Pumpkin Gets a Blood Draw

Pumpkin had a vet visit, and as you may have already seen, she had a lot to say about it.

She needed some blood drawn so we could recheck her liver values. Pumpkin has had some elevated liver values in the past, and while she has been doing well, we want to make sure everything is still looking good. She is also turning 15 next month, which feels a little impossible to believe, so staying proactive about her health is especially important to us as she gets older.
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Blood draws on pigs can be a little complicated. Often, sedation is used so blood can be collected safely, but sedation comes with its own risks and stress, especially for older animals. We had learned about another technique that involves drawing blood from a vessel in the foot, which can sometimes allow the procedure to be done without sedation.  We asked Dr. Dreher if she could try this method with Pumpkin, and we’re really grateful she agreed.  But, we were nervous because we really needed it to be successful!

Pumpkin stayed awake the whole time, resting in her sling while they took blood from her foot. She also made it VERY clear she wasn’t happy about it through a continuous chorus of loud protest noises.  Luckily, we were prepared with snacks.

Pumpkin kept snacking through most of the procedure, even while she acted like this was the worst thing that had ever happened to her. Somehow she managed to continue her grumpy noises while eating. Our vet finished the blood draw quickly, and Pumpkin went right back to her usual routine, though she remained a little put out.

We’re always thankful when our vets are open to trying new ways to care for our animals. Every animal is different, and sometimes the best choice isn’t the usual one, but the safest and least invasive for that animal.For Pumpkin, this let us get the important health information we needed without using sedation at all.

Now we’re waiting for her results and hoping her liver values are still good.  In the meantime, Pumpkin wants everyone to know she survived is being very gracious about her ordeal. ❤️