Silent Signals—Uncovering Renal Disease on Routine Chemistry

Routine wellness panels, pre-anesthetic screens, senior blood work: they're often labeled "normal." But are they? In this episode of Shake Up Your Workup, host Dr. Sylvia Conway sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Schooley, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM) to uncover the subtle, early signals of renal disease that can hide in plain sight on a routine chemistry panel. Dr. Schooley walks through the three changes to watch for: SDMA trends, rising creatinine, and shifting urine specific gravity. Review why performing a urinalysis alongside blood work is non-negotiable and how to talk to worried pet owners about kidney findings without sending them into a panic. Whether you're managing a pre-anesthetic dental patient or a senior wellness case, this episode will change how you read a "normal" chemistry panel. **About the guest:** Elizabeth Schooley, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM) is an IDEXX Medical Affairs manager and specialist and a board-certified small animal internist. She earned her undergraduate and veterinary degrees from Colorado State University before completing an internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York. During her residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Missouri, she also fulfilled the requirements for a master's degree in biomedical sciences and was board-certified in small animal internal medicine by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). Before joining IDEXX in 2010, Dr. Schooley worked in private specialty practice in Richmond, Virginia. A trusted team leader and volunteers for Mission Rabies of the Worldwide Veterinary Service. Keep up with Beth at linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-schooley-dvm To learn more about Renal/Kidney health, check out these free courses and articles. • How to Incorporate Early Functional Kidney Markers into All Patient Evaluations • Five Patient Profiles: Why including SDMA in key workups makes sense • Kidney Function Assessment: Why Adding SDMA Identifies More Patients Earlier **About our host:** Sylvia Conway BSc, BVetMed, MRCVS Dr. Conway is the host of the Shake Up Your Workup podcast. She joined IDEXX in May 2014 after spending five years as a mixed and small animal veterinarian in the United Kingdom. She currently oversees medical education tracks at tradeshow events and enjoys all aspects of her role. Dr. Conway is passionate about delivering clinically relevant medical education that promotes best practices and adds value to the day-to-day lives of veterinary practitioners. Originally from London, Dr. Conway relocated to Amsterdam, Netherlands, in February 2013. She still lives in Amsterdam with her husband, two young sons, Frankie the cat, and their canine companion, Wappie. Thank you for listening to Shake Up Your Workup. You can contact us at shakeupyourworkup@idexx.com with comments and feedback. *Disclaimer: This podcast features hosts and guests who may be employed by IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. or its affiliates ("IDEXX"). The content of this podcast is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be taken to represent official IDEXX policies, guidance, or positions. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual speakers only.* *This podcast may reference IDEXX products or services as part of the professional discussion. Any such references are for informational purposes only and do not constitute technical instructions or convey any express or implicit performance guarantee or warranty, nor do they constitute to any regulated product claims. Nothing in this podcast should be considered medical or veterinary advice. Diagnostic discussions or recommendations may not be appropriate for all clinical circumstances, and regulatory requirements for diagnostics, treatment, and product use may vary between regions.* *Listeners should always rely on their own veterinary judgment and consult applicable local laws, regulations, and professional guidelines before making decisions about diagnostics, treatment, or patient care.* *IDEXX makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information discussed, and IDEXX is not responsible for any loss or damage arising from reliance on the information provided in this podcast.*