Preventive Care Wellness Diagnostic Screening in Dogs and Cats: What and When?
Veterinary professionals rely on more than just physical exams to assess a pet's health. Because pets can't tell us how they feel, diagnostic testing plays a crucial role in preventive care. Preventive diagnostics are not just about finding disease: They're about confirming health, establishing baselines, and tracking trends over time. Routine tests can provide peace of mind to pet owners, and support better outcomes for both pets and veterinary practices.
This proactive approach empowers veterinary teams to make informed decisions and provide personalized recommendations tailored to each pet's unique needs.
Wellness Screening: More Than Finding Illness
Screening confirms health as much as it detects disease. Early testing can uncover hidden conditions and establish baselines for future comparison, especially in young pets. Here are some key diagnostic tests to include in routine preventive care:
Fecal Testing
Standard centrifugation flotation detects ova and parasites, but fecal antigen testing is more sensitive because it detects parasite-specific antigens rather than relying on the presence and detection of eggs. A recent study by IDEXX found that fecal antigen testing detects up to 2x more parasites earlier than centrifucation flotation. The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends testing four times in the first year and twice annually for adult dogs and cats.
FeLV/FIV Testing
The Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FelineVMA) recommends that cats be tested for FeLV and FIV when they first enter a household. FeLV antigen testing can be done at any age. Maternal antibodies can interfere with FIV antibody tests up until a kitten is 6 months of age. If a kitten tests positive for FIV antibodies prior to 6 months of age, retesting should occur once they reach 6 months to confirm the results. Indoor/outdoor cats and cats that are in contact with retrovirus positive cats should be tested annually.
Heartworm & Tick-Borne Disease
Both heartworm testing and tick-borne disease testing are important components in diagnostic screenings in dogs of any age. Heartworm disease has been reported in all 50 state and should be considered for all dogs. Because heartworm disease is severe and progressive, early detection can improve treatment success. It is recommended by the American Heartworm Society to begin testing at 6 months of age and repeat this test annually. This is true even for those on routine heartworm prevention as we recognize that preventives may not always be 100% effective. Dogs often show few or no symptom in the early stages of disease making annual testing essential for the health of our canine companions. Cats are also at risk for heartworm disease, even if they stay indoors, and should be screened annually.
Tick-borne disease screening is also an important part of our annual preventive care screening. Not only do we want to catch disease before it advances, but dogs (and cats) can act as sentinels for tick-borne diseases that may effect humans. Having information about diseases prevalent in your geography is helpful for proper selection of prevention products and informing our clients about their own risks. This will be valuable information for your clients and information that helps build trust and rapport.
Bloodwork & Urinalysis
Bloodwork and urinalysis wellness screening tests are sometimes recommended starting at adulthood age, such as 5-7 years old. However, starting earlier has its advantages. According to an IDEXX study, 1 in 7 young adult dogs (1 to up to 4 years old) and 1 in 5 young adult cats (1 to up to 7 years old) had clinically relevant abnormalities with a diagnostic workup including a CBC, chemistry, and urinalysis.1
Wellness testing benefits young pets by identifying certain congenital issues early, allowing veterinarians to initiate proper management before the pet exhibits clinical signs. Six months of age is an ideal time to start, as many pets are already in for spay/neuter or vaccination visits. Including a urinalysis at this stage provides a more complete health picture, helping to detect early urinary tract abnormalities and ensuring the kidneys are developing normally. And since you're already drawing blood, you can efficiently run heartworm and retrovirus tests at the same time for feline patients.
Early testing also establishes a baseline for that specific patient, enabling you to monitor trends and identify subtle changes in future results. Wellness testing in adult and senior patients helps detect diseases early, as well as monitor patient on prescribed medications or with ongoing health issues.
Thyroid Testing
Thyroid testing is different for canine and feline patients.
- Dogs: Test for hypothyroidism if symptoms such as weight gain, skin changes, or behavioral changes appear bet. Breeds like golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, Irish setters, Dobermans, and boxers are at higher risk. Screening with T4 and TSH tests between ages 4 and 10—before any clinical signs appear—may be advisable for these breeds.
- Cats: Begin annual T4 screening at age 7 or earlier if symptoms like weight loss, increased appetite, or behavior changes are present.2
Cancer Screening
Recent advancements in veterinary diagnostics have made it possible to screen for certain cancers using simple blood tests. These innovative tools can detect biological markers released by cancer cells, providing a noninvasive method for identifying disease earlier than traditional methods. For breeds with a higher risk of developing cancer, early screening—starting as young as age 4—can be especially beneficial.
One such advancement focuses on identifying lymphoma, one of the most common types of cancer in dogs. The new cancer test analyzes specific biomarkers in the blood. It can even provide information about the type of lymphoma present, which may help guide treatment decisions. Routine screening is recommended for all dogs 7 and older, and earlier at age 4, for those breeds known to be at higher risk.
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Breeds at Higher Risk for Lymphoma |
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Basset hound, beagle, Bernese mountain dog, Bouvier des Flandres, boxer, bulldog, bullmastiff, cocker spaniel, Doberman pinscher, German shepherd, golden retriever, Irish wolfhound, Labrador retriever, rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Scottish terrier |
Urinary Bladder Ultrasound
Bladder cancer (transitional cell carcinoma) is more common in certain breeds, especially Scottish terriers (18–20 times higher risk). Other at-risk breeds include Shetland sheepdogs, beagles, West Highland white terriers, and wire fox terriers. Ultrasound is a noninvasive and effective tool for early detection. Begin screening at age 6 for at-risk breeds.3
As pets live longer and owners become more proactive about their pets' health, these new diagnostic options offer valuable opportunities for early intervention and improved outcomes.
Standardizing Preventive Care for Better Outcomes
The adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" rings especially true in veterinary medicine, where early detection can make the difference between manageable conditions and life-threatening diseases. Wellness diagnostic screening tests are a cornerstone of preventive care, enabling veterinarians to identify subtle changes in a pet's health before clinical signs become apparent. By catching issues early—whether it's organ dysfunction, parasitic infections, or early-stage cancer—interventions can be more effective, less invasive, and often more affordable for pet owners.
Establishing consistent wellness testing protocols across your practice ensures that every patient receives a high standard of care, regardless of which team member is involved. Basing these protocols on a pet's age, breed predispositions, and lifestyle factors makes them even more powerful. For example, a senior Labrador retriever may benefit from annual cancer screening and thyroid testing, while a young outdoor cat may need more frequent parasite checks and FeLV/FIV testing.
Ultimately, integrating preventive diagnostics into routine care elevates the quality of veterinary services, strengthens client trust, and supports longer, healthier lives for pets. It's a win-win for patients, pet owners, and the practice alike.
References:
- IDEXX. New Data Study Detailer: The Medical Value of Preventive Care Diagnostic Testing. https://www.idexx.com/files/preventive-care-new-data-study-detailer.pdf
- Kvitko-White, Heather, DVM, DACVIM. "Recognizing and Confirming Feline Hyperthyroidism." DVM360. https://www.dvm360.com/view/recognizing-and-confirming-feline-hyperthyroidism
- Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. "Bladder Cancer Screenings." https://vet.purdue.edu/wcorc/bladder-cancer-screenings.php
