Health Screening Tests

We want to help pets live longer and healthier lives.

There are blood and urine screening tests that can be performed to check if your pet is starting to have problems with their organs. Pets are very good at hiding illness and we can’t always tell they are sick very easily.

We can find out things about their health by running these screening tests. Early treatment could prevent things from worsening, make them feel better and help them live longer.

We recommend screening tests be performed every 12 months for SENIOR pets and every 6 months for GERIATRIC pets.

Urinalysis:

An essential part of the general health screening. Provides information about kidney function, urinary tract disease (bladder, kidneys, prostate), and systemic diseases like diabetes.

CBC:

Tells us information about red and white blood cells, leukemias, infection or inflammation, anemias and blood loss.

CHEM/Lytes:

This is a comprehensive internal organ screen that includes electrolyte measurements.

TT4/SDMA:

Thyroid hormone levels and SDMA for earliest detection of kidney function problems

Canine/Feline PL:

Pancreas specific testing that will tell us if your pet may have pancreatitis.

4DX:

Tests for 3 common tick borne diseases (Lyme, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma) and Heartworm infection.  This test is recommend for anyone rescuing or adopting pets from outside of our local area, and for anyone who travels outside of our local Kootenay region.

Canine hip dysplasia (abnormal development of the hip joint) begins when the hip joint in a young dog becomes loose or unstable. If left undiagnosed and untreated, this instability causes abnormal wear of the hip cartilage and ultimately progresses to osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease. Signs of this condition are pain, reluctance to get up or exercise, difficulty climbing stairs, a “bunny-hopping” gait, limping, and lameness, especially after periods of inactivity or exercise.

Hip dysplasia most commonly affects large- and giant-breed dogs; however, smaller dogs can also be affected. Although genetics often play a role in this disorder, young dogs that grow or gain weight too quickly or get too much high-impact exercise are also at risk. Being overweight can aggravate hip dysplasia.

We can help prevent or slow this condition by monitoring food intake and ensuring that your dog gets proper exercise as he or she ages. We can also screen your dog for hip dysplasia, using one of two methods. The earlier we can diagnose hip dysplasia, the better the possible outcome for your dog.

OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Certification:

We can x-ray your dog’s hips for hip dysplasia at 2 years of age. We will forward these radiographs to the OFA, where board-certified radiologists will evaluate and grade your dog’s hips for OFA certification. Correct positioning of your dog is essential for proper radiographic evaluation, so a general anesthetic is required to make the procedure less stressful for him or her.

Please call us to discuss your dog’s risk of developing hip dysplasia, to schedule a screening, or to discuss treatment options.