Would you recommend blood work before neuter?

I got a quote from my vet today for Jasper's neuter so we can finally get it done. He quoted $230 for the whole neuter shibang (Jasper has an undescended testicle, so it's more pricey) and an extra $75 for pre-surgical bloodwork. I was wondering how necessary the bloodwork is considering Jasper's not overweight or elderly. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks! :)

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Permalink Reply by Lou Ann Lemaster on June 17, 2010 at 6:12pm

I had pre-surgical bloodwork done for Duncan before he was neutered. It at least gives them a baseline to go by should your dog becomes ill and they need something to compare to what is normal when he is healthly. That way, when they do any blood work, they have a heads up if something is off.

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Permalink Reply by Beth on June 17, 2010 at 6:24pm

I would not get surgery without it. If your dog has poor kidney function, a normal does of anesthesia could be deadly, since the body won't clear it as quickly. Even a young, seemingly healthy dog could have compromised function.

Someone I work with put off a neuter because her young, healthy puppy had bad liver levels in his pre-surgery bloodwork.

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Permalink Reply by Gail and Ashton on June 17, 2010 at 7:58pm

I would never put any of my pets under without a minimum of pre-surg bloodwork. As mentioned before it is great to have a baseline for your pet that will be very useful in the future. For example. One of my dogs has a slightly elevated ALT which was first discovered when he was neutered as a pup. This info let my vet know that it would be safer to use a drug filtered primary through the kidneys instead of the liver. Now that he is 13 years old I know that his liver is fine even though it shows a little high on his bloodwork since that his just his normal range.

With the information the vet gets from the bloodwork will let them know to either switch anesthesia drugs or cancel surgery. This is valuable information that is well worth the money spent. :)

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Permalink Reply by Monica, Orion, and Laika on June 17, 2010 at 8:09pm

I would suggest doing it. It's expensive but we do it at the clinic I work at and when I neutered Orion I hadn't planned on doing it but last week a perfectly healthy looking 6 month old miniature schnauzer came in for a spay and we ran her blood work. I wasn't on her case so I don't know the specifics, I was working with another dog, but they noticed something on her bloodwork and referred her to the emergency hosptal instead of spaying her. I don't know exactly what was wrong but I do know she is at the emergency hospital being treated for some liver problems. I wish I knew the specifics so I could tell you but after seeing that I know I'll do pre-op bloodwork for Orion when we neuter him. So I'd do it, especially if he's never gotten blood work run before

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Permalink Reply by Kimberlie on June 18, 2010 at 12:15am

When i went to the vet it was optional to do bloodwork and IV drip, i was shocken sorry but if i was getting surgery i would want to an IV. I guess they had a few costomers complain that they shouldn't have to pay for such things, that they didn't concent to it. So now they had to make both optional. Though they are very intent on getting evey one to atleast concent to and IV drip. For adora each was $48 extra. I rather pay out in advance than to find out something went wrong and my vet bill doubling. The way i judge things like this is "would i want it if i was me going to doctors or going for surgery?