All it takes is one blood test to protect their health
Our beloved pets give us happiness, fidelity, and pure love. But in contrast to us, they are unable to inform us when something goes awry. A wagging dog tail can conceal an underlying sickness, and by the time there are outward signs, it can too often be too late. This is why consistent canine blood tests become a healthcare game-changer for dogs.
Yet, countless dogs never receive the medical attention they need simply because blood tests for dogs are not prioritized. Timely diagnostics may indeed be a luxury for many underprivileged street dogs, rescue animals and pets. So much hangs in the balance and a delay can mean life or death for these dogs.
At Earthlings Trust, we aim to make a difference by giving stray dog’s medical help. Your donation can provide more dogs with regular blood testing, resulting in early detection, prompt treatment and an improved quality of life.
Donations are covered under 80G of Income Tax
Blood tests: A lifeline for dogs
We all adore a healthy, cheerful dog. But when they get ill, do you know how they are treated and diagnosed? What happens to stray dogs when they get ill? The reality is that the only method to identify underlying diseases in dogs is by conducting blood tests. While routine for us, blood tests for dogs are even more essential so that they are diagnosed and treated in time. Also, did you know it is the same as human medical treatment? If the blood group of dogs matches with the other dog in need it can be used to save that particular dog’s life.
Why do dogs need blood tests?
Just like if you visit a doctor with the doctor noticing some odd symptom, they would ask for a blood test. This detects infections, deficiencies and underlying sickness, so that the correct treatment can be initiated. The same holds true for dogs. At Earthlings Trust, all dogs that come into our shelter, no matter the reason, undergo a complete medical examination – beginning with a blood test. In this way, it is possible to render a correct diagnosis with treatment options offered, giving the animals a fair chance at good health and also a long life by providing stray dog’s medical help.
Just as with human medicine, blood tests for dogs are instrumental in helping veterinarians diagnose dog diseases. Here’s why these tests are lifesavers:
- The early detection of disease: Many diseases, like kidney failure, diabetes and cancer remain symptomless until they are late in the progression of the disease. Blood tests can detect such conditions at an early stage, leading to effective treatment.
- Analysing General Health: Blood tests allow vets to monitor the run of functions, RBC counts, white blood cell processes and metabolic rates of the dog to give a general picture of its health.
- Surgery Pre-checkup: Conducting blood tests prior to surgery helps determine whether the dog is in good health for anaesthesia and otherwise minimises the risk for adverse effects.
- Detection of Infection and Parasites: Without blood testing, most life-threatening infections in dogs go undiagnosed. Blood tests can identify underlying infections before they become critical.
- Senior Health Management: Most geriatric dogs are at risk for diseases including arthritis, stomach cancer, thyroid trouble and liver problems. A thorough examination and regular bloodwork permit findings to feed into superior dietary and medicinal choices.
By supporting canine blood testing you’re not just helping one dog-you’re giving countless animals a fighting chance at having better lives.
Liver disease diagnosis in dogs
Liver diseases, in pets, are most often serious in nature and, in turn, warrant exhaustive diagnostic testing to elucidate their cause and extent. Either through clinical assessment, laboratory tests, several kinds of imaging techniques, and even invasive methods, the veterinarian working with the dog can derive a correct diagnosis. That’s why liver tests for dogs are very important and it’s one of the step everyone should consider while providing a stray dog’s medical help.
Clinical assessment and history
The process of diagnosis starts with a complete history and physical examination of the animal. The owner of the pet is queried about symptoms such as:
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin, gums, or eyes)
- Increased thirst and urination
- Abdominal swelling
- Weight loss
The complete physical exam is done to eliminate any liver disease that they might have. Enlargement of the liver, pale mucous membranes or jaundiced mucous membranes, and ascites (abdominal fluid) are potential manifestations of liver disease.
In establishing the evidence of suspected liver disease in a dog, the veterinarian mentions three critical tests:
- Complete blood count (CBC) – This reveals the red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet counts.
- Serum Biochemistry Profile – The chemical composition of the blood is tested.
- Urinalysis – Tests urine for chemical properties.
Required blood tests
Blood tests assist greatly in diagnosing liver disease. Several key blood parameters help assess liver function:
- Increased activity of enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)usually indicate liver damage.
- Abnormally high alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase are indicative of blockage of the bile duct or of cholestasis.
- Elevated bilirubin will indicate liver dysfunction or problems creating bile flow.
- Low albumin levels can point to chronic liver disease affecting protein synthesis. The result shows how well the liver can metabolize bile acids, and this is an excellent marker for evaluating liver function.
Other tests done on blood can include measurement of clotting factors, as the liver is directly involved in blood clotting, and any variation in the time for clotting reflects the possible disease of the liver.
What do these tests inform us?
Tests can detect liver disease or dysfunction but do not by themselves provide definitive evidence.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Tests red and white blood cells and platelets.
- Indicates the presence of icterus (jaundice)-the yellow pigment (bilirubin) circulating within blood and tissues.
- It adds clues about liver disease or hemolysis (red blood cell destruction).
- Identifies abnormal red blood cell shapes linked to liver disease (target cells, microcytes, acanthocytes).
- Highlights signs of infection or inflammation through white blood cell counts.
Serum Biochemistry Profile
This test evaluates enzymes, proteins, fats, sugars and waste products in blood.
Urinalysis
- Detects bilirubin in urine, often signaling early liver disease.
- Identifies crystals (bilirubin or ammonium biurate) that suggest liver dysfunction.
Can liver tests be normal despite liver disease?
Yes, in certain cases, pets may show signs of liver disease with no abnormal results.
What comes next?
