Understanding your pet’s work Blood tests help us determine your pet’s health status and causes of illness accurately, safely, and quickly and let us monitor the progress of medical treatments. A checkmark in any box indicates a significant abnormal finding on your pet’s blood work. If you have questions, ask any staff member. We want you to understand our recommendations and be a partner in your pet’s care.

Complete blood count (CBC) The most common test, a CBC gives information on > WBC (white blood cell) count classifies and hydration status, anemia, infection, the blood’s clotting measures the body’s immune cells. Increases or ability, and the immune system’s ability to respond. decreases indicate certain diseases or infections. > HCT (hematocrit) measures the percentage of red > EOS (eosinophils) are a specific type blood cells to detect anemia and dehydration. of white blood cells that, if elevated, may indicate allergic or parasitic conditions. > Hb and MCHC (hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) measure hemoglobin, the > PLT (platelet count) measures cells that help oxygen-carrying pigment of red blood cells (corpuscles). stop by forming blood clots. > GRANS and L/M (granulocytes and lymphocytes/ > RETICS (reticulocytes) are immature red blood monocytes) are specific types of white blood cells cells. high or low levels help classify anemias.

Serum chemistry profile

ese common tests evaluate > CHOL () is used levels may indicate failure, organ function, status, to supplement diagnosis of Addison’s disease, dehydration, and hypothyroidism, liver disease, urethral obstruction. High levels can hormone levels, and more. Cushing’s disease, and diabetes lead to cardiac arrest and death. mellitus. > ALB (albumin) is a protein > LIP () is an enzyme that may that helps evaluate hydration, > Cl (chloride) is an electrolyte indicate pancreatitis when elevated. hemorrhage, and intestinal, often lost with vomiting and is an electrolyte lost liver, and kidney health. Addison’s disease. Elevations > Na (sodium) often indicate dehydration. with vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney > ALKP or ALP () or Addison’s diseases. This test also elevations may indicate liver > Cortisol is a hormone that is helps indicate hydration status. damage, Cushing’s disease, and measured in tests for Cushing’s elevations active bone growth in young pets. disease (the low-dose dexamethasone > PHOS (phosphorous) suppression test) and Addison’s are often associated with kidney > ALT (alanine aminotransferase) disease (ACTH stimulation test). disease, hyperthyroidism, is a sensitive indicator of active and bleeding disorders. reflects kidney liver damage but doesn’t > CREA () function. This test helps distinguish elevations may indicate the cause. > TBIL (total ) between kidney and nonkidney indicate liver or hemolytic disease. > AMYL () elevations show causes of elevated BUN. This test helps identify bile duct pancreatitis or . problems and certain types of anemia. > GGT (gamma-glutamyl > AST (aspartate aminotransferase) transpeptidase) is an enzyme that, > TP (total protein) indicates increases may indicate liver, heart, when elevated, indicates liver hydration status and provides or skeletal muscle damage. disease or corticosteroid excess. information about the liver, kidneys, and infectious diseases. > BUN (blood nitrogen) reflects > GLOB (globulin) is a blood kidney function. An increased protein that often increases > T4 (thyroxine) is a thyroid hormone. blood level is called azotemia and with chronic inflammation and Decreased levels often signal can be caused by kidney, liver, and certain disease states. hypothyroidism in dogs, while high heart disease, urethral obstruction, > GLU (glucose) is blood sugar. levels indicate hyperthyroidism in cats. , and dehydration. Elevated levels may indicate diabetes > Ca (calcium) deviations can mellitus or stress. Low levels can indicate a variety of diseases. Tumors, cause collapse, seizures, or coma. hyperparathyroidism, kidney disease, > K (potassium) is an electrolyte and low albumin are just a few of the lost with vomiting, diarrhea, or (415) 326-4838 • [email protected] conditions that alter serum calcium. excessive urination. Increased www.mrosevet.com