From the ArcaMax Publishing, Cats & Dogs Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/catsanddogs/s-568506-581933
1. Your veterinarian is one of the most important people in your dog's
life. You should choose your veterinarian just as you select your own
doctor, by reputation and quality of service. You and your dog should
feel at ease with this professional. You need to feel that you can
trust your veterinarian, especially in an emergency situation.
2. Be sure that you have stated your own goals and your intentions
with your dog so that your veterinarian can know what you are
expecting. Your dog's health depends on your being able to work
together with your vet.
3. When you have a puppy, you will be visiting your vet many times
during the first year. After that, establish a routine by visiting
every six months for fecal and physical examinations and once a year
for a complete work up, including blood tests. Use this as a
preventative measure. Dog's cannot tell you where it hurts or if they
are not feeling very well. Preventative medicine can put years on your
dog's life.
4. When having blood work done, make sure that your dog has fasted at
least 12 hours before the test.
5. Blood work and urinalysis need to be handled very carefully. In
some of the tests, there is a time factor involved.
6. Some differences in clinical chemistries exist between breeds.
German Shepherd Dogs, for example, tend to be lower than other breeds
in glucose, LDH, alkaline phosphatase, BUN, and uric acid. Their
amylase and transaminase may be higher. Phosphorus and SGPT were found
to be higher in Beagles and Labrador Retrievers.
7. Your best guide is the comparison of your own dog's test results.
Establish what is normal and be sure that the tests are run always
using the same laboratory.
8. If you have made the decision to change your dog's diet from
commercial dog food to a natural diet, have blood drawn before you
change. You should have a CBC, a chemistry screen or profile and also
a fecal analysis done. One month after putting your dog on the new
diet, have the same tests run. This will give you a basis for
comparison. Changing to a natural diet often puts a dog who had health
problems back into balance.
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How can you tell if your dog is not feeling well? Is he ill or
just tired? What are the common symptoms of a dog health problem? The
more you get familiar with your dog’s habits and behaviors, the
easier it is to tell if he is experiencing a dog health problem. Your dog
might have a little cold, or something much more serious. Learning how
to know the difference is essential. We’ll offer tips on
understanding what your dog
symptoms mean, and some tips for making your dog comfortable when
he or she isn’t feeling quite up to par. Click here for more on Dog Health or Check out
http://www.dogsvitalsigns.com