Wellness testing has become an important component of patient care for both animals and people. The goal of wellenss testing is to identify abnormalities and diseases as early as possible- hopefully before significant impairment of health and at a point where the process can be reversed. Functional medince is particularly well suited to this process. " Functional medicine is a dynamic approach to assessing, preventing, and treating complex chronic disease. Functional medicine helps clinicians identify and ameliorate dysfunctions in the physiology and biochemistry of the body as a primary method of improving patient health. Functional medicine acknowledges that chronic disease is almost always preceded by a lengthy period of declining function in one or more of the body's systems. " Promotion of organ reserve is one of the guiding principles of functional medicine. Organ reserve enhances both life span and health span. We recommend the folowing as functional wellness tests:
1. Food allergy testing in order to reduce the major cause of chronic inflammation, which is the driving force in almost all chronic disease.
2. Serum vitamin D test to optimize immune function and to help prevent many chronic diseases- every cell in the body has a vitamin D receptor!
3. Organix profile to identify biochemical abnormalities and determine specific vitamin and mineral requirements of each individual.
4. GI Effects profile especially if the animal has a history of GI issues or if it is indicated by the Organix profile.
5. thyroid profile because every cell in the body also has a thyroid hormone receptor.
6. urinalysis because it gives information about kidney function that cannot be obtained through blood tests.
John B. Smith, DVM ♦ "The Dog Doctor" ♦ DrJohn@DogDoctor.us ♦ 734-434-9055 ♦ 2894 Washtenaw Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 48197