Above photograph: Wile. E. Coyote at the campsite ... Tinker making a bed out of the picnic table at Algonquin Park in 2011.
_Other Health Tests and Diagnostics for dogs:
Other Diagnostics for any dogs, including Alaskan Malamutes:
Biochemistry Analysis - can help detect diabetes, kidney and liver disease, renal failure, Cushing's and Addison disease, etc. A biochemistry profile is used to check enzymes and by-products in the blood that are used to determine the function and disease of vital organs, such as the kidneys, liver, pancreas, muscle, and the gastrointestinal tract. This test is critical in identifying diseases such as liver disease, pancreatitis, diabetes, and Cushing’s disease in the very early stages – before owners may notice clinical signs of illness.
Complete Blood Count (CBC) - can help detect various diseases, nutritional deficiencies, cancers, viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections, allergies, autoimmune diseases, anemia, leukemia, liver, heart, kidney, gall bladder diseases, and seizures - and ensures good health for the canine to be bred! A complete blood chemistry is used to detect abnormalities in the red blood cells, white blood cells, inflammatory cells, and platelets (which are important to help blood clot). A CBC may indicate early or chronic infections, anemia, and other infectious and immune diseases including liver, kidney, gall bladder, and heart disease, and seizures.
Urinalysis - can help detect diabetes, kidney and liver disease, renal failure, infection, bladder stones, inflammation, tumors or blood disorders. Certain diseases - renal impairment and diabetes - affect the ability to concentrate urine. Urine protein is usually only seen in trace amounts as the kidney normally does not allow protein to get through. When protein is present it indicates damage to the kidneys. Glucose should not be seen in the urine but when blood sugar levels become very high as with diabetes mellitus, it exceeds the kidney's capacity to keep sugar out and glucose is seen in the urine. Urine sediment can be examined for solid material such as cells, bacteria, crystals and casts. Red blood cells in the urine indicate inflammation, certain tumors or blood clotting disorders. White blood cells and bacteria are seen in infection. Crystals may be normal or may indicate infection, liver disease, toxin ingestion or bladder stones.
* combined, the Biochemistry Analysis, CBC and Urinalysis, are frequently referred to as a 'Wellness test' and should be performed on dogs, breeding or otherwise, once per year. All pet dogs can have these tests. They are not DNA tests or health checks for certification, they help to detect diseases in the early stages and PREVENT or limit progression of many diseases - and prevent breeding from diseased dogs where no other diagnostics (ie DNA or health checks) are available. Dogs can be spayed, neutered or intact - young or old - for any of the above-mentioned tests.
Complete Blood Count (CBC) - can help detect various diseases, nutritional deficiencies, cancers, viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections, allergies, autoimmune diseases, anemia, leukemia, liver, heart, kidney, gall bladder diseases, and seizures - and ensures good health for the canine to be bred! A complete blood chemistry is used to detect abnormalities in the red blood cells, white blood cells, inflammatory cells, and platelets (which are important to help blood clot). A CBC may indicate early or chronic infections, anemia, and other infectious and immune diseases including liver, kidney, gall bladder, and heart disease, and seizures.
Urinalysis - can help detect diabetes, kidney and liver disease, renal failure, infection, bladder stones, inflammation, tumors or blood disorders. Certain diseases - renal impairment and diabetes - affect the ability to concentrate urine. Urine protein is usually only seen in trace amounts as the kidney normally does not allow protein to get through. When protein is present it indicates damage to the kidneys. Glucose should not be seen in the urine but when blood sugar levels become very high as with diabetes mellitus, it exceeds the kidney's capacity to keep sugar out and glucose is seen in the urine. Urine sediment can be examined for solid material such as cells, bacteria, crystals and casts. Red blood cells in the urine indicate inflammation, certain tumors or blood clotting disorders. White blood cells and bacteria are seen in infection. Crystals may be normal or may indicate infection, liver disease, toxin ingestion or bladder stones.
* combined, the Biochemistry Analysis, CBC and Urinalysis, are frequently referred to as a 'Wellness test' and should be performed on dogs, breeding or otherwise, once per year. All pet dogs can have these tests. They are not DNA tests or health checks for certification, they help to detect diseases in the early stages and PREVENT or limit progression of many diseases - and prevent breeding from diseased dogs where no other diagnostics (ie DNA or health checks) are available. Dogs can be spayed, neutered or intact - young or old - for any of the above-mentioned tests.