How often should my dog get blood tests? Are annual checks vital?

Question

Is it really compulsory to go for blood routine test of Liver function test, kidney function test and CBC every year ? Do other people also go for these blood routine work every year ? Please suggest as I am very protective towards my dog. Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | 1 year and 7 months old

Lauren Celestin, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hi there! This is an excellent question and no I would not call it compulsory. In fact you would be a veterinarians dream pet owner! While it may not be necessary when your pet is young (< 5-7 years), I personally always recommend that my patients have annual blood work done once they reach about 5 years of age. Ideally, every pet would have blood work done annually starting at about 1 year of age so that we have a baseline of what that individual animals 'normal' values are. That way if your pet becomes ill or we start to notice some changes in the values, we have something to compare and can better assess what the next should be and whether we need to worry or just monitor. I encourage you to have blood work done on at least a bi- annually until Danny is about 5 years and then annually. Hopefully this answers your question and eases any previous concerns. Im happy to consult with you further if you have any additional questions or concerns. Sounds like Danny has a great home with you!

How often should my dog get blood tests? Are annual checks vital?

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