Understanding Your Pet's BloodworK

Blood tests help us determine causes of illness accurately, safely, and quickly, and let us monitor the progress of medical treatments. We want you to understand our recommendations and be a partner in your pet's care

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

• HCT (hematocrit) measures the percentage of red blood cells to detect anemia and dehydration
• Hb and MCHC (hemoglobin and Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) gemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying pigment of red blood cells (corpuscles)
• WBC (white blood cell count) measures the body's immune cells. Increases or decreases indicate certain diseases or infections.
• GRANS and L/M (granulocytes and Lymphocytes/monocytes) are specific types of white blood cells.
• EOS (eosinophils) are a specific type of white blood cells that my indicate allergic or parasitic conditions.
• PLT (platelet count) measures cells that form blood clots.
• RETICS (reticulocytes) are immature red blood cells. High levels indicate regenerative anemia.

Blood Serum Chemistries

These common tests evaluate organ function, electrolyte status, hormone levels, and more. They are important in evaluating the healthof older pets, pets with vomiting and diarrhea or toxin exposure,l pets receiving long-term medicattions, and preanesthetic patients.

• ALB (albumin) is a serum protein that helps evaluate hydration, hemorrhage, and intestinal, liver and kidney disease
• ALKP (alkaline phosphatase) evaluations may indicate liver damage, Cushing's disease, and active bone growth in young pets. This test is especially significate in cats.
• ALT (alanine aminotransferase) is a sensitive indicator of active liver damage but doesn't indicate the cause.
• AMYL (amylase) elevations how pancreatitis or kidney disease
• AST (aspartate aninotransferase) increases may indicate liver, heart, or skeletal muscle damage.
• BUN (blood urea nitrogen) indicates kidney function. An increased blood level is called azotemia and can be caused by kidney, liver and heart disease, urethral obstruction, shock and dehydration.
• Ca (calcium) deviations can indicate a variety of diseases. Tumors, hyperparathyroidism, kidney diseas, and low albumin are just a few of the conditions that alter serum calcium.
• CHOL (cholesterol) is used to supplement diagnosis of hypothyrodism, liver disease, Cushing's disease and diabetes mellitus.
• CI (chloride) is a electrolyte often lost with vomiting and Addison's disease. Elevations often indicate dehydration.
• Cortisol is a hormone that is measured in tests for Cushing's disease (the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test) and Addison's disease (ACTH stimulation test).
• CREA (creatinine) reveals kidney function. This test helps distinguish between kidney and non-kidney causes of elevated BUN.
• GGT (gammagGlutamyl transferase) is an enzyme that indictes liver disease or corticosteroid excess.
• GLOB (globulin) is a blood protein that often increases with chronic inflammation and certain diseas states.
• GLU (glucose) is a blood sugar. Elevated levels may indicate diabetes mellitus. Low levels can cause collapse, seizures, or coma.
• K (potassium) is an electrolyte lost with vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive urination. Increased levels may indicate kidney failure, Addison's disease, dehydration, and urethral obstruction. High levels can lead to cardiac arrest.
• LIP (lipase) is an enzyme that may indicate pancreatitis.
• Na (sodium) is a electrolyte lost with vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney or Addison's diseases. This test helps indicate hydration status.
• PHOS (phosphorus) elevatons are often associated with kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and bleeding disorders.
• TBIL (total billirubin) elevations may indicate liver or hemolytic disease. This test helps identify bile duct problems and certain types of anemia.
• TP (total protein) indicates hydrations tatus and provides information about the liver, kidneys and infectious diseases.
• T4 (thyroxine) is a thyroid hormone. Decreased levels often signal hypothyroidism in dogs, while high levels indicate hyperthyroidism in cats.