Blood tests just to get neutered???

[cowgurl6254]

My vet informed me that before he would neuter my puppy, he would have to do multiple blood tests. Has anyone heard of this before? Andy is perfectly healthy and has always had regular vet care. He is 12 weeks now but will be six months when he is fixed. Does anyone know what these tests are, or is it just a money scam? I've had lots of cats fixed before and never encountered anything like this

 

[elegy]

i personally would *prefer* the bloodwork to be done. some places it's routine; some it's not. it really is the best standard of care.

there can be congenital systemic problems that won't be visible to you that will show up on bloodwork that could literally mean the difference between life and death. i remember one time we ran routine pre-surgery bloodwork on a six month old kitten who was to be spayed. the cat was extremely anemic and it turned out had hardly any platelets as well. if we had spayed her, she would have bled to death. her blood wouldn't have clotted. the owner had reported no symptoms.

is your pup likely to have problems? no. most young dogs are healthy. but there's always a chance. i'd rather be safe than sorry.

plus it's good to have a baseline to go on if he ever has problems down the line.

 

[bubbatd]

I agree .... I have vets that will eliminate test with a good history... but with a young pup without history , it's a safety net issue... For an extra $35 I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[doberkim]

my pup had bloodwork done before he was neutered - i wouldnt have it any other way.

 

[Roxy's CD]

Why would blood work be done? I dont think blood work was done on either of my guys when they got s/n... Is it normal for their to be problems that you can only see if bloodwork is done?

 

[jess2416]

Chloe had a blood test for anemia before she was spayed...and a general examination..

 

[Zoom]

Blood work not only looks for the problems elegy mentioned, they can detect any potential problems with anesthesia. It's a good idea to have the tests done, at least for "just in case".

 

[SummerRiot]

Crosbie got bloodwork done on him as well before he was snipped.

Better safe then sorry

 

[bubbatd]

I'm glad we're agreeing. It's not the $$ to the vet.. it's a safeguard. Unless they have records of a blood work up , they are liable if anything goes wrong if you don't sign the waiver.

 

[poodlesmom]

Farley & Chloe, as well as every other dog I have had over the years, have always had the pre-op blood work done prior to spaying/neutering. Those few dollars can potentially save many more $$$'s as well as their health or life.

 

[fillyone]

Blood work before any general for Dante

 

[bubbatd]

Anything that can give any info is important.... Lord, if you're going to pay $150 or more, what's another few bucks .

 

[Zan]

I would have to agree to get the blood work done. My puppies had bloodwork done before their neutering and the 1st time, the vet found one of their red blood cell counts was low and my puppy wouldn't not have been able to clot enough to counter bleeding so we had to wait a few months. I am glad I had the bloodwork done because if not, he could have bled to death!

 

[bubbatd]

Perfect example Zan.!

 

[Gig 'Em Ags]

Baseline blood workups are essential prior to any invasive procedure to not only detect any potential pre-op problems but also to allow for a comparative analysis of any post-op studies that may be required. Here's wishing an uneventful operation for your pup!!!

 

[Kay]

With 3 of my dogs (1 was already spayed when adopted) and my 7 cats, we had the choice for bloodwork and other tests before surgery. Didn't normally get them done, but having lost one of my rabbits when she went in for a spay (Rabbits dont take as well to spays as cats or dogs, their hearts are weak, and there are no tests before-hand for them.)......I didn't want to risk losing another pet that way. So the 5 cats we got done after her all had the tests done (mother and her 4 daughters, she was a stray we took in as pregnant and kept her litter) And I will never omit the tests when I have the choice again...It's safer that way.

 

[Saje]

Nanook and Sakari had it done. I think Mikey did too but it was included??? I can't remember. And Maverick was already neutered when we got him. I'd feel soooo guilty not having it done. What if something happened!

 

[Gempress]

Bloodwork is done to ensure that your dog has no underlying medical problems that could interfere with the stress of surgery.

I have the perfect example of why you need bloodwork....

Some friends of ours had a beautiful little white pit bull pup named Jayne. She was deaf, but was just an absolutely sweet little dog. They took her in to get spayed, just a routine surgery.

It turns out that Jayne had an underlying medical condition (I think it involved her liver or something) that interfered with the surgery. She died on the operating table. A simple blood test would have discovered the problem before the surgery, and Jayne would still be alive.

I never had bloodwork done on my dogs before, either. But after watching our friends weeping over Jayne, I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Red_ACD_for_me]

Gempress, that is so sad to hear . Here is another example of why bloodwork should be done. I had a grooming customer who adopted a pup at our local animal shelter. He was a big great dane mix pup, when they took him into be fixed at 6 months he had a bad reaction to the anestesia and almost died on the table. They waited another few months took some bloodwork and tried to neuter him again, and again another bad reaction. Long and short of the story is that they attempted twice to fix him but with his reaction to anestesia it couldn't be done and they didn't want to risk him dying because of it. I have only ever heard a story like this once in all the years I have worked in the animal field so it definately doesn't happen very often. So my advice is to have the bloodwork done and then you will feel better about him going under anestesia. And remember that when humans get put under for surgery it is always a risk to . Your boy should be fine and thank you for fixing him