Understanding Your Pet’s Bloodwork: A Guide for Pet Owners

At Lake Air Animal Hospital, we prioritize your pet’s health by offering comprehensive blood tests to detect and monitor potential health issues. Bloodwork plays a vital role in diagnosing diseases, evaluating organ function, and ensuring your pet is in optimal condition before medical procedures.

Common Blood Tests for Pets:

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

The CBC test provides essential insights into your pet’s overall health, including hydration levels, anemia, infections, immune response, and blood clotting ability. This test is commonly performed on pets experiencing fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pale gums, or appetite loss.

  • HCT (Hematocrit): Measures red blood cell percentage, identifying anemia and dehydration.
  • HGB & MCHC (Hemoglobin & Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration): Assess oxygen-carrying capacity.
  • WBC (White Blood Cell Count): Helps detect infections and immune system responses.
  • Grans & L/M (Granulocytes, Lymphocytes, Monocytes): Specific types of white blood cells used to evaluate immune function.
  • EOS (Eosinophils): Elevated levels may indicate allergies or parasites.
  • PLT (Platelets): Determines blood clotting ability.

Blood Chemistry Panel

A blood chemistry panel evaluates organ function, electrolyte balance, and hormone levels, helping diagnose a wide range of conditions and ensuring safe anesthesia during surgeries.

  • ALB (Albumin): Detects hydration issues, hemorrhage, and organ diseases.
  • ALKP (Alkaline Phosphatase): Indicates liver disease, Cushing’s disease, and bone growth in young pets.
  • ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase): Assesses liver health.
  • AMYL (Amylase): Screens for pancreatitis and kidney disease.
  • BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen): Evaluates kidney function and hydration status.
  • Ca (Calcium): Abnormal levels may indicate kidney disease, tumors, or hormone imbalances.
  • CHOL (Cholesterol): Used to assess thyroid disorders, liver disease, and diabetes.
  • CREA (Creatinine): Helps diagnose kidney disease.
  • GLU (Glucose): Monitors blood sugar levels, detecting diabetes or low blood sugar.
  • PHOS (Phosphorus): High levels are linked to kidney disease and thyroid conditions.
  • TBIL (Total Bilirubin): Evaluates liver function and anemia.
  • TP (Total Protein): Indicates hydration levels and possible infections.
  • GLOB (Globulins): Elevated levels suggest chronic inflammation or disease.
  • Electrolytes (Na, K, Cl – Sodium, Potassium, Chloride): Imbalances can signal dehydration, kidney disease, or Addison’s disease.
  • T4 (Thyroxine): A key thyroid hormone used to diagnose hypothyroidism in dogs and hyperthyroidism in cats.
  • Cortisol: Helps diagnose endocrine disorders like Cushing’s disease.

Why Bloodwork Matters for Your Pet’s Health

Routine pet blood tests help detect underlying conditions before symptoms appear, allowing for early intervention and better treatment outcomes. If your pet needs diagnostic testing, our team at Lake Air Animal Hospital is here to provide expert care.

📞 Contact us today to schedule a wellness exam and ensure your pet stays healthy!