Preanesthetic testing

Q What should I say to clients who decline preanesthetic testings for their pets needing surgery?

"If an animal needs to go under anesthetics, it needs preanesthetic testing," says Shawn McVey, MA, MSW, member of Firstline and Veterinary Economics Editorial Advisory Boards, and CEO of Innovative Veterinary Management Solutions in Phoenix.

Shawn McVey

"While test results usually come back normal, preanesthetic testing should be mandatory. The tests can show undiagnosed problems, which would place pets at a greater risk if their surgeries were performed," he says.

"This is the evidence you need to present to clients who are hesitant—if you don't require testing," McVey says. Of course, practices that make testing mandatory may have fewer clients balking, he says.

"I recommend veterinary hospitals really take to heart their own mission and values," McVey says. "If any part of your mission statement says you practice excellent medicine, then you must encourage preanesthetic blood work."