Diagnostic Tests for your dog
“Dogs need to sniff the ground; it’s how they keep abreast of current events. The ground is a giant dog newspaper, containing all kinds of late-breaking dog news items, which, if they are especially urgent, are often continued in the next yard.”
– Dave Barry
One day you may find your dog bruised and bleeding for no apparent reason. If this happens, take your pet to a vet pronto. Your pet may be suffering from one of the many kinds of bleeding disorders that effect canines. These disorders are usually due to a lack in the blood’s ability to clot.
Clotting problems
The inability to clot blood can be rather scary. As a result of this inability, minor wounds and small cuts can become major worries by bleeding terribly. To diagnose your dog early you should be observant and alert enough to quickly detect the abnormalities.
Warning signs
There are some warning signs of anemia or a lack of red blood cells that carry oxygen. You should be on the lookout for unexplained discoloration, as these are warning signs that indicate that your dog could be suffering from a blood disorder. Frequent signs of bruising and bleeding that have no apparent explanation require swift attention…
- Does your dog suffer from frequent nosebleeds?
- Do you see blood in the stools or urine often?
- Are your dog’s gums unusually pale?
- Can you spot minute red spots on the whites of your dog’s eyes or gums?
- Does your canine get easily tired?
Complete medical history + physical examination
There are some standard tests that are routinely taken for bruising or bleeding. Here is a list of the most common preliminary tests that are taken, starting with a complete medical history of your dog.
- Including travel history
- Toxin exposure
- Environment