CBC/Blood Chemistries

Preparation

To prepare for your pet’s appointment, read our Client Preparation Guide. If this procedure requires sedation and/or anesthesia, refer to our Sedation and Anesthetic Guide. We also recommend our clients become familiar with our Terms and Conditions.

CBC

Complete Blood Count (CBC) evaluates hydration status, anemia, infection, blood clotting ability, immune system, some bleeding disorders, or other unseen abnormalities. Testing is essential to evaluate patients with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pale gums, and/or appetite loss, or receiving anesthesia. Testing information and some conditions which each may indicate are identified below:

• Red Blood Cell Count (RBC): anemia, red blood cell disorders
• Hemoglobin: different anemias
• PCV (packed cell volume or hematocrit): anemia, dehydration
• White Blood Cell Count (WBC): certain diseases, infections, inflammation
• Neutrophils/Lymphocytes/Monocytes: infection, stress, cancer, hormonal imbalance, other conditions
• Eosinophils: allergic or parasitic conditions
• Platelet: blood clotting ability or disorders
• Reticulocytes: rebuilding of red blood cell numbers

Blood chemistries

Blood Chemistries evaluate organ function, electrolyte status, hormone levels, or other unseen abnormalities. Testing is essential to evaluate older patients or those with vomiting, diarrhea, toxin exposure, or receiving long-term medication or anesthesia. Testing information and some conditions each may indicate are identified below:

• Na (sodium): hydration status, kidney disease, and Addison’s disease
• K (potassium): kidney failure, Addison’s disease, dehydration, urethral obstruction, heart attack risk
• Cl (chloride): hydration status, Addison’s disease
• Bicarb: acid/base balance
• BUN (blood urea nitrogen): kidney/urethral obstruction, shock, dehydration
• CREA (creatinine): kidney and non-kidney causes of elevated BUN
• Ca (calcium): tumors, hyperparathyroidism, kidney disease, low albumin, other conditions
• PHOS (phosphorus): kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, bleeding disorders
• AMYL (amylase): Pancreatitis, kidney disease
• LIP (lipase): pancreatitis
• TP (total protein): hydration status, liver/kidneys function, infectious diseases
• ALB (albumin): hydration status, hemorrhage, intestinal, liver, kidney disease
• GLOB (globulin): chronic inflammation, cancer, diseases
• TBIL (total bilirubin): liver or hemolytic disease, bile duct problems, anemia types
• ALKP (alkaline phosphatase): liver damage, Cushing disease, active bone growth
• ALT (alanine aminotransferase): liver damage (but not the cause)
• GGT (gamma glutamyl transferase): liver disease, corticosteroid excess
• AST (asparate aminotransferase): liver, heart, skeletal muscle damage
• CK (creatine kinase): muscle damage
• LDH (lactic rehydrogenase): muscle, heart, liver disease
• CHOL (cholesterol): hypothyroidism, liver disease, Cushing’s disease, diabetes
• GLU (glucose): diabetes mellitus, risk/causes of seizures or coma
• Cortisol: Cushing’s disease, Addison’s disease
• T4 (thyroxine): hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism