of cancer leaving only the possibility of hyperparathyroidism (HPT), a hormonal disease.

Lexie’s mom was shocked to hear about the calcium level abnormality since Lexie is an energetic girl who showed no symptoms of disease.  Additional testing was performed which confirmed that Lexie had a benign tumor in one of her parathyroid glands located in the neck that was releasing more parathyroid hormone than was normal.  If left untreated, Lexie’s calcium levels would have increased to a level that cause life threatening issues including cardiac arrhythmias, muscle tremors, seizures, tissue mineralization, kidney or bladder stones, and fragile bones.

Fortunately for Lexie, the benign tumor was caught early because of her regularly scheduled blood work screening.  She experienced none of the side effects noted above, and never will due to prompt treatment.  Lexie was sent to a surgical specialist who successfully removed the tumor.  After a few days in the hospital to help her recover from the surgery and closely monitor her calcium levels, Lexie’s remaining parathyroid glands took over the function of normal calcium regulation and she was sent home as good as new.

Without her annual senior wellness panel, I would not have discovered her increased calcium level issue. More than likely, I would have seen her at some future date because she was suffering from serious and potentially irreversible symptoms of hypercalcemia.  These are the moments that make me feel the proudest as a doctor – I helped a very special friend avert a mortal fate.  I encourage you to talk to me or any of BRVC’s veterinarians about how to make sure your senior four-legged family members remain healthy as they reach their golden years, including annual senior bloodwork screening.