Preventive care is about keeping your pet happy and healthy, and one of the most critical tests for dogs is the 4DX Plus and C6 quantitative antibody test.
Preventive care is about keeping your pet happy and healthy, and one of the most critical tests for dogs is the 4DX Plus and C6 quantitative antibody test. Not only can they save your pet’s life, but they can also save you thousands of $$$ in critical treatment if your dog comes down with any of these awful diseases. Let’s learn more about these crucial exams for dogs.
What is a 4DX Test?
The 4DX test is a blood exam for dogs that screens for four diseases:
Heartworms
Heartworms come from mosquitos that carry the parasites. Whenever a healthy dog gets bitten by a mosquito-carrying heartworm, the heartworms develop into adults in the dog’s heart and lungs for the next several months. Over time, they can trigger irreversible damage to both of these organs, eventually causing a complete blockage in the heart. What’s scary is some canines never show symptoms. Therefore, all dogs should be on heartworm prevention like Sentinel Spectrum all year long.
Lyme
Lyme disease is a well-known and common tick-borne disease. Thanks to the 4DX test, most cases are caught during yearly exams. This is crucial because most dogs with the disease don’t show symptoms during the early stages. Pet owners should give their pets flea and tick preventative like Bravecto year round to help reduce their pets risk of developing this disease.
Ehrlichia
Another tick-borne disease is Ehrlichia. As with Lyme, the 4DX test can detect cases early and save countless canine lives. Ehrlichia might cause depression, lethargy, fever, anorexia, eye pain, and neurologic signs. The scariest symptom of this tick-borne disease is spontaneous bleeding because the disease attacks platelets in the blood, preventing the blood from clotting. By diagnosing early with a 4DX, your vet can easily help treat your dog with a course of antibiotics.
Anaplasma
Anaplasma is yet another tick-borne disease that is commonly seen in this area. By testing annually with the 4DX, the disease can be caught before symptoms develop, which can be life-saving. Since the 4DX tests for antibodies against Anaplasma and Ehrlichia, your pet might continue to be positive for the remainder of its life, even after treatment.
Importance of 4DX Test on Dogs
Integrating a 4DX Plus and C6 into your dog’s annual wellness exam can be life-saving. Monitoring your dog’s 4DX status along with a C6 allows us to monitor their exposure to common tick-borne diseases and determine if they need treatment before they become ill. Combined with all-year-round heartworm and flea and tick preventatives, the 4DX helps keep your canine healthy for a long and happy life.
What is a C6 Quantitative Antibody Test?
The Quant C6 test is a simple blood test determining the level of antibodies against Lyme disease present in your dog’s blood. The 4DX test is crucial to inform us that your car has been exposed to Lyme disease, but it doesn’t tell us if there is an active infection. Dogs also don’t often display clear signs of Lyme disease (lameness, loss of appetite, fever, and swollen joints), so it’s vital to determine the infection level in your dog. The C6 allows us to see just that. With treatment, your vet can monitor your dog’s recovery by monitoring C6 antibody levels.
Significance of a C6 Test on Dogs
Evidence of Lyme disease can be alarming because it shows that a Lyme-infected tick bit your dog. Antibody levels can help your vet determine whether treatment is appropriate.
HERE AT MOUNT CARMEL ANIMAL HOSPITAL, WE’LL TREAT YOUR PETS LIKE FAMILY!
Mount Carmel Animal Hospital has been serving the Northern Baltimore/Southern York community for over 30 years and is proud to be an independently operated, small animal practice committed to excellence in veterinary medicine and client service. From grooming to wellness services, along with Canine Life Skills Training Courses, and surgical procedures, we have the expertise that will best serve the needs of you and your pet. Contact us at 410-343-0200 and follow us on Facebook