· Banfield veterinarians primarily see pet dogs and cats for preventive care and treatment of medical problems.
· Many dogs and cats are enrolled in Banfield’s wellness program which includes vaccination, intestinal parasite detection and treatment, and heartworm prevention.
· Banfield’s wellness program includes performing hematology, serum chemistries, and a fecal exam. Therefore, blood and serum samples that are collected can be used for routine surveillance of infectious agents and for monitoring subclinical changes.
· Liver enzymes are measured as part of the routine wellness programs. Since many chemical toxins produce liver damage, the concentration of liver enzymes determined as part of the wellness program can be used to measure exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment.