Routine lab work is a key part of keeping your dog healthy. Annual testing helps us catch problems early, establish baselines, and ensure that your pet stays on track for a long, healthy life.

Recommended lab work testing by age

All adult dogs (1 year and older)

  • Heartworm & tick-borne disease test (4DX): Screens for heartworm disease, Lyme, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis.
  • Fecal testing (antigen + flotation): Detects roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, giardia, and more.

Adult dogs (4–8 years)

Includes all tests above, plus:

  • CBC (complete blood count): Evaluates immune system, anemia, and inflammation.
  • Mini chemistry panel: Screens liver, kidneys, glucose, protein, and electrolytes.

Senior dogs (8+ years)

Includes all tests above, plus:

  • Full chemistry panel: Expands on mini-chem with pancreas, calcium, phosphorus, and more.
  • Thyroid panel (T4): Screens for hypothyroidism.
  • Urinalysis: Helps detect kidney disease, diabetes, infection.

Understanding the tests and their importance

Heartworm antigen test

Detects: Adult female heartworms
Why it matters: A deadly parasite spread by mosquitoes. Early detection is critical, as damage to heart and lungs can occur silently. Monthly prevention is key.

Tick-borne disease tests

Lyme disease (Borrelia):
Detects: Bacterial infection from ticks
Why it matters: Can lead to joint pain, kidney issues, and lethargy. Dogs may be asymptomatic for months.

Ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia spp.):
Detects: White blood cell infection
Why it matters: Can cause bleeding, chronic fatigue, and immune suppression.

Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma spp.):
Detects: Infection in platelets and white blood cells
Why it matters: Leads to fever, lameness, and low platelets; often co-infects with other diseases.

Fecal antigen + flotation

Detects: Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, giardia, coccidia
Why it matters: Some are zoonotic (can infect humans). Regular testing helps protect your dog and your family.

CBC (complete blood count)

Detects: Red/white blood cells, platelets
Why it matters: Identifies infections, anemia, clotting issues, and inflammation. Essential for chronic condition monitoring.

Mini chemistry panel

Detects: Liver/kidney function, glucose, electrolytes, protein
Why it matters: Ideal for middle-aged dogs or pre-anesthesia. Catches early signs of organ disease or diabetes.

Thyroid panel (T4)

Detects: Thyroid hormone levels
Why it matters: Common in older dogs. Signs include weight gain, skin issues, and low energy. Treatable with daily meds.

Urinalysis

Detects: Kidney health, glucose, protein, infections, bladder stones
Why it matters: Reveals conditions that blood tests may miss—especially vital for aging pets.

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