Senior dogs and cats need routine bloodwork and wellness diagnostics to help our veterinarians check for age-related health changes (before they might become obvious at home).
These tests may include a physical exam, complete blood count, blood chemistry panel, urinalysis, thyroid testing, blood pressure measurement, parasite screening, and radiographs (aka X-rays).
Think of senior pet diagnostics a little like routine lab work at our own human healthcare visits. Even when everything seems normal on the outside, testing can help our veterinarians better understand what is happening inside your pet’s body.
Ready to book diagnostics for your senior pet?
We have trusted veterinarians in neighborhoods across the nation!
(Psst . . . ask about 25% off diagnostics with Bundle-&-Save for senior pets!)*
When Is a Pet Considered a Senior?
There is no single age when every dog or cat becomes a senior. A pet’s species, size, breed, health history, and expected lifespan can all play a role. Many dogs, especially larger dogs, may be considered seniors around age 7. Cats are often considered senior later in life, though your veterinarian may recommend senior wellness screening earlier based on your cat’s individual health needs.
Age matters because older pets may be more likely to develop health changes involving the kidneys, liver, thyroid, heart, joints, urinary tract, metabolism, or blood pressure. Some of these changes can be subtle at first. Routine senior wellness visits and diagnostic tests help our veterinarians look for early clues and compare results over time.
Why Do Senior Pets Need Bloodwork Even If They Seem Healthy?
Aging does not always cause obvious symptoms right away. For example:
A senior dog with early kidney changes may have no urinary changes and a normal appetite.
A senior cat with thyroid disease may lose weight gradually or seem hungrier than usual before the change feels urgent.
Bloodwork and other diagnostic tests help our veterinarians evaluate health from the inside out. Routine testing can also create baseline values. A baseline is a record of what is normal for your individual pet. If your pet has bloodwork now and again later, our veterinarians can compare results and look for trends, even when individual numbers are still within a normal range.
Senior wellness care can include several recommended diagnostics, which is why eligible bundles can help make preventive testing more manageable. At participating primary care hospitals, pet owners just like you can save 25% with Bundle-&-Save for senior pets.* Thrive Plus members get an extra 10% off services too!**
If your veterinarian recommends senior wellness diagnostics for your dog or cat, ask whether your pet’s visit may qualify for the Bundle-&-Save offer.
What Does Bloodwork Check for in Senior Dogs and Cats?
Bloodwork is not one single test. It is usually a group of tests that helps our veterinarians evaluate different parts of your pet’s health. The exact tests recommended may vary based on your pet’s age, symptoms, medical history, medications, and exam findings.
Complete Blood Count
A complete blood count, often called a CBC, evaluates red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This can help our veterinarians look for changes that may suggest anemia, inflammation, infection, clotting concerns, or other health issues.
Blood Chemistry Panel
A blood chemistry panel helps assess organ function and important body systems. It may include values related to the kidneys, liver, blood sugar, proteins, and electrolytes. For senior pets, chemistry results can be especially helpful because kidney disease, liver disease, and diabetes may not cause obvious signs in the earliest stages.
Electrolytes
Electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, help support normal hydration, nerve function, muscle function, and overall body balance. Changes in electrolytes may give our veterinarians additional info about hydration, kidney function, endocrine conditions, or other concerns.
Thyroid Testing
Thyroid testing may be recommended for senior dogs and cats. In cats, veterinarians often screen for hyperthyroidism, which can be associated with weight loss, increased appetite, increased thirst, vomiting, or behavior changes. In dogs, thyroid testing may help evaluate possible hypothyroidism, which can be associated with weight gain, skin changes, or lower energy.
What Other Diagnostic Tests May Be Recommended?
Bloodwork tells an important part of the story, but it may not tell the whole story. Our veterinarians may recommend additional senior wellness diagnostics based on your pet’s health, lifestyle, and exam findings. (We know your pet is unique, so we treat every pet with unique care).
Urinalysis
A urinalysis checks a urine sample for concentration, protein, glucose, blood, sediment, and other changes. It can help evaluate kidney function, hydration, urinary tract health, and signs that may point to diabetes or infection. If infection is suspected, our veterinarians may recommend additional testing, such as a urine culture, to confirm the diagnosis.
Blood Pressure Measurement
Just like people, pets can develop high blood pressure. Blood pressure measurement may be especially important for senior cats and for pets with kidney disease, thyroid disease, heart disease, or other chronic conditions.
Parasite Screening
Parasite screening may include fecal testing, heartworm testing, or tick-borne disease testing depending on your pet’s species, lifestyle, preventive care, and local risk factors. Our veterinarians can recommend the right screening plan for your dog or cat.
Radiographs (X-Rays)
Radiographs, also called X-rays, may be recommended when our veterinarians need to evaluate a specific area of concern, such as the chest, abdomen, bones, joints, or heart size. For senior pets, radiographs can provide more information when exam findings, bloodwork, symptoms, or health history suggest a need for imaging. Chest X-rays are often used as a screening test in older pets or pets about to have anesthesia; additional X-rays are performed depending on issues you may be noticing at home.
What Health Problems Can Routine Testing Help Detect?
