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We tend to be intimidated by the many acronyms and numbers in the blood test result. Do not be.
The blood test can help us help our pet.
The acronyms represent values which will tell us pet owners what our pet’s condition is at a given time.
The dog’s blood test can help detect and even treat an illness or disease.
In the article “Understanding Dog Blood Test,” the Drake Center for Veterinary Care noted that a blood test is most useful during emergencies.
The blood test can be done in the clinic, and in 20 minutes, the vet can determine what the problem is. This helps the vet decide on the best medical intervention for your dog.
“If we are ordering dog blood work, it will most likely be in the form of a Complete Blood Count (CBC), or else a Blood Chemistry (serum) test,” the Drake Center said.
The Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Through the CBC, the following will be known:
1. your dog's hydration status
2. anemia
3. infection
4. blood clotting ability and immune system response.
A CBC is needed when the dog has the following symptoms:
1. fever
2. vomiting
3. diarrhea
4. weakness
5. pale gums
6. loss of appetite.
If a dog will undergo surgery, a CBC is needed
1. to determine if the dog is healthy,
2. and to detect bleeding disorders or other unseen abnormalities.
The Drake Center said the CBC provides the following detailed information:
• Hematocrit (HCT): measures the percentage of red blood cells to detect anemia and hydration
• § Hemoglobin and mean corpulscular hemoglobin concentration (Hb and MCHC): the oxygen-carrying pigments of red blood cells
• White blood cell count (WBC): measures the body's immune cells. Increases or decreases in the WBC indicate certain illnesses or infections
• Granulocytes and lymphocytes/monocytes (GRANS and L/M): specific types of white blood cells
• Eosinophils (EOS): specific type of white blood cells that may show allergic or parasitic conditions
• Platelet count (PLT): measures cells that form blood clots
• Reticulocytes (RETICS): immature red blood cells. High levels show regenerative anemia.
• Fibrinogen (FIBR): provides important information on blood clotting. High levels may indicate if a dog is already 30 to 40 days pregnant.
Blood Chemistries
On the other hand, Blood Chemistries, or blood serum tests, evaluate the following, among others:
1. If organs are functioning well,
2. the dog’s electrolyte status, and
3. hormone levels.
These tests are done to check the health of older dogs, dogs with signs of vomiting, diarrhea or toxin exposure, dogs who have been taking medications for a long time, and a dog’s general health before anesthesia.
The values or indicators in the blood chemistry are:
• Albumin (ALB): A serum protein that also helps evaluate hydration, hemorrhage and intestinal, liver and kidney disease.
• Alkaline phosphatase (ALKP): An increase may indicate liver damage, Cushing's disease or active bone growth in a young dog.
• Alanine aminotansferase (ALT): This may determine active liver damage, but will not show the cause.
• Amylase (AMYL): An increase indicates pancreatitis or kidney disease.
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST): An increase may indicate liver, heart or skeletal muscle damage.
• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): To check kidney function. An increase is called azotemia and can be due to a kidney, liver and heart disease, or a urethral obstruction, shock, or dehydration
• Calcium (Ca): Changes can indicate different diseases. Tumors, hyperparathyroidism, kidney disease, and low albumin, among others, alter serum calcium.
• Cholesterol (CHOL): Supplements diagnosis of hypothyroidism, liver disease, Cushing's disease and diabetes mellitus
• Chloride (Cl): An electrolyte typically lost when a patient is vomiting or in relation to illnesses such as Addison's disease. An increase often indicates dehydration.
• Coristol (CORT): A hormone that is measured in tests for Cushing's disease (the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test) and Addison's disease (ACTH stimulation test).
• Creatinine (CREA): CREA reveals kidney function and helps distinguish between kidney and non-kidney causes of elevated BUN.
• Gamma Glutamy transferase (GGT): An enzyme that shows liver disease or corticosteroid excess.
• Globulin (GLOB): A blood protein that often goes up with chronic inflammation and certain disease states.
• Glucose (GLU): Increase in blood sugar may indicate diabetes mellitus. A drop in can cause collapse, seizures or coma.
• Potassium (K): An electrolyte typically lost when a patient is vomiting, has diarrhea or is urinating excessively. An increase may indicate kidney failure, Addison's disease, dehydration or urethral obstruction.
“High levels can lead to cardiac arrest,” the Drake Center said.
• Lipase (LIP): An enzyme that may indicate pancreatitis.
• Sodium (Na): An electrolyte often lost with vomiting, diarrhea, kidney disease and Addison's disease. Helps indicate hydration status.
• Phosphorus (PHOS): An increase is often associated with kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and bleeding disorders.
• Total bilirubin (TBIL): An increase may indicate liver or hemolytic disease. Helps identify bile duct problems and certain types of anemia.
• Total protein: Shows hydration status and provides more information about the liver, kidneys and infectious diseases.
• Thyroxine (T4): A thyroid hormone. A decrease often signals hypothyroidism in dogs.
“In order to determine which dog blood tests can best benefit your canine friend, we recommend scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian today, “ the Drake Center said.
