Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Prevalence of clinicopathological changes in healthy middle-aged dogs and cats presenting to veterinary practices for routine procedures.
- Journal:
- Australian veterinary journal
- Year:
- 2016
- Authors:
- Dell'Osa, D & Jaensch, S
- Affiliation:
- IDEXX Laboratories Pty Ltd · Australia
Plain-English summary
A study looked at healthy middle-aged dogs and cats to see how often they had abnormal test results during routine check-ups. Out of 406 dogs aged 5 to 8 years, only 55 had completely normal results, while 25 dogs showed signs of significant health issues, like anemia or problems with their liver, kidneys, or pancreas. For the 130 cats aged 6 to 9 years, only 26 had no abnormalities, and 25 cats had similar significant health concerns. Most of the changes found were minor or not serious, but the study suggests that regular testing can help catch potential health problems early. Overall, the findings indicate that routine health checks can lead to better health outcomes by allowing for earlier treatment.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to investigate the frequency of abnormal clinicopathological parameters in a population of client-owned clinically healthy middle-aged dogs and cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biochemical and haematological profiles, urinalysis and total T4 were measured in clinically healthy middle-aged dogs (age, 5-8 years) and cats (age, 6-9 years) presenting to veterinary practices for routine procedures. RESULTS: Of the 406 dogs, only 55 had no abnormalities identified in the testing panel. Most changes were minor or considered artifactual; however, changes that were diagnostic of significant disease or warranting additional evaluation were identified in 25 dogs (6.2%). Of the 130 cats, only 26 had no abnormalities identified in the testing panel. Most changes were minor or considered artifactual; however, changes diagnostic of significant disease or warranting additional evaluation were identified in 25 cats (19.2%). Significant abnormalities included anaemia, inflammation and evidence of liver, kidney and pancreatic disease. CONCLUSION: Biochemical and haematological testing as part of regular preventive health checks may facilitate early detection of diseases before they present clinically, allowing earlier intervention and better health outcomes.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27569834/