Liver Function
Enzymes such as ALP and ALT provide insight into liver health, cell integrity, and metabolic processing.
Pre-Placement Health Screening
Advanced Blood
Advanced Blood
Evaluation Testing
Comprehensive pre-placement blood screening for added health clarity, confidence, and peace of mind. A clearer view of each puppy's internal health before transition to a new home.
Beyond What the Eye Can See
At Seaside Pups, health evaluation does not end with what can be seen during a physical exam.
As part of the final preparation completed prior to placement, we offer advanced blood evaluation testing to provide a clearer view of each puppy's internal health before transition to a new home. More than 70% of families choose to include this additional screening as part of their puppy's pre-placement evaluation.
A licensed veterinarian evaluates physical condition, development, and observable health through a comprehensive examination. Blood testing adds a different type of information by showing how the body is functioning internally at that same point in time.
Outward appearance does not fully reflect internal function. Blood evaluation allows key organ and metabolic markers to be reviewed directly rather than assumed from observation alone.
This additional step is not required to identify visible concerns. It is offered to provide added clarity, added confidence, and added peace of mind at the time of placement.
It also reflects the standards behind our program. We have chosen to include health measures that go beyond what many families would expect because careful evaluation matters, and confidence in a puppy's health should be supported by more than appearance alone.
6
CORE MARKERS EVALUATED
70% +
FAMILIES CHOOSE TESTING
4
PRE-PLACEMENT STEPS
100%
LICENSED VET OVERSIGHT
CLINICAL INSIGHT
Why Blood Testing Adds Value
A physical examination remains essential. It allows a veterinarian to evaluate the heart, lungs, eyes, ears, mobility, body condition, and general health status.
Blood testing adds value because some of the body's most important functions cannot be fully assessed through physical observation alone.
Internal organ function, glucose regulation, hydration balance, and protein status are not visible in the same way as coat condition, alertness, or mobility. Blood evaluation provides objective data that helps confirm whether those internal systems are functioning as expected.
This additional insight supports a more complete health review prior to placement. It also provides documentation of internal baseline values that may be useful to a veterinarian after the puppy arrives home.
EXTENDED DIAGNOSTICS
Additional Testing When Further Clarity Is Needed
When chemistry results require closer evaluation, additional laboratory testing may be used to provide further clarity.
Bile Acid Testing
FOR ALL PUPPIES UNDER 1.5 LBS DURING FINAL PREPARATIONIn certain cases, additional testing is included to further evaluate liver function in very small puppies.
For puppies that weigh under 1.5 pounds at the time of placement, a bile acid test is performed as part of the pre-placement evaluation. This testing is included to provide a more complete understanding of liver function during a stage where size and development may require closer review.
Bile acids are produced by the liver and play a role in digestion. In a healthy system, these compounds are processed, circulated, and reused efficiently. The bile acid test evaluates how well this process is functioning by measuring how the liver handles and recycles bile acids within the body.
This allows several important aspects of liver function to be assessed, including whether the liver has sufficient healthy cells to perform its role, whether blood flow to the liver is adequate, and whether bile is moving properly through the liver and into the digestive system.
This testing is particularly useful in identifying conditions such as liver shunts, a congenital issue that can affect small breed puppies. Early identification allows for appropriate evaluation and follow-up when needed.
Symmetric Dimethylarginine
KIDNEY SCREENINGSDMA is a sensitive marker used in the evaluation of kidney function. It can help identify changes in filtration earlier than traditional markers in some cases. When reviewed alongside BUN and creatinine, it provides additional context for assessing renal function.
Complete Blood Count
COMPREHENSIVEA Complete Blood Count evaluates red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This testing helps assess:
- Oxygen-carrying capacity
- Inflammatory activity
- Immune response
- Overall blood health
CBC results may provide useful information when evaluating whether infection, inflammation, anemia, or other hematologic changes could be present.
FAMILY CONFIDENCE
Why Families Choose This Screening
For many families, this testing provides added peace of mind.
More than 70% of families choose to include blood evaluation as part of their puppy's final health review because it offers information that goes beyond a standard physical exam. It provides a clearer understanding of how the body functions internally at the time of placement.
It also gives their veterinarian a defined reference point after the puppy arrives home. Baseline values can be useful for comparison if health concerns arise later.
This type of evaluation is not consistently included in standard pre-placement processes. We have chosen to make it available because a more complete health picture has value for both the family and the puppy.
OUR STANDARDS
Our Commitment to Complete Evaluation
Each part of this review contributes different information.
The veterinary examination evaluates observable health and physical condition. VetScan Imagyst® screening evaluates fecal samples for intestinal parasites. Blood testing, when selected, provides internal laboratory data that supports the broader health picture.
Together, these steps allow health to be evaluated through clinical observation, diagnostic screening, and measurable baseline data before placement occurs.
Added Clarity.Added Confidence.Added Peace of Mind.
Blood evaluation provides documentation of internal baseline values that may be useful to a veterinarian after the puppy arrives home.