Presurgical  Testing

Here's a bit more detail on what presurgical testing does and does not tell you.  Having the tests done does not guarantee there will be no anesthetic reaction, it's not an indicator of some kind of allergy or sensativity to anesthesia.  Genetics of course plays a part, but purebred, or mutt, from championship stock or byb any animal can have the tendency to react to anesthesia.  And a dog may react to anesthesia one time, and do fine the next if another type is used.  Don't fall into the trap of thinking if it looks great on the outside, it's just as great on the inside, some conditions may take years to manifest outward signs, but when the stress of anethesia and surgery are added those conditions suddenly become critical and can cause a problem.  If the cost is a problem, ask to do the bloodwork a week or so ahead of time, to break up the bill.  Most vets will consider anything done within the month prior to surgery ok, except in special circumstances.

General Health Profile (GHP)---this tells you about the kidneys, the liver, the pancreatic functions, glucose level, whether or not the dog's body is properly processing its various fluids, and sometimes electrolytes.  The kidneys and liver process the anesthetic through the system, and eventually out of the body.

Complete Blood Count (CBC, or sometimes QBC depending on the machine used)---this one tells you if your dog has a high or low white blood cell count (infection), the red blood cell count (anemia), and the platelet count.  The platelet count is not a clotting test, but will indicate if there will be a clotting problem.  For instance if a dog has a very low platelet count a vet may postpone surgery until testing for bleeding disorders can be done.  Or extra fluids maybe administered during surgery if there is no time for testing (as in an emergency).

EKG---there are various ways to do this, and can often be done in-house at the regular vet.  This looks at the heart, does it beat properly?  Some ultrasound machines also have EKG abilities, and there are services where electrodes are clipped to the dog's legs, they are attached to a little speaker, and one can put a phone up to the speaker, transmit over the phone lines to a cardiologist who interprets the results in anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours.  There are also regular portable EKG machines vets can have, which will give you the printout.

If you are not offered a copy of test results (we give our clients copies at the discharge time), ask for one.  Keep them until your dog is fully recovered.  If there becomes a post-surgical emergency and you need to take your dog to another clinic for afterhours/emergency care, take the copies with you.  That will give the other vet an idea of what your dog was like in a healthy state.  Bloodwork more than six months old isn't helpful.