Understanding Your Pet's Blood Test Results

Bloodwork is the most useful tool in general practice. Understanding the broad picture helps you ask better questions.

Complete blood count

Red cells carry oxygen — low means anaemia. White cells fight infection — high often means infection or inflammation, very low can mean overwhelming infection or bone marrow suppression. Platelets clot blood, and a low count is the classic tick fever clue.

Liver and kidney values

ALT and ALP relate to liver cells and bile flow. Creatinine, BUN and SDMA relate to kidney function; SDMA rises earliest.

Why one abnormal value is not a diagnosis

Values move with dehydration, stress, recent food and age. Trends across visits are far more informative than a single number.

Keep your own copies

Reports build a baseline, which is what makes an early change detectable at all.