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Reading the Blood Chemistry Panel: An Art and Science

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A typical blood chemistry panel might include the following tests:

 

General Metabolism Kidney Function Electrolytes
GLU  (Glucose)
LDH  (Lactate dehydrogenase)
CPK  (Creatine phosphokinase)		 BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
CREAT (Creatinine)		 Na  (Sodium)
K  (Potassium)
Cl  (Chloride)
CA (Calcium)
PHOS (Phosphorus)

 

 

Liver Function Thyroid Pancreas
ALP  (Alkaline phosphatase)
ALB  (Albumin)
GGT  (Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase)
SGPT   (Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase
TP  (Total Protein)
CHOL  (Cholesterol)
GLOB  (Globulin)
TBILI  (Total Bilirubin)		  T3 (Triiodothyronine)
  T4  (Thyroxine)		  AMY (Amylase)
 LIP  (Lipase)

 

Normal values for blood chemistry elements for dogs (and cats) are displayed in the table below. Keep in mind that each blood chemistry machine and every veterinary diagnostic lab has their own set of normal values calculated for their particular instrumentation.

 

The values shown here may be different from normal ranges your veterinarian refers to when making judgments about patients' reported blood chemistry values.

 

Normal Ranges for a Laborator's Blood Chemistry Values

 

Dogs

GLUCOSE 67 - 125 mg/dL
ALT 15 - 84 U/L
TOTAL BILIRUBIN 0.0 - 0.4 mg/dL
TOTAL PROTEIN 5.2 - 7.8 gm/dL
UREA NITROGEN 9 - 27 mg/dL
PHOSPHORUS 2.6 - 6.8 mg/dL
SODIUM 140 - 153 mmol/L
CHLORIDE 106 - 118 mmol/L
LDH 10 - 273 U/L
MAGNESIUM 1.5 - 2.7 mg/dL
LIPASE 200 - 700 U/L
T4 1.0 - 4.7 ug/dL

 

Cats

GLUCOSE 70 -160 mg/dL
ALT 10 - 80 U/L
TOTAL BILIRUBIN 0.0 - 0.2 mg/dL
TOTAL PROTEIN 5.6 - 7.7gm/dL
UREA NITROGEN 20 - 30 mg/dL
PHOSPHORUS 2.7 - 7.6 mg/dL
SODIUM 145 - 155 mmol/L
CHLORIDE 117 - 124 mmol/L
LDH 79 - 380 U/L
MAGNESIUM 1.7 - 2.9 mg/dL
LIPASE 40 - 200 U/L
T4 2.0 - 5.5 ug/dL

 

HEMATOLOGY: Normal ranges for blood cell elements for dogs (and cats) are displayed in the table below. These values are approximate and may not be the "normal" values established for any other individual veterinary pathology lab or blood analyzer.

 

Normal Ranges for a Laboratory's Hematology Values

 

Dogs

(RBC) Red Blood Cell Count 5.5 - 8.5 X 100,000/L
(WBC)  White Blood Cell Count 6.0 - 17 x 1000/L
(MCH) Mean Corpustular Hemaglobin 19.5 - 25.5 pg
(RDW)  Red Cell Distribution Width 14 - 19 percent
Hematocrit 37 - 55 percent
HgB (Hemoglobin) 120-180
Reticulocytes 0-1.5%
Segs x1000/ul 3.6-11.5
Bands  x1000/ul 0.0-0.3
Lymphocytes  x1000/ul 1.0-4.8
Monocytes  x1000/ul 0.15-1.35
Eosinophils  x1000/ul 0.01-1.25
Platelets x 100000/ul 2-9

 

Cats

(RBC) Red Blood Cell Count 5.5 - 10.0 X 100,000/L
(WBC)  White Blood Cell Count 6.0 - 19 x 1000/L
(MCH) Mean Corpustular Hemaglobin 12.5 - 17.5 pg
(RDW)  Red Cell Distribution Width 14 - 31 percent
Hematocrit 30 - 45 percent
HgB (Hemoglobin) 80-150
Reticulocytes 0-1%
Segs x1000/ul 2.5-12.5
Bands  x1000/ul 0.0-0.3
Lymphocytes  x1000/ul 1.5-7.0
Monocytes  x1000/ul 0.0-0.85
Eosinophils  x1000/ul 0.0-1.5
Platelets x 100000/ul 3-7

 

 Image: Neeta Lind / via Flickr

 

 
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