665 Johnson Street
Rusk, TX 75785
903-683-5315
Email: cherokeeanimalclinicrusk@gmail.com
Clinic Hours:
Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 5:30 pm
Why Blood Work is Critical
Just like in humans, blood work for your pet is extremely important! It is a strong diagnostic tool that allows the doctor to see what is going on inside! Everything
from seeing microscopic parasites, heartworms to cancer or kidney failure is found in routine bloodwork.
Your pet can't tell you why he or she is not eating or where it hurts and often blood work will tell the doctor the problem to address the problem quickly.
The doctor can measure electrolytes such as potassium, assess the function of internal organs and identify levels of circulating enzymes.
The list is long as to the importance and results that can be determined with blood work. Some of the common tests include:
- Albumin (ALB) - A protein made by the liver. Low levels might indicate liver/kidney damage or dogs with hookworm infestation.
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) - An enzyme that becomes elevated with liver disease or injury
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALKP) - An enzyme produced by the cells lining the gall bladder and its associated ducts. Elevated levels can indicate liver disease disease or Cushing's syndrome.
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) - Is a protein waste. High Levels can indicate kidney failure or disease, dehydration, shock, high protein diet, certain toxin ingestions, poor circulation to the kidneys and urinary obstruction. Low levels indicate liver disease or starvation.
- Calcium - If the levels are high, it might be a suggestion of cancer or liver failure.
- CBC - A blood test used to measure and evaluate cells that circulate in the blood. The test includes an actual counting of red and white blood cells as well as an analysis of cells viewed on a blood smear. Benefits include finding underlying causes for infection, certain types of cancer such as Leukemia, blood parasites and microorganisms. This is often preformed before surgery to try to avoid complications.
- Cholesterol (CHOL) - Elevated levels are seen in a variety o disorders including genetic disease, liver and kidney disease and hypothyroidism.
- Creatinine (CREA) - is the end product of phosphocreatine metabolism, which is important in muscle contractions. High levels indicate kidney failure or disease, dehydration, shock, certain toxin ingestions, poor circulation to the kidneys and urinary obstruction. Low levels indicate liver disease or starvation.
- Glucose (GLU) - High levels can indicate stress or diabetes. Low levels can indicate liver disease, insulin overdose, severe bacterial infection, or hypothyroidism.
- Phosphorus (PHOS) - Elevated levels can be an indicator of kidney disease
- *Potassium - This works in combination with sodium and is very important in maintaining normal function of muscle and nerves. High levels indicate diabetes, certain toxin ingestions, urinary obstruction, acute kidney failure, or severe muscle damage. Low levels indicate vomiting and diarrhea, gastrointestinal cancer, insulin overdose, overuse of diuretics and starvation.
- *Sodium - Is very important in maintaining normal function of muscle and nerves. It is also an important electrolyte in every part of the body. High levels indicate dehydration, lack of water, and diabetes. Low levels indicate starvation, severe diarrhea, vomiting, hypothyroidism and metabolic acidosis.
- Total Bilirubin (TBIL) - Biliruben is a breakdown product of hemoglobin and is a component of bile. It is secreted by the liver into the intestinal tract. The blood biliruben levels are useful in diagnosing anemia and problems in the bile ducts.
- Total Protein (TP) - The level of TP can detect a variety of conditions including dehydration and diseases of the liver, kidney or gastrointestinal tract.
For additional information or feel you need to have your dog examined, give us a call!.