What is the normal blood glucose level for a dog?
Normal blood glucose levels of dogs should be between 88 and 120 mg/dL. While there may be certain mitigating circumstances, values of blood sugar above or below these values often indicate the presence of certain pathologies. When a dog shows signs of a disease or illness, it is common for a veterinarian to take a blood sample for lab analysis.
How to test your dogs blood glucose level?
To use a glucometer:
- Extract a drop of blood from the dog's ear (to reduce pain). ...
- Puncture on the inside of the ear on a clean and hairless area. ...
- place the drop of blood on a disposable test strip which accompany the glucometer and introduce the strip into the machine.
- With cotton or gauze, put pressure on the site of the blood extraction to stop further bleeding.
What is the normal blood level for a dog?
- Alanine Transaminase (ALT)
- Albumin (ALB)
- Albumin/Globulin ratio (A/G ratio)
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP or ALKP)
- Amylase (AMYL)
- Aspartate Trasaminase (AST)
- Bilirubin, Total (TBIL)
- Calcium (Ca++)
- Chloride (Cl-)
- Cholesterol (CHOL)
How to understand canine blood tests?
- Your dog is drinking and peeing more than usual
- It's time for senior wellness exams
- It's the first veterinary visit and you need to get a baseline done for your animal
- Your pet needs pre-surgical bloodwork
- Your dog requires new medication
- ADR or "Ain't Doing Right" as we like to say in the veterinary world, and your vet needs to rule out illnesses
Why do vets do blood tests on dogs?
Blood testing for cats and dogs helps the veterinarian diagnose and treat a variety of health conditions. Blood screening is also necessary for the doctor to understand your pet's health status and monitor the progress of some illnesses.
Can blood test detect tumor in dog?
Q Vet Cancer Screening Test uses a blood test to measure early markers of cancer, representing a streamlined diagnostic process.
Does blood work show kidney problems in dogs?
Other blood tests that can help diagnose pets with kidney failure include measuring blood levels of phosphorus and calcium. Phosphorus, in particular, tells us about the severity of kidney issues since it elevates when the kidneys are severely damaged.
What would show up in a blood test?
Blood tests can be used for many different things, including to check cholesterol and blood glucose levels. These help monitor your risk of heart and circulatory diseases and diabetes, or how your condition is being managed. Tests for different chemicals and proteins can indicate how your liver or kidneys are working.
What does a senior dog blood panel show?
This is a panel of tests that provides information about the organs and tissues of the body, and helps to detect diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, and other disorders (for more information, see handout “Serum Biochemistry”).
Does lymphoma in dogs show up in blood work?
The blood tests may reveal anemia, abnormally low levels of lymphocytes in the blood (lymphopenia), an abnormally high number of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) in the blood (neutrophilia), an abnormally high number of monocyts (a type of white blood cell) in the blood, and abnormally low numbers of platelets ...
What are the signs of kidney problems in dogs?
What are the symptoms of kidney disease in dogs?Drinking excessively and urinating more frequently. ... Soiling in the home due to the larger volumes of urine.Vomiting.Diarrhoea.Loss of appetite.Weight loss.Pale gums (caused by anaemia)Ulcers in the mouth.More items...•
What are the signs of kidney failure in dogs?
Symptoms of Kidney Failure in DogsWeight loss.Nausea and vomiting.Pale gums.Loss of balance, or stumbling.Chemical smell to breath.Significant loss of appetite.
How do I know if my dog has a kidney disease?
Some of the earliest signs of kidney disease in dogs may include subtle weight loss, urinating/peeing more often and drinking a lot more water. Therefore, if you notice your dog is peeing on the floor or asking to go out more, or if your dog is always thirsty, it's time to visit your veterinarian.
Would a full blood count show anything serious?
Full blood count (FBC) This can help give an indication of your general health, as well as provide important clues about certain health problems you may have. For example, an FBC may detect signs of: iron deficiency anaemia or vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia. infection or inflammation.
Does a virus show up in a blood test?
