 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
 |
|||
|
Home History Staff Services Location Info for Owners About Vet Medicine |
|||
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Main Blood Panels Performed at Prairie Animal Hospital
Other Important Tests We May Recommend The Basics of Blood Panel Interpretation - What Do All Those Numbers Mean?
Main Blood Panels Performed at Prairie Animal Hospital The Pre-Operative Blood Screen This is the smallest (and thus least expensive) panel offered at Prairie. This useful panel checks the primary organs involved in metabolism of anesthetic drugs, and alerts us to pre-existing conditions that may affect healing after a surgical procedure. This panel alerts us to any liver or kidney problems that a pet may have that would put him/her at increased anesthetic risk. It also acts as a screen for diabetes by indicating blood sugar levels. The Pre-Op panel also tells us about the animal’s blood protein levels, and reports the animal’s hematocrit (red blood cell count). This panel is also useful for routine liver and kidney check-ups for those pets on lifelong medications. We recommend this on a yearly basis for pets on anti-inflammatories, heart medications, anti-convulsant medications or any other lifelong drug therapies. This in-house panel takes about 20 minutes to run. Pet owners are alerted to any abnormalities before an anesthetic procedure is performed. If any abnormalities are detected, the veterinarian may elect to postpone the procedure, take special precautions (like IV fluids, medications, etc.) or not perform the procedure at all. As with all blood panels, normal results are also always useful since they serve as baseline data to compare to in the event of future illness. The Pre-Operative Blood Screen checks: Creatinine, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Alanine Aminotransferase, Alkaline Phosphatase, Total Protein, Glucose, and Hematocrit The In-House Complete Blood Count and Chemistry Screen
The In-House Complete Blood Count and Chemistry Screen (abbreviated CBC/Chem) is a more complete blood panel than the minimal Pre-Op Screen. It gives us a better look at a pet’s hydration status, and allows us to look at electrolytes and individual blood cell components. It is a better indicator of whether an infection is occurring, can alert us to pancreatic disease and even some cancers and adrenal gland diseases. For an ill animal with non-specific signs, this panel gives us a better picture of internal organ function. For an older animal, this panel goes beyond the Pre-Op Screen in its ability to detect early organ disease, or to alert the veterinarian to the potential for anesthetic or healing problems. The In-House Complete Blood Count and Chemistry Screen checks: White Blood Cell Count (and components), Red Blood Cell Count (and components), Platelets, Creatinine, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Calcium, Alanine Aminotransferase, Alkaline Phosphatase, Cholesterol, Total Bilirubin, Total Protein, Albumin, Amylase, Glucose, Sodium, Chloride, and Potassium. If Pancreatitis is suspected, a Lipase test is also added. The Geriatric Panel is so-named because it is most commonly recommended in our older pets. However, please don’t overlook its usefulness in young pets as well! In addition to the components tested for in the In House CBC/Chem Screen, the Geriatric Panel also cues us in on thyroid gland function, acid/base balance and triglyceride levels, and has additional tests for hydration status, inflammation/infection and red blood cell regeneration in anemic patients. In cats, this panel also indicates whether Feline Infections Anemia (a red blood cell parasite of cats) is present. At Prairie, our “Senior Exam” includes a full physical examination, a Geriatric Panel, and an Urine Analysis (to help us evaluate kidney and bladder function). We find our Senior Exam to be of such benefit as a screening tool, we perform it at a discount price. This panel takes 12-24 hours to run, and includes all components tested for in the In-House CBC/Chem Screen (see above) plus: Thyroxine, Aspartate Aminotransferase, Total CO2, Anion Gap, Triglycerides, Osmolality, Globulin Level, Manual CBC, and FIA (cats only). The Feline Panel plus Disease Testing This useful “cats-only” panel is similar to the Geriatric Panel, but also tests for the specific cat diseases FIP, FeLV and FIV. Since many of these feline diseases have very similar presenting signs, we often recommend this panel when presented with ill cats. Unfortunately, cats can also have more than one of these diseases at once, making screening for all of them particularly important. Since cats can be asymptomatic carriers of these diseases (i.e. carry