Preanesthetic exam
lab tests if needed

Although general anesthesia always involves a certain amount of risk, we can  reduce that risk by careful attention to detail: 

• History:  Any problems noted at home?
• Physical examination : Anything we can see or hear or feel?
• Basic laboratory tests: Any hidden problems?

Naturally, we will never be able to detect every potential complication, but we can catch most of them. If your pet is less than three or four years old, looks great and seems to feel good, laboratory testing is not really necessary. Otherwise, it is. 

These are the tests we recommend:

• HCT (hematocrit) tests for anemia.
• Creatinine checks for failing kidneys
• GPT (a liver enzyme) checks for liver inflammation
• Blood Glucose to detect diabetes

We may recommend chest x-rays if:

• We hear heart or lung abnormalities
• You have noticed more than occasional coughing
• We need to find out if a cancer has spread to the lungs.