My old arthritic pet is on pain medication every day and now the doctor wants me to come in and have blood testing done. Why is that necessary?

Long term pain medication, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, (NSAIDs), are often dispensed and used daily by elderly dogs and cats. Common side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, not eating/eating less, and lethargy. If your pet experiences any of these potential side effects, STOP administering the medication and contact your veterinarian immediately. Because of the potential for kidney, stomach, and liver damage, we do blood testing every year to make sure that the drugs are not affecting the internal organs.