Bacteria, viruses and fungi can show up in body fluids, such as blood, urine (wee), faeces (poo), sputum (spit), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bone marrow and skin cells.
What does a blood chemistry test show?
Most of the blood chemistry tests evaluate the function of an organ or cell type. They don’t usually indicate the exact cause of an abnormal test finding. And they rarely pinpoint a specific cause of your dog’s condition or disease.
Why is my dog's blood nitrogen high?
… or it might just mean your dog was dehydrated when the test was done because BUN rises with dehydration. Good food also raises BUN. The nitrogen in the protein sources elevates the blood chemistry.
What is a thyroid panel?
thyroid panel. other test that might be indicated for your breed or individual dog. The chemistry panel should be the one that the most convenient veterinary diagnostic laboratory uses as their normal panel. Even if your veterinarian has an in-house lab, ask her to send the samples to a veterinary reference lab.
Is cholesterol a biomarker?
Ideally lab results would be biomarkers of disease. But sometimes they don’t give the right answers either. In human medicine, we now know that cholesterol levels and PSA tests aren’t necessarily the biomarkers we thought they were for heart and prostate disease. Even known biomarkers can deliver misleading results.
When Does a Pet Need a Blood Test?
Your pet could be ill due to various issues and your vet’s job is to look for the root cause of imbalance, discomfort, or disease. If your vet has advised you to take your dog for a blood test, it’s because a physical examination isn’t enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about blood tests for dogs.
What is a blood test for dogs?
A blood test or lab test allows us to learn information about your dog's health which can only be found from collecting a sample of blood and having it analyzed. This includes a CBC (complete blood count) and blood chemistries that analyze chemical components in the blood.
What is CBC in dog blood work?
If we are ordering dog blood work, it will most likely be in the form of a Complete Blood Count, or else a Blood Chemistry (serum) test. The Complete Blood Count, or CBC, shows a veterinarian your dog's hydration status, anemia, infection, blood clotting ability and immune system response.
What is the blood test for kidney function?
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): This test determines kidney function. An increased level is called azotemia and can be caused by kidney, liver and heart disease as well as urethral obstruction, shock or dehydration. Calcium (Ca): Changes in the normal level of this test can indicate a variety of diseases.
What is a pre-surgical test for dogs?
Pre-surgical tests: Dog blood work is used to determine the efficiency of the liver and kidneys, which helps a veterinarian select the safest dose of anesthesia. Tests can also help determine the surgical risk level in infirmed, elderly or injured patients. Prior to starting a new medication: Particularly for new medication may be metabolized by ...
Why do labs work on dogs?
Because chemicals found in the bloodstream can also correlate with specific organs, lab work for dogs can help determine more than just blood count. For example, if dog blood tests show a deficiency in albumin levels, then a veterinarian knows to examine a dog's liver because albumin is produced in the liver.
What does a WBC mean?
Hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (Hb and MCHC): These are the oxygen-carrying pigments of red blood cells. White blood cell count (WBC): This test measures the body's immune cells. Increases or decreases in the WBC indicate certain diseases or infections.
What is CBC in dogs?
A CBC for dogs identifies and quantifies white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets in a given amount of blood. This includes analyzing the shape and condition of the cells for health and functionality. This information is helpful in learning more about your dog's immune system (white blood cells) and oxygen-carrying capacity ...
What does a blood test tell you about your dog?
Blood tests provide a wealth of information about your dog’s health. From immune status to blood clotting ability, anemia, diabetes, certain cancers, organ function, and the list goes on.
How often should dogs have blood work?
Wellness Check-ups – Just like with us humans, dogs get routine blood work during their annual or semi-annual exam. Senior Dogs – Since illness has a habit of sneaking up quietly, it’s suggested that aging dogs have routine blood screenings twice a year. This way, any changes are caught early.
Why do puppies need baseline tests?
A new puppy should get baseline testing to evaluate health status and to screen for any underlying issues. Knowing what’s normal for your pooch makes it easier to identify when something suddenly changes. Wellness Check-ups – Just like with us humans, dogs get routine blood work during their annual or semi-annual exam.
