The Blood Clinic
Tuesday 7th October ~ Tuesday 4th November
NO CLINIC DECEMBER
This is the form you need to fill in and bring with you - Microsoft Word Format - PDF Format
If you would like to pay by credit card, you can now do so by using Paypal.
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Every dog needs a thorough yearly veterinary examination. Establishing yearly physical and blood chemistry exams as part of the routine health care you provide for your dog will give you invaluable information for the future. If there is a deviation in those levels, your veterinarian would be alerted that trouble is brewing.
The Serum Chemistry Profile or Chemistry Screen is sometimes called a chem screen or chem scan. It is an extensive battery of tests that provides a broad database to evaluate your dog’s general health. These tests confirm the results of the annual physical examination and provides early warnings of unsuspected problems. The most accurate results are obtained if a 12 hour fast precedes the drawing of the blood sample.
The blood is drawn by Vet Tim Hoskens of Alma Road Veterinary Hospital.
He then takes the bloods back to the surgery and spins them down before
returning them to us.
Katie Rourke organises
all the paperwork and is responsible for sending the blood serum to Hemopet
in the USA.
We use Hemopet as their range of tests exceeds those that are currently available in the UK. The blood test results are explained in detail in Wendy Volhard’s excellent book, the Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog. Your own veterinarian should also be able to ‘translate’ these results for you and treat your pet accordingly.
To download a sample report, in MS Word format, please click here.
A testimonial:
Hi Katie
Just to let you know that Ash and I have just got back from the referral that my vet wanted Ash to go to, a she was 100% sure it was only Allergies that Ash was suffering from, and not as Jean Dodds had said Thyroid.
Well all I can say is I would recommend Sue Paterson to anyone. What a lovely, caring and listening person this woman is. We had about an hour and a half consult, normally only 1 hr, totally listened to my side of what I see with Ash, explained my concerns about my Vet etc.
And then Sue checked Ash over to say... "Karen I am not going
to advise any skin testing for allergies at this time, Ash as In my opinion
is definitely Hypothyroid, and no classic signs of allergies, but all
of HYPO T". She is going to write to my vet and send her the report
on Ash. Sue " allergy Vet" said she would like to see us again
in 8 weeks to see how Ash is responding to the Soloxine, and to check
Ash over again.
Sue basically said (these were her words not mine Katie..LOL) " That
your vet has definitely got her findings wrong here, and I am afraid she
is afraid of you" I was gobsmacked, and said why would she be, to
be told I am sorry to say you knew more about your dogs condition than
what she did... OOOOOOuch !
So thankfully Ash didn't need the Allergen testing injections today, so bless her she was starved for nothing, she is now tucking into a very much appreciated dish of chicken wings....LOLOLOL
I only have to bath her once weekly now in an all natural Malacetic,
sapless shampoo, to help stop any yeast build up on her skin, I can now
stop the Atarax antihistamines, and the Nyzoral, anti fungal tab as of
today, thank goodness, and leave Ash and the Soloxine to help rebuild
herself, but not to worry to much about Ash's lack of coat, as this will
take a good 6 months to regenerate, as there is so much..
Pity the stupid vet didn't listen to me all those months ago, as poor
Ash wouldn't be in the state she is today, bless her.
Thanks again Katie for listening to my woo's, you being there personally
with your helping emails and phone calls.
Ash would send sloppy kisses to you all, well she would if she didn't
have a chicken wing in her mouth....LOL
Thanks you Katie, for getting Ash and I the right diagnosis, and on the long road to recovery. BLESS YOU I WILL BE FOREVER IN YOUR DEBT ! BTW I've popped you're logo onto my website now buddy, so lets hope it will bring in some more poor folk who needs your help :0)
LUV
Karen and Ash (Hypo T) & NO allergies.....LOL
Antibody Titre Tests
In a vaccinated animal, antibody plays the primary role, because it prevents
infection (sterilizing immunity) or limits the infection, and CMI plays
a minor role. If infection occurs, antibody increases rapidly and restricts
infection.
The presence of serum antibodies to an infectious agent-even if detected months or years after vaccination, indicates that the animal has the memory cells required for a rapid anamnestic cell-mediated and antibody response if the animal is exposed to the same infectious agent at a later time.
How then should antibody titers be used to monitor vaccine immunity? They can be helpful in the following ways:
• to determine if there has been an immune response following vaccination
• to determine the duration of immunity
• to ensure the vaccine is immunogenic
• to know precisely when or even if to vaccinate a puppy
• to determine whether the animal is a “low or nonresponder”
to certain vaccines
Although the Canine Vaccination Task Force committee does not feel it is necessary to determine titers to core viruses on an annual basis because of the long minimum duration of immunity, titers can be used for your assurance that an animal has immunity.
Experience with postvaccination titers for Canine Distemper Virus, Canine
Adenovirus, and Canine Parvovirus shows that sterile immunity lasts for
years; thus, if the test is positive 1 year after vaccination, it is likely
to be positive >3 years after vaccination.
The primary reason for the Titre test is to ensure that you have a positive
test after completing the puppy vaccination series. For example, if you
have vaccinated at 6 to 8, 9 to 11, and 12 to 14 weeks of age and test
the serum >2 weeks after the final vaccination at 14 to 16 weeks, the
test should be positive.
Experience with the Titre test demonstrates greater than 90% of the dogs tested after the puppy series and up to 3 years after vaccination are positive, an indication they have sterile immunity and don’t need to be revaccinated with core vaccines.
After 1 year, annually measure serum antibody titers against specific canine infectious agents such as distemper and parvovirus. This can be done on a rotating basis. This is especially recommended for animals previously experiencing adverse vaccine reactions or breeds at higher risk for such reactions (e.g., Weimaraner, Akita, Great Dane).
Another alternative to booster vaccinations is homeopathic nosodes. This option is considered an unconventional treatment that has not been scientifically proven to be efficacious.
We do NOT recommend vaccinating bitches during estrus, pregnancy or lactation. We do not recommend vaccinating during times of stress such as: surgery, travel, illness or infection. We do not recommend vaccination in an animal with chronic disease or allergies.
Please ask about assessing the risks and benefits
of vaccination for your dog or
visit Canine
Health Concern for more information.