Further diagnostic measures like imaging or liver biopsies may be warranted to indicate the true condition if preliminary testing shows liver problems. Talk to your veterinarian for further evaluation.
Specialized Tests
In other instances, further specialized tests may be required to diagnose particular liver conditions:
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): This method can help detect infectious diseases of the liver resulting from viral or bacterial infections.
- Ferrocyanide Staining: It helps suggest other copper-related diseases in the liver, such as copper-storage hepatopathy.
- Genetic Testing: Some breeds are condemned to inherited liver sicknesses, which can be confirmed with genetic testing.
In animal diagnosis of liver diseases, various aspects including the clinical picture, blood tests, imaging tests and cytological or histological examinations whenever deemed necessary, are taken into consideration. It is very important that these liver diseases are detected in the early stages so that treatment can be initiated with the proper report of blood group test too and, wherever needed, therapy can thus be prolonged to protect the overall health of the animal.
Why are blood tests for dogs so expensive?
For human beings, medical technology has improved significantly, rendering most tests more affordable in the long run. But for our canine friends, the same improvement hasn‘t caught up with them – not because it‘s unachievable, but because we, as a people, haven‘t made it a priority enough.
If veterinary medicine received the same level of investment and innovation as human healthcare, routine procedures like blood tests could be far more affordable for pet parents. But unfortunately, the lack of large-scale research funding, fewer specialized laboratories, and expensive medical equipment make even basic diagnostics a costly affair for dogs.
Imagine constructing an ecosystem similar to our own in which canine health care would be simplified, made accessible, and efficient. The question is not whether it is steep price-wise, but if those deserving care are actually getting it.
Here at Earthlings Trust, we‘re convinced that no dog should ever be refused life-saving medical care because of costs. Together, we can provide stray and abandoned dogs with the medical attention they deserve – because their lives count just as much as ours do.
Your donation can be the difference between life and death for a lost soul. Also, making sure all our canine friends receive the medical care they deserve, opening the door to many a wagging tail in appreciation. Sponsor a blood test now and be the one to give a dog a second chance in life.
The struggles of stray and rescued dogs
For beloved pets, regular visits to the veterinarian and diagnostic examinations are routine. But for stray dogs, rescue animals and abandoned pets, medical attention is left behind. They fight harsh weather, starvation, and infection every day.
Without intervention, they endure unnecessary suffering.
Many rescue organizations and shelters struggle to afford even basic veterinary care, let alone routine blood tests. This results in:
- Undiagnosed diseases spreading among animal populations
- Increased mortality rates due to preventable illnesses
- Higher medical costs when conditions worsen
- Difficulty in finding these dogs forever homes due to health uncertainties
With your help, we can ensure these dogs receive the preventive care they desperately need.
More than a contribution
By supporting stray dog’s medical help and blood tests for dogs, you are:
- Preventing suffering before it begins
- Giving street dogs and rescues a chance at adoption
- Helping veterinarians make informed decisions for better treatments
- Creating a world where no dog suffers due to lack of medical care
Your compassion has the power to rewrite the fate of these animals.
Regular health check-ups are vital for the well-being of our shelter dogs. By sponsoring a blood test or your donation of just INR 500 covers a comprehensive blood test, including CBC blood tests for dogs and canine blood test, helping us assess organ functionality and detect potential health concerns early.
How you can support
- Dog Donation: Help pay for blood tests and other medical procedures.
- Sponsoring blood tests for dogs: This will involve selecting a dog and covering medical expenses so that it receives necessary periodic checkups and treatment.
- Fund Their Nutrition: Support our carefully curated nutrition program. A day’s meal costs INR 5000, while monthly sponsorship is INR 500. Our meals, prepared with rice, masoor dal, soya chunks, flax seeds powder, watermelon seeds powder, and buttermilk, provide essential nourishment for recovery.
Your support of stray dog’s medical help does more than fund tests – it saves lives. Just imagine a sick, abandoned dog being given the attention it so badly needs, strengthening, and getting a forever home.
The dogs can’t bring forth a grievance whenever they experience any pain within or without. They hurt in silence, praying someone will see, someone will care. That someone is you.
A simple blood test for dogs can be the difference between life and death for a sick, abandoned dog. It helps in stray dog’s medical help by diagnosing diseases early, giving them a real chance at treatment, at recovery, at a life free from pain. But these tests cost money – money that many rescues and shelters struggle to afford.
Your donation for stray dog’s medical help isn’t just funding a test. It’s giving a helpless dog a fighting chance.
Join Us in Ensuring Healthier Lives
Your support for dog shelter homes helps us provide comprehensive care to every dog in our shelter. Sponsor a blood test today and be a part of their journey to health and happiness.
About Earthlings Trust
Earthlings Trust is an animal welfare NGO based in Delhi-NCR, dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming sick, handicapped, and abandoned dogs. Founded in December 2018 by Sagarika Banerjee and Ditej Garg, we have cared for over 5000 dogs and currently provide permanent shelter to 350+ dogs.
FAQ
Blood tests help diagnose underlying health issues early, allowing prompt treatment and better outcomes for dogs.
Your sponsorship ensures that dogs receive necessary medical evaluations, leading to early diagnosis and treatment of health issues.
Earthlings Trust maintains transparency through regular updates and reports on how donations are utilized for animal care.
Blood tests for dogs are done in specialized laboratories. Our shelter is visited by veterinarians who take blood samples, which are then analyzed in detail at the laboratory.
At Earthlings Trust we hold the belief of total transparency. We give you regular updates and comprehensive reports about how donations are utilized for funding animal care to ensure accountability every step of the way.
