Do you think “normal” equates to average or ordinary? Sometimes “normal” is a good thing—particularly in the case of your pet’s health. While we know your furry pal is amazing and extraordinary, you want their test results to be normal. During your pet’s annual or biannual wellness screening, we want to look over their results, come into the exam room, and announce, “Your pet is normal.” We agree that abnormal results can help us diagnose a problem, but normal results are equally valuable. In addition, they mean your pet is healthy! Here are four reasons why normal screening test results are as valuable as abnormal results.

#1: Normal wellness screening results paint a picture of your pet’s health

Pets should receive wellness screening tests from a young age to provide the most benefit. Wellness screening tests can include:

  • A physical exam
  • A complete blood count (CBC)
  • A blood chemistry profile
  • Intestinal parasite testing
  • Vector-borne disease testing
  • A urinalysis
  • Thyroid hormone level testing
  • Blood pressure readings
  • Survey X-rays

Your pet’s age, species, current health status, and disease risk will influence the wellness screening tests we recommend. Over time, all the screening test results will paint a comprehensive picture of your pet’s health. Each screening test has a range of acceptable values, but your pet’s “normal” may be outside that range, which is important information for the veterinarian, because when we have defined your pet’s normal, we can spot any deviations that truly indicate a problem and ignore a result that we otherwise may think needs follow-up. 

#2: Normal wellness screening results can help identify disease earlier

The primary purpose of wellness screening tests is to identify early stage disease before your pet has a severe, potentially untreatable health problem. Healthy young and adult pets should be screened annually, while pets with health issues should be monitored more frequently. As your pet ages, we will recommend additional, more frequent wellness testing so we can identify diseases that more likely come with advancing age. This allows us to closely monitor your pet’s ever-changing health and spot problems as soon as they develop.

When we identify diseases in their earliest stages, we can provide much more effective and less costly treatment that can preserve your pet’s quality of life for longer. Conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease can be successfully managed for years, so long as they are diagnosed and treated early. Pets with early stage chronic conditions may require only a diet change and one or two therapies to maintain good health, whereas those with late stage disease may require intensive nursing care and frequent hospitalization to help preserve quality of life.

#3: Normal wellness screening results guide your pet’s health care plan

Your pet’s wellness screening tests are a window to their health status. Cats and dogs are incredibly skilled at hiding illnesses or injuries, and only a thorough evaluation will reveal a hidden problem. But, through regular wellness screening, we will know that your pet’s health care plan is on track. Normal test results inform us that your pet’s vaccinations are effective, their parasite preventive is working correctly, nutrition is on point, and no genetic health problems have appeared. 

If abnormalities appear, we will know we need to adjust their treatment plan, despite the plan working well in the past. For example, we may need to change your pet’s diet if they have gained weight or developed a chronic condition. Otherwise, normal test results—especially if your pet has a health issue like diabetes, liver disease, or kidney disease—mean our treatment plan is effective and we should stay on course.

#4: Normal wellness screening results provide reassurance

Pet owners want to do everything they can to ensure their pet is happy and healthy and will enjoy a good quality of life for many years. But, pet owners can easily become stressed when they are plagued with worries. Did you choose the right diet? Did you forget their heartworm preventive last month? Do you brush your pet’s teeth often enough to ward off periodontal problems? Wellness screening can provide peace of mind about being a responsible pet owner. In addition, your pet’s consistently normal results can reassure you that you are keeping your furry pal in the best health possible and quiet your worries.

Is your pet due for their annual or biannual wellness screening tests? Now you understand the importance of these tests, give our Pets & Friends Animal Hospital team a call to schedule your pet’s appointment and see if they are “normal.”