Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Testing
At Bohle Veterinary Surgery, your pet’s safety is our highest priority. Before undergoing a general anaesthetic or sedation, we recommend pre-anaesthetic blood testing to help assess your pet’s overall health and identify any underlying problems that may not be visible during a physical examination alone.
Many pets can appear healthy on the outside while still having hidden issues affecting important organs such as the liver, kidneys, or blood cells. Pre-anaesthetic blood testing helps us better understand your pet’s health before administering anaesthetic medications.
Why Is Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Testing Important?
Modern anaesthesia is very safe, however every anaesthetic procedure carries some degree of risk. Blood testing helps minimise these risks by identifying medical conditions that could affect how your pet responds to anaesthesia and surgery.
Pre-anaesthetic blood testing may help detect: 
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Infection or inflammation
- Anaemia
- Blood clotting abnormalities
- Diabetes or blood sugar problems
- Dehydration
- Underlying illness not yet showing symptoms
Identifying these issues early allows us to tailor anaesthetic protocols, fluid therapy, pain relief, and monitoring specifically to your pet’s needs.
Why Do We Recommend a Full Blood Profile Including a CBC?
A Complete Blood Count (CBC) provides important information about your pet’s red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. While some basic screening tests may only check limited values, a full CBC offers a much more complete picture of your pet’s health before anaesthesia.
A CBC can help identify:
- Anaemia, which may increase anaesthetic risk
- Infection or inflammation
- Low platelet levels that may increase bleeding risk
- Immune system abnormalities
- Hidden blood loss or dehydration
Blood cell counts can sometimes change rapidly, even within hours, which is why same-day testing is often recommended before anaesthesia.
What Does the Blood Test Check?
The specific tests performed may vary depending on your pet’s age, procedure, and health status, but commonly include assessment of:
- Liver function
- Kidney function
- Blood glucose levels
- Red and white blood cells
- Platelet levels
- Hydration status
- Protein levels
- Electrolytes
For senior pets or pets with known medical conditions, additional testing may sometimes be recommended.
Which Pets Should Have Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Testing?
We recommend pre-anaesthetic blood testing for all pets undergoing anaesthesia, particularly:
- Senior pets
- Brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds
- Pets with previous health concerns
- Pets taking medications
- Pets undergoing longer or more complex procedures
Even young and apparently healthy pets can occasionally have unexpected abnormalities identified during routine screening.
When Is the Blood Test Performed?
In most cases, blood testing is performed before the anaesthetic procedure, either on the day of admission or shortly beforehand depending on the procedure and your pet’s individual needs.
Results are reviewed by our veterinarians before anaesthesia to help ensure the safest possible anaesthetic plan for your pet.
Our Commitment to Patient Safety
Every anaesthetic patient at Bohle Veterinary Surgery is carefully monitored before, during, and after their procedure. Pre-anaesthetic blood testing forms an important part of our commitment to providing safe, high-quality veterinary care and helping minimise anaesthetic risk wherever possible.
If you have any questions about your pet’s upcoming procedure or pre-anaesthetic testing, our team is always happy to discuss your concerns and help you make informed decisions about your pet’s care.