Hi Diedra

I believe what you’re referring to is a standard pre-anesthesia blood test …? Those are certainly a good thing to do. There is no age restriction for blood tests. In fact, it is good to do a blood panel regularly, for screening purposes as well as establishing baseline values.

http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2012/july/do_not_opt_out_of_pre-anesthetic_lab_work-26535

As for the ideal age for spay itself, that is a somewhat controversial issue, as there are pros and cons to both doing it early and waiting. I suggest you do your research on the subject as well as discuss ideal timing with your veterinarian.

http://dawgbusiness.blogspot.com

Hi Diedra.

Many veterinarians recommend them as one of the safe chews.

Some important points I feel are important about it
– make sure the chew had been made in US/by a reputable manufacturer, because there is a possibility of contamination
– always supervise your dog when they chew on one of these
– be very careful if your dog has a tendency to swallow large chunks of things
– remove the chew when a small piece is left that could be swallowed whole

I don’t consider it an ideal chew but following the above rules. I give one to our guys from time to time too. The hide is not digestible and large chunks pose a risk of choking or obstruction.

http://dawgbusiness.blogspot.com