When Should You Test Your Pet in Bhopal & MP?

By Pashupatinath Vet Lab • Shahpura, Bhopal

One of the most common doubts pet parents have is: “Doctor, is this test really needed?”

As veterinarians and lab professionals, we understand your concern about cost, stress and time. This article is a simple guide to help you understand when testing is important and how it helps your pet in Bhopal and across Madhya Pradesh.

1. Routine health check-up for healthy pets

Even if your dog or cat looks perfectly healthy, problems can be silently developing inside the body. Routine screening helps catch them early.

For a healthy adult pet, many vets recommend:

• Once a year: CBC, biochemistry panel and urine analysis
• Every 6 months: for senior pets or those on long-term medication

These tests can detect early liver, kidney, hormonal or metabolic changes before obvious signs appear – giving more time to protect your pet.

2. When your pet has vomiting, diarrhoea or is “not eating”

Upset stomach is very common, but sometimes it is a sign of serious disease such as:

• Parvovirus or other viral infections
• Pancreatitis
• Kidney or liver disease
• Hormonal or metabolic problems

Your vet may advise:

• CBC: to check dehydration, infection and anemia
• Biochemistry: to evaluate liver, kidneys, electrolytes and pancreas
• Parvo/other rapid tests or PCR: for suspected viral disease
• Stool examination: for worms or protozoa

Testing helps decide whether your pet can be managed at home, needs hospitalisation or requires specific treatments.

3. Fever, weakness and suspected tick fever

In Bhopal and many parts of MP, tick fever is a major cause of illness in dogs. Early symptoms may look like a “simple fever” – but can quickly become dangerous.

Your vet may recommend:

• CBC: to check for anemia and low platelets
• Blood smear: to look for parasites
• Tick panel (ELISA / PCR): to detect Ehrlichia, Babesia and other organisms

Early testing and treatment can prevent severe bleeding, organ damage and long hospital stays.

4. Before surgery or anaesthesia

Whether it is a routine spay/neuter or a major surgery, anaesthesia puts stress on the body. Pre-anaesthetic tests are not “extra income” – they are basic safety.

Typically, your vet may advise:

• CBC: to check red cells, white cells and platelets
• Biochemistry: to check liver, kidneys and electrolytes
• Sometimes coagulation tests, x-rays or ultrasound in high-risk cases

Abnormal results may lead to postponing surgery or changing the anaesthetic plan to protect your pet.

5. Long-term or chronic diseases

Some conditions need lifelong monitoring, for example:

• Chronic kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Diabetes mellitus
• Heart disease
• Hormonal problems like hypothyroidism or Cushing’s

In such cases, your vet may plan regular testing every few weeks or months to:

• Check if the disease is stable, improving or worsening
• Monitor for side effects of medicines
• Adjust doses, diet and fluid therapy

6. Sudden behaviour change, seizures or collapse

If your pet suddenly collapses, has seizures or shows strange behaviour, testing becomes urgent.

Depending on the case, your vet may ask for:

• CBC and biochemistry
• Electrolytes and blood sugar
• Tick panel tests
• Additional tests such as ECG or imaging

These results help quickly identify causes like low sugar, severe anemia, electrolyte imbalance, organ failure or tick-borne disease.

7. Kidney and urinary problems

Increased thirst, frequent urination, blood in urine or difficulty passing urine are warning signs that should never be ignored.

Recommended tests often include:

• Biochemistry: urea, creatinine, electrolytes
• Urine analysis: crystals, infection, protein, specific gravity
• Urine culture and sensitivity: to select the right antibiotic
• Ultrasound or x-ray if stones or structural problems are suspected

8. When starting or changing long-term medicines

Some drugs (for example, certain painkillers, anti-epileptics or heart medicines) can affect liver or kidneys over time.

Your vet may advise:

• Baseline blood tests before starting treatment
• Repeat tests after a few weeks or months

This ensures that medicines remain safe and effective for your pet.

9. Pets in Bhopal & Madhya Pradesh – local risk factors

Our region has some specific challenges:

• High tick load in many seasons
• Street dog exposure increasing risk of infectious diseases
• Heat stress and dehydration in summer
• Changing diets and lifestyle leading to obesity and metabolic disease

All of these increase the importance of timely testing and proactive health checks.

How Pashupatinath Vet Lab helps

At Pashupatinath Vet Lab in Shahpura, Bhopal, we work with veterinarians to provide:

• CBC, biochemistry and urine tests
• Tick panels, ELISA and PCR where needed
• Pre-anaesthetic and chronic disease monitoring profiles
• Fast and clear digital reports for vets and pet parents

What you can do as a pet parent

• Ask your vet to explain test recommendations in simple language.
• Keep a single file (or digital folder) of all your pet’s reports for comparison.
• Plan routine annual or 6-monthly check-ups rather than only testing in emergencies.
• In Bhopal & MP, be especially alert to tick-related signs and kidney/liver issues.

Together – you, your veterinarian and the diagnostic lab – can build a strong health plan so your pet stays happy and safe in every stage of life.

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