Pre-op Blood Testing; The Proactive Choice for your Pet

General anaesthesia is a controlled state of unconsciousness that allows surgical procedures to be performed safely and without pain. It is achieved using a combination of sedative and anaesthetic medications, while your pet is continuously monitored to ensure the appropriate depth of anaesthesia, pain control, and loss of sensation throughout the procedure. 

Before any general anaesthetic, every patient undergoes a thorough physical examination. This assessment helps your veterinarian create an individualised anaesthetic and treatment plan. While physical exams are essential, they can only tell us so much. This is where pre-anaesthetic blood testing plays a vital role. 

Pre-anaesthetic blood tests provide valuable insight into your pet’s overall health. They allow us to identify underlying or undiagnosed conditions, assess existing medical issues, and establish important baseline parameters. This information helps us make informed decisions and tailor your pet’s anaesthetic plan to minimise risk. 

If abnormalities are detected, adjustments can be made to the treatment or anaesthetic protocol, and potential surgical or anaesthetic risks can be identified early. 

What Are Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Tests? 

Pre-anaesthetic bloodwork typically includes two main components: a Complete Blood Count (CBC) and a biochemistry panel. 

Complete Blood Count (CBC) 
A CBC evaluates the cells present in your pet’s blood. Changes in these cell counts may indicate underlying disease and can affect anaesthetic or surgical risk. 

Biochemistry Panel 
Biochemistry testing measures various substances in the blood that reflect organ function. These values help assess your pet’s liver and kidney health, blood glucose levels, protein status, and other important parameters. 

What If Abnormalities Are Found? 

If abnormalities are identified, there are several possible outcomes. Some changes are mild and may not be clinically significant. 

• In cases of very mild abnormalities, your veterinarian may proceed with anaesthesia as planned or recommend monitoring and rechecking values in the future to ensure they do not worsen.  

• Sometimes, bloodwork reveals issues that can be corrected before anaesthesia. For example, if mild dehydration is detected, intravenous fluids may be administered prior to surgery to help stabilise your pet and reduce anaesthetic risk. 

• More significant abnormalities may require postponing surgery. In these cases, further diagnostic testing or treatment may be recommended before proceeding. Delaying surgery allows your veterinarian to address underlying concerns and maximise the safety of the anaesthetic procedure. 

What If No Abnormalities Are Found? 

Normal results are still extremely valuable. They provide baseline values that can be used for comparison in the future and give reassurance that your pet is in good health prior to anaesthesia. 

Why Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Testing Matters 

Pre-anaesthetic blood testing is strongly recommended for all patients undergoing general anaesthesia. These tests are performed in-clinic prior to induction and typically take around 20 minutes to complete. 

Not only do they help tailor a safe and effective anaesthetic plan, but they also play an important role in monitoring and maintaining your pet’s overall health - both now and in the future.