Routine senior pet testing may help our veterinarians identify or monitor health problems such as:
Diabetes
Heart Disease
High Blood Pressure
Kidney Disease
Liver Disease
Thyroid Disease
Urinary Tract Disease
Testing may also help guide the next step if your pet is losing weight, drinking more water, having accidents in the house, slowing down, coughing, vomiting, or acting differently. Bloodwork alone does not diagnose most cancers. However, it may reveal changes that point to a recommendation for additional testing. If cancer or another serious condition is suspected, our veterinarians will talk through the most appropriate next steps for your pet.
How Often Should Senior Dogs and Cats Have Bloodwork?
The right schedule depends on your pet. Some senior pets may have bloodwork once a year, while others may benefit from testing every six months, especially if they have a chronic condition, take long-term medication, or have previous test results that need monitoring.
Our veterinarians will recommend a schedule based on your pet’s age, breed, lifestyle, exam findings, and health history. In some cases, more frequent testing helps your care team adjust food, medication, supplements, or monitoring plans before small changes become bigger concerns.
How Should I Prepare My Pet for Bloodwork and Other Tests?
Preparation depends on the tests being performed. Before your appointment, ask our veterinarians whether your pet should fast and for how long, whether water is okay, and whether any medications should be given as usual. Do not stop prescribed medication unless a veterinarian tells you to.
Fasting may be recommended before some blood tests. Bloodwork usually does not require anesthesia, although your pet may benefit from calming strategies or veterinarian-recommended support if they typically get stressed during visits.
If a urine sample is needed, our veterinary teams may collect it during the visit or give you instructions for collecting one at home, depending on the situation.
Bringing a stool sample to your appointment is helpful if your veterinarian recommends fecal testing. The sample can be brought in a doggy bag straight from a walk or the litter box.
How Much Does Senior Pet Bloodwork Cost?
The cost of bloodwork for dogs and cats can vary based on your pet’s age, health history, location, the hospital you visit, and which diagnostic tests our veterinarians recommend. Senior wellness testing may include bloodwork along with other diagnostics, such as urinalysis, blood pressure measurement, parasite screening, and radiographs (X-rays).
If your pet is eligible, you can get 25% off diagnostics with Bundle-&-Save for senior pets.*
When Should You Schedule a Senior Wellness Visit?
Schedule a senior wellness visit if your dog or cat is entering their senior years, has not had recent bloodwork, or is showing changes that are new for them. Changes worth discussing with your veterinarian include increased thirst, appetite changes, weight loss or gain, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, accidents in the house, stiffness, reduced mobility, behavior changes, bad breath, or seeming less interested in normal routines.
You do not have to wait for symptoms to appear. Senior wellness visits are designed to support preventive care, early detection, and a more complete understanding of your pet’s health. That way, our veterinarians can help you make care decisions with better information.
Ready to talk through senior wellness testing for your dog or cat?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is bloodwork important for senior pets?
Bloodwork helps veterinarians evaluate organ function, blood cells, blood sugar, electrolytes, and other health markers that may change as pets age. It can also create a baseline for future comparison.
Does bloodwork show cancer in dogs or cats?
Bloodwork alone does not diagnose most cancers. However, it may show changes that lead your veterinarian to recommend additional tests, such as imaging, sampling, or referral for advanced care.
How long does pet bloodwork take?
Timing depends on the tests ordered and whether the hospital runs the test in-house or sends it to an outside laboratory. Our veterinary teams can let you know when to expect results and whether your pet needs follow-up care.
How do veterinarians collect a urine sample from cats and dogs?
Veterinarians may collect urine in different ways depending on the pet, the reason for testing, and the type of sample needed. Some samples are collected naturally, while others may be collected in the hospital for a cleaner result.
Does my pet need anesthesia for bloodwork or X-rays?
Most pets do not need anesthesia for routine bloodwork. If your pet is anxious, our veterinarians may recommend strategies to help make the visit more comfortable and safer. Many pets benefit from mild sedation for X-rays, but it is not always needed. Discuss this with your veterinary team at your visit if you have questions.
Can my pet eat before bloodwork?
It depends on the test. Our veterinarians may recommend fasting before certain blood tests, while other tests may not require it. Ask our veterinary team for instructions before your visit.
Why would my senior pet need chest X-rays?
Chest X-rays are commonly used as screening tests for senior pets, especially if they may need anesthesia in the near future. X-rays can detect abnormalities of the lungs, enlargement of the heart, or other issues that could prompt further investigation.
* Applies to dogs and cats only. Available only when all required services are billed on the same invoice, and all required services are completed within the timeframe determined by the veterinarian. Certain required services may be performed during separate veterinarian-approved visits; however, all required services must be authorized and paid in full on the date the first required service is provided. Valid only for preventive wellness visits and not for pets presenting with illness, injury, or other medical concerns, as determined by the veterinarian. Required services include 1) a veterinarian-performed examination designated by the hospital as eligible for the bundle, 2) blood, urine, thyroid and parasite screening, 3) non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), 4) urine collection sample, 5) chest radiographs, and 6) specialist interpretation of chest radiographs. Additional veterinarian-recommended services may be eligible for the bundle discount, but are not required for bundle eligibility. Omission of any required service will render the invoice ineligible for the bundle discount. The practice reserves the right to determine eligibility for the bundle based on the patient's age, visit type, and services provided. Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions, except Thrive Plus member discounts. Thrive Plus member discounts are applied before the Bundle-&-Save discount.
** 12–month commitment required. Thrive Plus discounts are applied before other eligible discounts. See full terms for membership details and excluded services. Terms apply. 
