What Blood Test Results Mean for Your Dog’s Health

Did your dog recently undergo a blood test and you need help with how to read the results? Understanding blood test results for dogs can feel confusing, but Penny Paws Animal Clinic can help. 

As the trusted Desoto vet clinic, we perform blood tests with compassion and communicate what they mean for your dog. We love your pet almost as much as you do and want you to have all the information you need.

Why Blood Tests Serve an Important Purpose

Why would your dog need a blood test? They serve an important function in keeping your pet healthy and diagnosing issues that can affect their long-term health. They measure various aspects of the animal’s blood, like oxygenation, glucose, protein, cholesterol, etc.

No one likes to see their dog in pain and may avoid blood tests because of the needle. However, consider how the test could diagnose, treat, or prevent a condition that causes your pet much greater pain. 

When To Expect Your Dog’s Blood Test

When will the vet schedule a blood test for your dog?

• They’ll schedule one during a puppy visit to rule out congenital issues.
• Vets perform a blood test before spaying or neutering.
• Blood tests remain part of a routine check-up for your dog, including senior dog wellness checks.
• If you scheduled surgery for your dog, the vet performs a blood test before the procedure.
• When your dog needs medication that could affect the kidneys, they’ll require regular blood tests.
• When any dog doesn’t seem well, a blood test can catch issues that a normal physical examination might miss.

The Blood Test Process

Part of understanding blood test results for dogs includes knowing what happens during a blood test. They only take a couple of minutes. The vet gently holds and calms your dog while they insert the needle and take the needed sample.

Once they draw the blood, it takes about 30 minutes to process, provided they don’t send it to a third party for processing. With in-house lab tests, your vet will explain the results to you in person. If they find something wrong, you’ll develop a treatment plan for your dog before you leave.

What the Test Results Mean

Do you work with a vet who doesn’t explain the results? To better understand a pet’s lab test, consider the different types and what they test for. While multiple types of blood tests exist, a complete blood count and blood chemistry panel remain the two most common.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

The CBC measures several factors that help a vet diagnose your pet or as a pre-surgical testing procedure, including:

• Hematocrit: This test measures red blood cells and can determine your dog’s hydration level or whether they have anemia.
• Hemoglobin: Hemoglobin measures the oxygen and remains an essential form of anemia detection. 
• White blood cell count: A high WBC indicates an infection, while a low count could also indicate cancer, a genetic disorder, or a response to drug treatment.
• Granulocytes: Part of understanding blood test results for dogs includes understanding that granulocytes can help diagnose an allergic reaction.
• Lympho/monocytes: These white blood cells act like infection indicators when they appear in high concentration on a blood test.
• Eosinophils: Eosinophils can indicate an allergic reaction or parasitic infection.
• Reticulocytes: A high presence of these immature red blood cells can reveal a genetic condition, poisoning, or decreased bone marrow production.
• Platelet count: Platelets help heal from cuts and wounds. A low platelet count can function as an early sign of cancer.
• Fibrinogen: This test measures blood clotting and liver function and can detect early pregnancy in dogs.

Blood Chemistry Panel

Also known as a serum test focuses on a dog’s organ performance, hormone levels, and electrolytes. It can include the following tests:

• Albumin: Albumin measures kidney function and can give an early indication of renal failure or liver problems.
• Alkaline phosphatase: High levels of this enzyme can show your pet has a liver disease.
• Alanine aminotransferase: When a dog’s liver becomes inflamed, it releases this enzyme into the bloodstream.
• Amylase: Depending on the levels, this enzyme can help your vet diagnose starvation, diabetes, pancreatic cancer, and more.
• Aspartate aminotransferase: While it doesn’t point to a cause, this test can detect liver damage.
• Blood urea nitrogen: Understanding blood test results for dogs means you know that high levels of BUN and creatinine indicate your dog has kidney issues. 
• Calcium: Calcium levels can become too high and too low, both of which can indicate a wide range of problems.
• Cholesterol: High cholesterol levels leave your dog vulnerable to stroke or heart attack.
• Chloride: This test measures changes in your pet’s blood pH level and can help diagnose various conditions.
• Cortisol: Cortisol tests help assess the function of pituitary and adrenal glands. 
• Globulin: Heightened levels of globulin indicate inflammation somewhere in the body.
• Glucose: Also known as blood sugar, vets use glucose as the primary method of diagnosing diabetes.
• Potassium: Potassium levels can offer a sign of kidney, liver, or urinary tract issues. 
• Sodium: If your dog frequently vomits or doesn’t drink enough, they’ll have low sodium levels. 

Additional Tests

Depending on the symptoms your dog exhibits, the vet may order various other lab tests besides the two above. A blood parasite test only requires a few drops of blood and can help diagnose diseases like Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.

A vet will take a stool or urine sample to examine your dog’s waste. It can detect some parasites, hydration levels, and certain infections. 

Sebum is an oily substance that collects on the skin. Vets can gently scrape this substance from your dog’s ears or skin to check for infections. It can provide an early sign of skin cancer.

Schedule a Canine Blood Test With Penny Paws Animal Clinic

Understanding blood test results for dogs doesn’t require a veterinarian degree when you work with Penny Paws Animal Clinic. We help you with knowing about your pet’s bloodwork and staying hopeful and positive during treatment. We also offer telemedicine services.

Call us at (817) 284-7297 or book an appointment today.