These results echo what I have personally seen in wellness testing. I've been practising veterinary medicine since 2004 and have plenty of anecdotal patient evidence contradicting the idea that youth alone precludes any brewing health problems. This is why diagnostics at all stages of life are so important for our patients.

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Wellness testing is a relatively easy and affordable way to ensure that veterinarians get the necessary information to provide pet owners with options that, in many cases, will improve the quality of their pets' lives. Here's what to look for at three stages of life.

Young Pets

The wellness profiles of young adult dogs and cats (aged 1–3 and 1–7 years respectively) in the IDEXX study showed clinically relevant abnormalities in 1 in 7 dogs and 1 in 5 cats. At first glance, it may seem like the percentage of significant abnormalities in seemingly healthy young adult patients is not high enough to warrant regular wellness testing. However, would any of your clients want their pet to be the one who missed the chance for early detection of a treatable or manageable condition? I doubt it.

In addition, one of the benefits of wellness testing for young pets is establishing a diagnostic baseline. Knowing what is normal for a specific animal, and assessing trends as time goes on, makes decisions so much easier if the patient becomes ill or is experiencing vaguely abnormal symptoms. In addition to providing baseline information, veterinary diagnostics at this stage can also uncover congenital issues or issues developing early in life. Although these conditions may be rare, they do occur.

One case that sticks out in my mind is a golden retriever puppy under my care who was diagnosed early in life with renal dysplasia. Our first indication came from elevated renal values in her routine wellness panel performed as part of veterinary preventive care at around six months of age. An ultrasound then confirmed the diagnosis. Although her owners were disappointed and sad, they were grateful that we uncovered the problem as early as we did. As their veterinarian, I was able to map out a monitoring and management plan that gave them three full and happy years with their beloved pet.

Adult Pets

As you may know from your own patients, when it comes to adult pets there can be more abnormalities found with wellness testing. In fact, the same IDEXX study showed that 1 out of 5 apparently healthy mature adult dogs (aged 4–8 years) and in 1 in 3 mature adult cats (aged 7–9 years) had clinically relevant findings.

Adult pets are in the prime of their lives, which means you should be able to handle symptoms in the face of medical conditions or disease. Analysing results and assessing trends during this life phase can help detect disease or imbalance before the patient is older and potentially more difficult to treat.

Senior Pets

During later phases of a pet's life, wellness testing can help detect emerging or "hidden" medical issues that threaten both quality of life and longevity. In the IDEXX study, it uncovered significant problems in 2 in 5 senior dogs (aged 9 years or older) and 3 in 5 senior cats (aged 10 years or older). By detecting these problems prior to the emergence or escalation of clinical disease, veterinarians are able to create treatment plans that can prevent or prolong further deterioration of health.

A good example would be a senior arthritic dog on NSAIDs whose serum chemistry comes back with an elevation in the renal values. In this case, the veterinarian has the potential to shift pain management strategies in a way that can spare the kidneys or slow down the progression of renal disease and the secondary health problems that come with it. Detecting these underlying abnormalities can make a huge difference in extending life for these more fragile patients.

A Happier, Healthier Life

Are you still worried you don't have enough evidence to warrant testing at any age? Keep this in mind: improving the life, or case outcome, of one pet isn't going to change the world, but it will change the world for that pet and their family. Through diagnostics, you become aware of emerging problems in your patients—and this enables you to offer options that can give them a happier, healthier life and more quality time with their families.