- Comer Vet Newsletter
- Posts
- Dr. Chamlee's Thoughts on Bloodwork
Dr. Chamlee's Thoughts on Bloodwork
PLUS: Dental Month specials at Comer Vet
Dallas Duncan
January 27, 2026
Every year when you bring your adult pet in for their annual exam, our team will talk with you about performing routine bloodwork.
Hearing the word bloodwork can sometimes elicit thoughts of extra $$$ and excess needle pokes for your sweet pet. So, why is annual bloodwork important at every life stage, and what information does it give your veterinarian? Routine bloodwork is more than just numbers. It’s an important window into your pet’s overall health.
Just as your own doctor checks bloodwork at your yearly physical, even when you feel perfectly well, it’s important to monitor your pet’s bloodwork regularly, ideally once every two years. One reason is that pets can appear happy and healthy while still developing underlying issues such as organ damage, red blood cell abnormalities, or endocrine disease. These conditions often don’t show obvious signs in their early stages, but routine bloodwork can detect problems early, allowing treatment to begin before the disease progresses and becomes more serious.
Another key benefit of routine bloodwork is establishing a normal baseline for your pet. If your pet ever becomes ill, having previous “normal” values gives your veterinarian something to compare against. Interpreting bloodwork without a baseline can be like trying to assemble a puzzle without knowing what the final picture should look like. What may be normal for one pet could be abnormal for another, and having past results helps your veterinarian make the most accurate and informed decisions possible. These baseline values play an important role in keeping your pet healthy long-term and managing future health concerns.
What does routine bloodwork include?
The first component is a Complete Blood Count (CBC), which measures red and white blood cells. These values help determine if your pet is anemic, fighting infection or inflammation, experiencing an allergic response, or showing abnormal blood cells.
The second component is the blood chemistry panel, which evaluates the health and function of your pet’s internal organs, electrolytes, and metabolism. This panel can also identify early signs of endocrine disorders—many of which are very treatable when caught early but can be life-threatening if left undiagnosed.
Choosing to perform annual bloodwork while your pet is healthy is one of the best ways to protect their future health. Early detection and a strong baseline can make all the difference in giving your pet a longer, healthier life.
Smile, y’all: Dental Month is BACK at Comer Vet!
Our annual savings on dental care return from Feb. 1 through 28. All month long, you’ll save 10% on DENTAL CLEANINGS! Despite increasing our dental appointment slots in February, y’all book us up each year, and we anticipate 2026 being no exception. We recommend going ahead and calling us NOW to schedule your pet’s dental cleaning! Each cleaning includes a thorough oral exam, dental scaling, tooth polishing, and take-home goodies of a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Please note, this discount applies to the dental cleaning procedure itself. Anesthesia, other medications, and other dental services including extractions are not included in this month’s special.
BONUS SAVINGS:
Enjoy 10 percent off all toothbrushes, water additives, dental chews, dental treats, and dental diets through Your Pet Pharmacy with the code DENTAL26! Code is valid at checkout Feb. 1 through 28.
Pucks & Paws NEW DATE for 2026!
Due to scheduling changes for the hockey team, there is now a NEW date for Pucks & Paws. Save the date for Sunday, March 29, for the second Pucks & Paws Night at the Athens Rock Lobsters hockey game! The puck drops at 4:05 for this dog-friendly matchup against the Monroe Moccasins, and the Comer Vet team will be on the concourse ahead of time with treats and commemorative goodies for pups. Secure your tickets here.
WANT TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS?! Be sure to follow Comer Vet on Facebook and Instagram for a chance to score two tickets to the game! We will be hosting this giveaway in early March, and you can enter to win on BOTH social media platforms.
Comer Vet After Hours
 | Dr. Strickland represented Comer Vet and our sister clinic, Custom Livestock Solutions, up in Chicago for the American Veterinary medical Association Veterinary Leadership Conference. This event focused on topics including clinic culture, fostering staff personal + professional development, incorporating mentorship, supporting client relationships, embracing workplace diversity, improving communication skills, and more. |
Meet the Staff: Bonnie, receptionist
 | Bonnie might be a horse girl at heart, but we love having her as one of the bright smiles to welcome y’all into the clinic as part of our reception team! She loves taking our motto, “Care with Community in Mind”, to heart by ensuring pet owners are able to be with their pets in exam rooms during appointments. This lets them have one-on-one time with their veterinarian and support staff to best serve their pets’ needs and have questions answered on the spot. Her most memorable day in the clinic happened when she got to help revive puppies following a C-section delivery! |
This month on the Comer Vet Blog …
