Getting your dog’s health tested is a good idea for many reasons. It can help you make a more informed decision about your pet’s diet, exercise needs, and health issues that may be common for their breed.
It can also help you identify genetic health risks that may predispose your dog to certain diseases. Some tests also give you a better understanding of your pet’s history and personality.
General Health Check
During a wellness exam, the vet nurse will look at your dog from head to tail, checking their eyes, ears and teeth, while also examining the lungs, heart, lymph nodes, abdomen and skin. Any abnormalities that the vet nurse finds will be recorded in your pet’s clinical records.
Ideally, this examination should be done every 6 months to assess the health of your pet and to find any potential issues before they become too serious. This is especially important for senior dogs and cats, who are more susceptible to developing medical conditions as they age.
The veterinary staff will perform a thorough physical examination on your pet, including looking at the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and coat, checking the skin and examining the heart and lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes and prostate gland. If there are any concerns, blood and urine tests will be recommended to get more information about your pet’s condition. These tests will help the vet identify diseases and conditions that can’t be spotted during a general exam, and provide treatment options when they are most effective.
Canine Health Screening
Canine health screening is a great way to keep your dog healthy and happy. It can help your veterinarian find problems earlier than can be detected by physical exam alone.
During the wellness examination, your veterinarian will examine your dog’s eyes, ears, nose, lips, teeth, skin, and coat, as well as their feet. The doctor will also feel the abdominal area, including the spleen, stomach, bladder, kidneys, liver, and intestines to look for signs of discomfort.
In addition to these basic tests, we also perform blood and blood chemistries on many dogs to evaluate their organ function, electrolyte levels, hormones, and more. These tests are especially important for puppies, older dogs, and dogs with chronic illness or long-term medications.
Lastly, your vet may recommend annual screening for intestinal parasites (worms). Intestinal worms can make dogs sick and even disqualify them from breeding.
Canine Genetic Testing
Genetic testing is a growing health trend, and it gives owners access to information on their pets at a molecular level. The idea is simple: you trade a sample of your dog’s saliva in exchange for a report that tells you everything from their breed to their ancestry.
Depending on your reasons for getting your dog tested, you can choose from a wide range of dog DNA tests. Some are more basic and offer information about your pet’s breed, ancestry, or health risks, while others are more comprehensive and give you detailed results that can help you determine what type of care you should be giving your pooch.
One of the most valuable types of dog genetic testing is for inherited diseases and traits. These include genetic mutations that cause painful, blinding, or debilitating conditions and genetic traits that are desirable for particular breeds.
Canine DNA Testing
DNA testing can be a great way to get your dog’s health tested without having to go to the vet. These tests can be used to detect or prevent disease, verify parentage and breed ancestry, and even determine whether a dog has inherited certain diseases.
In order to get your dog’s DNA tested, you must provide a saliva sample from your pet. The sample will be sent to a lab that will then test the sample for genetic markers.
This canine DNA testing also allows you to understand your pet’s behavioral proclivities and potential for disease. These insights can help you tailor your pet’s care to their unique needs.
Most DNA testing kits include a cotton swab you can use to take a sample of your dog’s saliva. This sample will then be sent to a DNA laboratory and then you will receive results within three weeks.