What is CBC blood test?
As the name implies, it’s a count of the body’s blood cells and an analysis of their shape and quality. Several components make up the CBC. Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, and Platelets. It’s a good indicator of overall health, can identify anemia, infections, and can even raise flags regarding some cancers.
Why are electrolytes important for dogs?
An electrolyte imbalance can quickly escalate into a medical emergency because electrolytes are at work in every cell of the body. Balance is crucial for proper nerve conduction, heart and muscle contractions, maintaining the pH of the blood as well as hydration status .
Is it safe to give a dog anesthesia before surgery?
Prior To Surgery – Anesthesia is safe these days, but there are some things your vet will need to know before putting your pooch under. Blood tests help your doctor evaluate kidney and liver function, will alert him if your dog is anemic, dehydrated, has a blood clotting problem, is diabetic, etc.
What is CBC blood test for dogs?
... The CBC blood test for dogs, also called a complete blood count, checks the number and types of blood cells present in the dog. This test is important when diagnosing illnesses.
What does it mean when a dog has a high white blood cell count?
If a dog has an elevated white blood cell count, it could mean that there is an infection in the body or it is stressed by metabolic toxins.
What does it mean when a dog's hematocrit is low?
If the hematocrit is low, that means there aren’t enough red blood cells in the body and the dog is anemic. If the count is high, there are too many red blood cells. This is usually the case in dogs who are dehydrated, in shock, have diseases of lungs or who are in higher altitudes.
What is CBC in dogs?
In a CBC blood test, the method in which the red blood cell count is determined is called a hematocrit, or packed cell volume. If the hematocrit is low, that means there aren’t enough red blood cells in the body and the dog is anemic. If the count is high, there are too many red blood cells. This is usually the case in dogs who are dehydrated, in shock, have diseases of lungs or who are in higher altitudes.
Why do dogs need neutrophils?
Neutrophils help to defend the body against bacterial infections. The cells will actually engulf bacteria and other materials to keep them from causing problems.
Why does my dog have a high lymphocyte count?
An increased lymphocyte count is usually present when an animal has a prolonged illness, such as a bacterial or viral infection that has occurred for a long period of time, or if the dog has certain auto-immune diseases, such as leukemia.
Which type of white blood cell is not present in CBC blood tests?
Like neutrophils, eosinophils also have the ability to engulf foreign materials in the body. Basophils are a type of white blood cell whose function is unknown. Basophils are created in the bone marrow and are not present in many CBC blood tests.
Diagnosis
- A blood test or lab test allows us to learn information about your dog's health which can only be found from collecting a sample of blood and having it analyzed. This includes a CBC (complete blood count) and blood chemistries that analyze chemical components in the blood. Additionally…
Other animals
- Because chemicals found in the blood stream can also correlate with specific organs, lab work for dogs can help determine more than just blood count. For example, if dog blood tests show a deficiency in albumin levels, then a veterinarian knows to examine a dog's liver because albumin is produced in the liver Lab work for dogs also can detect and help identify complex problems wit…
Significance
- So when understood in this way, canine blood tests serve as very valuable tools in a veterinarian's toolkit for helping to detect, identify, diagnose and even treat illness or disease.
Examples
- The following situations can result in dog blood work being ordered: Although our in-house dog laboratory can process any type of dog blood work or culture, some of the most common lab work for dogs we perform are:
Facilities
- In addition to having veterinary staff on duty around-the-clock to handle pet health emergencies, The Drake Center for Veterinary Care also has its own in-house laboratory. Although this means we can process all kinds of lab work for dogs quickly and reliably, it is in emergency situations, when time is of the essence, our in-house dog laboratory is most helpful.
Results
- After all, if we can draw, process and analyze dog blood work on the premises, then we can have the results we need immediately. This increases the chances that we can determine what the issue is, and then implement a successful medical intervention based on the results. In this way, our dog laboratory allows us to be a proactive and timely partner in your dog's health and care. U…