and spread the diseases but show no signs of infection), we also recommend this panel as a screening tool before new kitties are introduced into a household with other cats. Other Important Tests Your Veterinarian May Recommend: Heartworms are a blood-borne parasite transmitted by mosquitoes. Heartworm infestation can cause life-threatening heart problems and even heart failure and death if it goes undetected. We are very fortunate in North Idaho in that heartworm infestation is a very rare event. In fact, we at Prairie are unaware of any heartworm cases being diagnosed in dogs or cats that were born/raised in the Idaho Panhandle. If your dog/cat fits this profile, you may elect not to perform routine testing nor keep your pet on a preventative. However, we encourage all our clients to make an informed decision regarding this issue. Please take into consideration the following when making your decision:
When in doubt, ask your veterinarian. Some veterinarians have predicted that heartworm will eventually spread to our area. While we have no direct evidence, some people prefer not to take any chances. Discuss testing and preventative medications with your vet. Several heartworm preventatives and tests are available, talk to your veterinarian about which tests and preventatives are most appropriate for your pet. No heartworm preventative is considered 100% effective (although, if used properly, most are nearly so). For this reason and because of the seriousness of the disease, the American Heartworm Society recommends yearly testing for heartworms in dogs and cats that are taking a heartworm preventative. If your veterinarian has reason to believe your pet may have an adrenal gland problem (based on signs your pet is exhibiting or other blood chemistry abnormalities), he/she may recommend specific adrenal gland tests be performed. The adrenal glands are two small glands located above each kidney. They are very important glands, responsible for releasing several hormones involved in mineral balance and responses to stress (by producing adrenaline or cortisol). If your pet has a problem with his/her adrenal glands, your pet may drink excessive water, have a round “pot-belly” appearance and a poor coat, or may experience frequent vomiting, weakness or collapse. Often liver enzyme elevations or electrolyte imbalances are seen on a blood chemistry analysis. At Prairie, the most common test used to test the adrenal glands’ function is the ACTH Stimulation Test. This two-part test involves taking an initial blood sample to test for blood cortisol levels. A stimulatory hormone is given (called Adrenocorticotropic Stimulating Hormone, or ACTH), then two hours later the blood cortisol level is measured again. This tells us how the adrenal gland is working and responding to stimulus, and tells us if the adrenal gland is normal, working sub-optimally (causing hypoadrenocorticism or Addison’s disease), or over-working (causing hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing’s disease). Other adrenal gland tests are available, but the ACTH Stimulation Test is the most common. If your pet has a suspected liver problem, your veterinarian may recommend a Bile Acids test. Normally, bile acids are made in the liver, stored in the gall bladder and secreted into the intestine to help digest fats. A special circulation occurs in the normal pet, whereby “used” bile acids are re-absorbed from the intestine into the bloodstream, then recycled by the liver. If there is an impairment in liver function, the bile acids are not absorbed from the bloodstream by the liver. When this occurs, the levels of bile acids build up in the bloodstream. Measuring the bile acid levels before and after an animal eats tells us about intestine and liver function. For this test, the pet must be fasted for 12 hours minimum. A blood sample is taken before feeding the pet (called a pre-prandial sample). The pet is fed, then 2 hours later another sample is drawn (the post-prandial sample). The bile acid levels of both samples help us determine if liver function is impaired. For pets being medicated due to an underactive or overactive thyroid gland, yearly (or sometimes more often) thyroid hormone level check-ups are recommended. This allows your veterinarian to make sure your pet is on proper medication dosing. Click here for more on thyroid hormone testing. For pets on certain medications (such as Phenobarbital, Potassium Bromide, or Digoxin) your veterinarian may recommend having the blood level of the drug(s) checked. This allows the doctor to assess and to adjust (if necessary) your pet’s drug dose. This helps the veterinarian to maximize the effectiveness of the drug while minimizing the chances of side effects.
