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Generally, when people think of a their pet's yearly visit to the vet, they usually think of exam, vaccines, and to bring a "stool sample". While this is still the cornerstone of your pet's health, another procedure that is of vital importance is blood work. This is where a sample of your pet's blood is taken and sent to the lab for analysis. It gives the doctor an overview of how organ systems are functioning and if there is any early indication of developing problems. An animal is really never too young to have blood work run; even if you have just added a new kitten or puppy to your family and are bringing it for it's first vaccines, a blood profile will give you and your veterinarian a good baseline to work with should your pet experience future problems. In senior pets, generally considered over seven years of age, blood work is recommended every year. More veterinarians are now offering packages that include lab work as part of their basic yearly exam. Some of these will even include a urinalysis, which in combination with a blood profile, will give a nearly complete picture of how the liver and kidneys are functioning. The article below explains each of the chemistries that can be run when submitting blood for analysis. For information on lab work pricing, see prices.

Blood Work: CBC and Chemistry Panel

Authored by: Becky Lundgren, DVM

What does it mean when a veterinarian says she needs to run some blood work on your pet? Blood work - presurgical or otherwise - is usually a combination of a complete blood count (CBC) and a blood chemical analysis. Blood work is a basic evaluation tool. Pets, particularly senior ones, should have a CBC at every annual examination. In addition, blood work allows a veterinarian to monitor the progression of a pet's disease.

When the blood sample is drawn from your pet, both the cells and the fluid they "travel" in are examined.

The cell part of the blood is examined in the CBC. The CBC determines the number of erythrocytes (red blood cells), the number and type of leukocytes (white blood cells), the number of platelets (thrombocytes), the hemoglobin level, and the hematocrit (packed cell volume, PCV). Erythrocytes carry oxygen throughout the body. Leukocytes fight infection and are part of the immune system. There are five different types of white blood cells: neutrophils, lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, and monocytes. Platelets are clotting proteins and indicate how fast your pet's blood can clot; slow clotting can be a serious problem. A CBC can tell your veterinarian if your pet has an unusual number of erythrocytes (anemia, polycythemia), leukocytes (leukopenia, leukocytosis), or platelets (thrombocytopenia).

A chemistry panel (blood chem, chemistry screen), tests kidney function, liver function, electrolyte levels, etc.  Blood chemistries are run on the fluid in the blood sample. (The CBC is the examination of the cells in the blood sample.)

The chemistry panel usually includes the following tests: alkaline phosphatase (SAP, ALP), alanine transaminase (alanine aminotransferase, ALT), bilirubin total (T Bili), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, creatine kinase (CK, CPK), sodium, potassium, glucose, total protein, albumin, etc. Alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, bilirubin, and albumin give your veterinarian information about the pet's liver function. Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and creatine kinase tell your veterinarian how well your pet's kidneys are functioning.

Alkaline phosphatase: Used extensively as a tumor marker, it is also present in liver injury, bone injury, pregnancy, or skeletal growth (elevated values). Growing animals have normally higher levels of this enzyme also. Low levels are sometimes found in protein deficiency, malnutrition, and a number of vitamin deficiencies.

Alanine transaminase: Decreased ALT in combination with increased cholesterol levels is seen in cases of a congested liver. Increased levels are also seen in liver damage, kidney infection, chemical pollutants, or myocardial infarction.

Bilirubin (total): Elevated in liver disease, hemolytic anemia, low levels of exposure to the sun, and toxic effects to some drugs. Decreased levels are seen in people with an inefficient liver, excessive fat digestion, and possibly a diet low in nitrogen bearing foods.

Blood urea nitrogen: Increases can be caused by excessive protein intake, kidney damage, certain drugs, low fluid intake, intestinal bleeding, exercise, or heart failure. Decreased levels may be due to a poor diet, malabsorption, liver damage, or low nitrogen intake.
 

Creatinine: Low levels are sometimes seen in kidney damage, protein starvation, liver disease, or pregnancy. Elevated levels are sometimes seen in kidney disease due to the kidneys job of excreting creatinine, muscle degeneration, and some drugs involved in impairment of kidney function.

Glucose: Elevated in diabetes, liver disease, obesity, and pancreatitis due to steroid medications, or during stress. Low levels may be indicative of liver disease, overproduction of insulin, or hypothyroidism.

Total protein: Decreased levels may be due to poor nutrition, liver disease, malabsorption, diarrhea, or severe burns. Increased levels are seen in lupus, liver disease, chronic infections, leukemia, etc.

Albumin: High levels are rarely seen and are primarily due to dehydration. Low levels are seen in poor diets, diarrhea, fever, infection, liver disease, inadequate iron intake, third-degree burns and edemas, and hypocalcemia.

Date Published: 3/1/2004 9:25:00 PM
Date Revised: 03/27/2004

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