Alex Sanger, RVN at Best Friends Veterinary Surgery, discusses its importance, and why it can be vital that cat owners are aware
What is wellness screening?
Wellness screening is a proactive health check for our pets. It combines a thorough physical examination with routine diagnostic tests, even when an animal appears perfectly healthy. These screenings can help uncover potential health issues long before they become serious, allowing us to take early action and improve long term wellbeing.
What does it include?
A typical wellness screen includes a blood test that evaluates:
- Kidney and liver function
- Blood glucose (screening for diabetes)
- Red blood cells (to identify anaemia or other cell abnormalities)
- White blood cells (to detect infection or, in some cases, certain cancers)
A urine test is usually included to assess kidney health further and check for diabetes or urinary infections.
When combined with a full nose-to-tail physical check, these tests give us a far clearer picture of what is happening inside our pets. After all, they can’t always tell us when something doesn’t feel right. Advances in veterinary diagnostics mean these screenings are more accurate and accessible than ever, helping practices find answers sooner.
Modern veterinary practices now use advanced point‑of‑care diagnostic technology, meaning we can run many of these tests in‑clinic during your pet’s appointment. This gives you fast, accurate results on the same day, without needing to send samples away. It allows your vet or nurse to discuss findings immediately and, if needed, adjust treatment or run additional tests straight away.
Misty
When should we be thinking about it?
Today, with current veterinary knowledge and improved diagnostic capabilities, vets are increasingly recommending:
- Annual wellness checks as part of your cat’s healthcare plan
- Senior cat wellness checks to pick up subtle changes early, monitor trends over time, and support comfort and quality of life
- Breed-focused screening for cats with a higher risk of inherited or breed-associated issues
- Pre-anaesthetic blood screening (and often urine testing), regardless of age, to check organ function and reduce anaesthetic risk
- Ongoing monitoring for chronic conditions (e.g., kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes) where tracking trends over time is as important as the single result
Just as humans routinely undergo wellness checks, such as annual blood tests, cholesterol screenings, blood pressure monitoring, or even cancer screening, it makes equal sense to extend this proactive care to our pets. Nowadays, we don’t need to wait for a person to become unwell with preventive screening, and why would we treat our pets any differently?
What are the benefits?
Routine tests provide a baseline for your pet’s unique physiology. As your pet ages, we can compare new results against their historical “normal,” helping us detect subtle shifts that might otherwise go unnoticed.
For example, kidney disease often doesn’t show visible signs until 75% of kidney function is already lost, but blood and urine testing can reveal abnormalities much earlier. Early detection means earlier intervention, which can dramatically improve outcomes.
Long term health
Monitoring your pet throughout its life allows us to spot small changes before they become big problems. This enables early diet adjustments, lifestyle changes, or medical treatment where needed, supporting the best quality of life possible for our animals. Early intervention can often result in pets living longer, happier lives.
Misty: a wellness screen well done!
Misty, a lovely 16-year-old domestic shorthair, visited us for one of our ‘golden oldies’ nurse clinics. Although she appeared clinically well, her owner wanted to ensure she was ageing comfortably and to pick up on any early changes in her health.
During the clinic, the nurse took a full medical history, carried out a complete nose-to-tail examination, and collected Misty’s routine wellness samples. As part of the clinic benefits, her urine and blood tests were run in-house, using the Vetscan VS2 analyser (by Zoetis), giving us fast and reliable results during her appointment.1-4
Misty’s urine sample showed the presence of protein, and her blood results revealed increased urea and creatinine levels, both indicators of early kidney concerns. Her blood pressure was checked and found to be within the normal range. Based on these findings, Misty was reviewed by one of our veterinary surgeons, who started her on a veterinary renal diet and prescribed medication to help protect her kidneys. We also noticed she was quite stiff during her physical exam, so her owner agreed to an arthritis consultation.
Misty continues to do well and now comes in for regular check-ups. Early detection and proactive management have helped us tailor her care, ensuring she stays comfortable and enjoys the best possible quality of life.
Misty’s story highlights how routine wellness screening can uncover hidden health issues long before they affect a pet’s day-to-day well-being. With regular monitoring and modern diagnostics, we can intervene early, guide owners through supportive treatment options, and help pets like Misty enjoy longer, happier lives.
References:
1. Data on File. Study No. TI-04239. Zoetis, Inc.
2. Data on File. Study No. TI-05898. Zoetis, Inc.
3. Data on File. Study No. TI-05681. Zoetis, Inc.
4. Data on File. Study No. TI-05899. Zoetis, Inc.