Blood tests help the doctor determine causes of illnesses accurately, safely and quickly and allow us to monitor the progress of medical treatments.   To help you understand your pet’s test results, Natural Pet Animal Hospital has created this guide to explain some of the more common tests.  We want you to understand our recommendations and what specific changes are going on inside your pet.  Remember, these tests indicate where the body is having a problem but does not tell how or why the problem is occurring. Currently, there are no blood tests that definitively detect cancer.

The Complete Blood Count (CBC)

This is the most common blood test performed on pets and people. A CBC gives information on hydration status, anemia, infection, the blood’s clotting ability and the ability of the immune system to respond.  This test is essential for pets with fevers, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pale gums, or loss of appetite.  If your pet needs surgery, a CBC can detect bleeding disorders or other unseen abnormalities.

HCT (hematocrit) measures the percentage of red blood cells to detect anemia and dehydration.

Hb and MCHC (hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) are the oxygen-carrying pigments of red blood cells.

WBC (white blood cell count) measures the body’s immune cells, including lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils. Increases or decreases indicate disease or infection. (Reptiles and birds have special cells called azurophils and heterophils.)

Platelets measure cells that form blood clots.

Retics (reticulocytes) are immature red blood cells. High levels indicate a regenerative anemia.

Blood Chemstries

These common blood serum tests evaluate organ function, electrolyte status, hormone levels, and more. They are important in evaluating older pets or pets undergoing anesthesia, pets with vomiting and diarrhea, toxin exposure, animals on long-term medication and those with endocrine or internal or organ disease.

ALB (albumin) is a serum protein that helps evaluate hydration, hemorrhage and intestinal, liver and kidney disease.

ALP (alkaline phosphatase) elevations may indicate liver damage, Cushing’s disease, and active bone growth in young pets.

ALT (alanine aminotransferase) is a sensitive indicator of active liver damage but does not indicate the cause.

Amylase and Lipase are digestive enzymes. Elevations indicate pancreatitis or other pancreatic disfunction.

AST (aspartate aminotransferase) 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, heart disease, urethral obstruction, shock and dehydration.

Ca (calcium) deviations can indicate a variety of diseases. Tumors, hyperparathyroidism, kidney disease and low albumin are just a few of the conditions that alter serum calcium.

CHOL (cholesterol) is used to supplement a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, liver disease, Cushing’s disease and diabetes mellitus.

CL (choride) is an electrolyte often lost with vomiting and Addison’s disease.  Elevations often indicate disease.

CREA (creatinine) reveals kidney function.This test helps distinguish between kidney and nonkidney causes of elevated BUN.

GLOB (globulin)in a blood protein that often increases with chronic inflammation and disease.

GLU (glucose) is 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 or urethral obstruction.  High levels can cause heart problems.

LIP (lipase) is a digestive enzyme that, when elevated, indicates pancreatitis.

Na (sodium) is an electrolyte lost with vomiting, diarrhea, kidney and Addison’sdisease.  This test helps indicate hydration status.

PHOS (phosphorus) elevations are often associated with kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and bleeding disorders.

TBIL (total bilirubin) elevations may indicate liver or hemolytic disease.  This test helps identify bile duct problems, gall bladder stasis and certain types of anemia.

TP (total protein) indicates hydration status and provides additional information about the liver, kidneys and infectious disease.

T4 (thyroxine) is a thyroid hormone.  Decreased levels often signal hypothyroidism in dogs (and amazon parrots), while high levels indicate hyperthyroidism, commonly diagnosed in cats.