White Blood Cell Count (and components): Increases or decreases in white blood cell counts tell us that an inflammatory response is occurring. This can be from an infection, inflammatory disease process (like an autoimmune disease or allergic reaction), or even cancer. Changes in certain types of white blood cells (we look at several) can sometimes help determine more specifically what is occurring in the animal. For instance, an elevation in eosinophil count (a very specific type of white blood cell) can indicate an allergic reaction or parasite infestation. Extreme elevations in lymphocyte numbers (another specific type of cell) may mean the animal has lymphoma. Red Blood Cell Count (and components): Increases in red blood cell counts may indicate dehydration or (if extreme) a bone marrow disease. Decreases in red blood counts (called anemia) occur with infections, bleeding, certain autoimmune disorders, and some cancers. With a full Complete Blood Count, we measure hemoglobin content and the sizes of the red blood cells. This tells us whether an animal may be deficient in iron, and shows what that animal’s capacity is to regenerate old, lost, or damaged red blood cells.
Manual CBC: A Manual CBC involves looking directly at the red and white blood cells and platelets with a microscope (the other analyses described above are determined by a machine). Analysis of the shapes of blood cells, their sizes, their internal and external appearances and their numbers all give us clues as to what is going on in the animal. For instance, abnormally-shaped red blood cells (called schistocytes) may indicate a problem with the spleen. White blood cells with abnormal nuclei may indicate a severe systemic infection. FIA (feline infectious anemia, or haemobartonellosis) is a red blood cell parasite of cats that can be diagnosed with a microscope.
Phosphorous: Phosphorous levels can be decreased if an animal is in a state of malnutrition or starvation, or if an animal has diabetes. The most common cause of elevated phosphorous levels is renal disease, although other causes include bone disease (like bone cancer), hyperthyroidism, parathyroid gland abnormalities, and certain rodenticide poisonings.
Total Bilirubin: Bilirubin originates from the breakdown of old red blood cells and some proteins. The liver metabolizes bilirubin in the bloodstream by absorbing it, altering it, then passing altered bilirubin products into the intestine to be passed out through the stool. Elevations in bilirubin are, therefore, caused by one of two things: increased destruction of red blood cells (thereby increasing blood bilirubin levels to the point that the liver can’t keep up with its excretion), or primary liver disease (effecting the liver’s ability to process normal amounts of bilirubin produced). If bilirubin levels get extremely high, you may notice a yellow discoloration to the eyes, skin, gums, urine and stools (jaundice or icterus).
Glucose: Glucose or blood sugar level is meticulously regulated in the normal dog and cat. Minor elevations are often inconsequential (often associated with nervousness and “adrenaline” release during the exam and blood draw). However, substantial increases or decreases in blood glucose level often mean a serious disease process is occurring. Elevations of greater than 250 mg/dL most often indicate diabetic mellitus is occurring, although other labwork parameters are used to definitively diagnose the condition. Other, less common causes of elevated blood glucose include Cushing’s disease, cancer, or the use of some medications. Lowered blood sugar level can result from pancreatic or other cancers, Addison’s disease, liver disease, or overconsumption/underproduction of blood sugar (overworked dogs, toy breeds with no reserves, pregnancy and/or nursing, severe infection or starvation).
Total CO2 and Anion Gap: Using specific formulas, veterinarians utilize the measured CO2 and anion gap values to figure an animal’s acid/base balance. Acidosis can be caused by severe diabetes mellitus, severe diarrhea or vomiting, antifreeze toxicity, aspirin toxicity, Addison’s disease or renal disease. Alkylosis can be caused by overuse of certain diuretics or other drugs, severe vomiting or Cushing’s disease.
|
|
|
| [Home] [About Prairie] [Meet Our Staff] [Education for Owners] [Vaccinations] [Spaying and Neutering] [Other Surgeries] [Blood Panels] [About Vet Medicine] |