* Optional* Blood work along with a physical examination ensures that a pet is healthy to go under anesthesia - normal organ function and the ability to clot their blood. Even if a pet is young, and externally healthy, we can not make general assumptions that internally an animal is healthy, unless preanesthetic blood work is performed. If blood work is not elected and your pet has a reaction to anesthesia or medications, Willoughby Veterinary Hospital can not be liable for any potential complications/ reactions. Bloodwork is required in any patient 3 years of age or older; there may be additional circumstances in which the Doctor will require full blood work on pets less than 3 (i.e. pets with seizures, those taking medications which can affect the kidneys/liver, etc.).
We do require an EPOC which is a small blood panel to get a baseline kidney function and red cell count prior to anesthesia.
A heartworm test is required in all patients prior to putting them under anesthesia. This is done for the safety of your pet; if a patient is heartworm positive and we don't know, the patient could pass away under anesthesia.