Pre-Anesthetic Blood Testing Information Form

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Our greatest concern is the well-being of your pet. Your pet is scheduled for a procedure that requires anesthesia or sedation. Prior to anesthesia, a veterinarian will perform a basic physical examination to identify any existing medical conditions that could complicate the procedure & compromise the health of your pet. There is a possibility that a physical exam alone will not identify all of your pet’s health problems. Therefore, a pre-anesthetic blood test can be performed and is always recommended prior to anesthesia. Blood tests can reduce the risk of complications as well as identify medical conditions that could require medical treatment in the future. At our hospital, animals over the age of 5 years are required to have a blood test (minimum Pre- Anesthetic profile)prior to anesthesia unless otherwise specified by the veterinarian.

The Pre-Anesthetic Blood Profile helps alert the veterinarian to the presence of dehydration, anemia, infection, diabetes and/or kidney or liver disease that could complicate the procedure. These conditions may not be detected without a pre-anesthetic profile thus not allowing for the most appropriate and safest anesthetic regime to be administered. These tests are similar to those your own physician would run if you were to undergo anesthesia. In addition, these tests may be useful if yqur pet’s health changes to develop faster, more accurate diagnoses and treatments.

Please Initial Next to ONE of the Following Options for Pre-Anesthetic Testing:

Patients over 8 years of age are considered seniors and a more comprehensive blood profile is required. This bloodwork must be drawn prior to the procedure being scheduled. This larger profile is sent to a local reference laboratory and the results take 24-48 hours. Once the doctor has discussed the results, we can schedule the procedure.

We realize surgery and anesthesia are scary for both the owner and patient and we attempt to make this day as safe and comfortable for all involved. The physical examination and blood work done prior to any surgical procedure allows us to best minimize anesthetic and surgical risks and maximize patient safety.