Why does my pet need to have blood work performed before having a surgical procedure?

Anesthetic drugs are processed by the liver and kidneys, which also remove the drugs from the body in a more or less predictable rate. However, if the pet’s liver and/or kidney function are impaired, normal usage of anesthetic drugs can have deadly consequences for your pet. Just as with people, as your pet ages, her organs gradually become less efficient. Results of a pre-surgical blood test, specifically focused on the values that reveal the efficiency of the liver and kidney, can help the veterinarian select the safest dose and type of anesthetic drug for your pet. Alternatively, in case of tests that reveal very poor organ function, the veterinarian may want to discuss the risks and benefits of the surgery with you, or may elect not to risk the surgery at all.