Routine health tests will not only help keep your furry friend strong and healthy, but they are essential if you plan on breeding your dog to ensure there are no inheritable health problems. Regular health tests can help monitor for contagious diseases as well as hereditary conditions. Many veterinarians will perform these health tests during a yearly exam.
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Heartworm Test
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Heartworm disease is fatal if left untreated, so it is important to have your dog tested and placed on a monthly heartworm preventative. Dogs must be tested prior to beginning a heartworm preventative medication, so this test should be performed during the first examination after getting a dog. Once a medication regimen is followed, your vet may or may not continue with yearly heartworm testing to ensure an infestation has not taken place.
Fecal Sample
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During your dog's annual check-up, your vet should test a fecal sample for signs of intestinal parasites. Some parasites are not visible in dog feces, so testing will have to be performed via microscopic examination of the sample to properly check for parasites.
Hip Scoring
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Hip scoring is a screening test that uses a radiograph to examine a dog's hip sockets to check for dysplasia, a genetic degenerative disease that affects the hip socket formation. Some dog breeds are more prone to hip dysplasia than others, usually larger dog breeds, and hip scoring will help to determine if your dog has a higher tendency of developing this painful condition.
Syringomyelia Testing
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Syringomyelia is a neurological disease most frequently seen in small dog breeds, particularly the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Syringomyelia, also called "neck scratcher's disease," causes cavities of fluid to develop on the spinal cord of the dog. Testing for syringomyelia requires the use of magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, to properly examine the nervous tissue for abnormalities.
Eye Exam
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Yearly examinations of the eyes can help to detect genetic conditions, like hereditary cataracts, multifocal retinal dysplasia and distortions within the eye structure. Some dog breeds, like collies, spaniels and retrievers, are more prone to hereditary eye conditions and should be tested regularly, since many eye diseases do not develop until later in life.
Cardiac Monitoring
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Heart conditions, such as mitral valve disease, subaortic stenosis, dilated cardiomyopathy and aortic stenosis, can be tested using a basic stethoscope or an electrocardiogram. Cardiac diseases often do not present themselves until the dog is older, so yearly testing is important to monitor for the onset of the condition. Though any dog has the potential to suffer from cardiac disease, breeds such as the Great Dane, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and boxer are more prone than others.
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