1. You deserve peace of mind. Testing can significantly reduce medical risk and ensure your pet's health and safety.
    
2. Pets can't tell us when they don't feel well. A healthy-appearing pet may be hiding symptoms of a disease or ailment. For example, a pet can lose up to 75% of kidney function before showing any visible signs of illness. Testing helps us evaluate your pet's health up front, so we can avoid problems related to anesthesia.
    
3. Testing can reduce risk and consequences. If pre-anesthetic results are within normal ranges, we can proceed with confidence, knowing that anesthetic risk is minimized. On the other hand, if results are not within the normal ranges, we can alter the anesthetic procedure, or take other precautions to safeguard your pet's health and reduce the risk of potential complications.
    
4. Testing can help protect your pet's future health. These tests provide baseline levels for your pet and become part of his or her medical record for future reference.

• Albumin (ALB)- A protein that is produced by the liver. Reduced levels of this protein can point to chronic liver, kidney or intestinal disease.
   
• Alanine Aminotransferase(ALT)- An enzyme that becomes elevated with liver disease or injury.
   
• Alkaline Phospatase(ALKP)- An enzyme present in multiple tissues, including liver and bone. Elevated levels can indicate liver disease, Cushing's syndrome or steroid therapy.
   
• Amylase(AMYL)- An enzyme produced by the pancreas. The pancreas secretes amylase to aid in digestion. Elevated blood levels can indicate pancreatic disease.
   
• Blood Urea Nitrogen(BUN)- BUN is produced by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. Abnormally high levels can indicate kidney disease or dehydration, and low levels can be associated with liver disease.
   
• Calcium(Ca²⁺)- Increased levels can be seen with diseases of the parathyroid gland and kidneys, or as an indicator of certain types of tumors.
   
• Cholesterol(CHOL)- Elevated levels of cholesterol are seen in a variety of disorders, including hypothyroidism, and liver or kidney disease.
   
• Creatinine(CREA)- Creatinine is a by-product of muscle metabolism and is excreted by the kidneys. Elevated levels can indicate kidney disease, urinary tract obstruction or dehydration.
   
• Blood Glucose(GLU)- High levels can indicate diabetes. In cats, high levels can also indicate stress, which can merely be a result of the trip to the veterinary hospital. Low levels can indicate liver disease, infection or certain tumors.
   
• Phosphorus(PHOS)- Elevated phosphorus can be an indicator of kidney disease.
   
• Total Bilirubin(TBIL)- Bilirubin is a breakdown product of hemoglobin, as well as a component of bile. Blood bilirubin levels are useful in indicating liver disease and possibly help characterize anemia.
   
• Total Protein(TP)- The level of TP can indicate a variety of conditions, including dehydration and disease of the liver, kidney or intestine.
   

Complete Blood Count- A more complete panel of tests, a CBC provides detailed information on red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts and platelets. The total white blood cell counts and individual cell counts can indicate leukemia, stress, inflammation or an inability to fight infection. Low platelet numbers can indicate a bleeding problem. Surgery might be delayed if anemia, inflammation or especially a low platelet count is present because these conditions could cause serious surgical complications.

Sodium, Potassium, Chloride (Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^-)- The balance of these electrolytes is vital to your pet's health. Abnormal levels can be life-threatening. Electrolyte tests are important in evaluating vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and cardiac (heart) symptoms.

   Idexx Laboratories