Understanding Pet Blood Work Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key terms, blood components, chemistries, electrolytes, and routine diagnostic tests mentioned in pet blood work.

CBC (Complete Blood Count)

The most common blood test performed on pets and people, providing information on hydration status, anemia, infection, clotting ability, and immune system response.

HCT (Hematocrit)

Measures the percentage of red blood cells to detect anemia and dehydration.

HGB (Hemoglobin)

The oxygen-carrying pigment of red blood cells, which can be increased in diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and kidney damage, and decreased in various infections.

MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume)

Classifies the mean size of the red blood cells.

MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin)

Measures the mean corpuscular hemoglobin.

MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration)

Accounts for differences in the size of red blood cells.

RDW (Red Cell Distribution Width)

A value representing the variance in the size of red blood cells.

WBC (White Blood Cells)

Measures the body's immune cells, where increases or decreases can indicate certain diseases or infections.

MONO (Monocytes)

Immature macrophages whose primary role is to eat foreign material and pathogens not controlled by neutrophils; elevated in infections, stress, and chronic inflammation.

LYM (Lymphocytes)

The B and T cells of the immune system that elevate during infection, inflammation, or other diseases, and decrease with stress, steroids, or viral infections.

NEU (Neutrophils)

White blood cells that kill and eat microorganisms and initiate and modify inflammation; increases indicate active infection or stress while low numbers indicate severe infections, bone marrow problems, or toxemia.

EOS (Eosinophils)

A specific type of white blood cells that indicate allergic or parasitic conditions.

PLT (Platelet Count)

Measures the cells that form blood clots, also known as thrombocytes.

RETICS (Reticulocytes)

Immature red blood cells whose high levels indicate regenerative anemia.

FIBR (Fibrinogen)

An important clotting factor in blood.

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)

Indicates kidney function, where an increased blood waste product level is called azotemia and can be caused by kidney, liver, and heart disease, urethral obstruction, shock, and dehydration.

Azotemia

An increased blood waste product level.

CREA (Creatinine)

Reveals kidney function and helps distinguish between kidney and non-kidney causes of elevated BUN.

PHOS (Phosphorus)

A blood chemistry parameter often associated with kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and bleeding disorders.

Ca (Calcium)

A blood chemistry parameter whose deviations can indicate tumors, hyperparathyroidism, kidney disease, and low albumins.

ALB (Albumin)

A serum protein that helps evaluate hydration, hemorrhage, and intestinal, liver, and kidney disease.

ALKP (Alkaline Phosphatase)

An enzyme whose elevations may indicate liver damage, Cushing's disease, active bone growth in young pets, or bile stasis in conditions such as pancreatitis, cholangitis, or cholangiohepatitis.

ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)

A sensitive indicator of active liver damage within the last $2\text{--}5\text{ days}$, though it does not indicate the cause.

AST (Aspartate Transferase)

An enzyme whose increases may indicate liver, heart, or skeletal muscle damage.

T-BIL (Total Bilirubin)

Serum test whose elevations may indicate liver or hemolytic disease, helping to identify bile duct problems and certain types of anemia.

GGT (Gamma Glutamyl Transferase)

An enzyme that indicates liver disease or corticosteroid excess.

TP (Total Protein)

Indicates hydration status and provides additional information about liver, kidneys, and infectious diseases.

GLU (Glucose)

Blood sugar whose elevated levels may indicate diabetes mellitus, and low levels may cause collapse, seizures, or coma.

AMYL (Amylase)

An enzyme whose elevation may indicate pancreatitis or kidney disease.

LIP (Lipase)

An enzyme that may indicate pancreatitis.

CHOL (Cholesterol)

Used to supplement the diagnosis of hypothyroidism, liver disease, Cushing's disease, and diabetes mellitus.

GLOB (Globulin)

A blood protein that often increases with chronic inflammation and certain disease states.

T4 (Serum Tetraiodthyronine)

A thyroid hormone whose increased levels signal hyperthyroidism in cats, and decreased levels signal hypothyroidism mostly seen in dogs.

Cortisol

A hormone measured in tests of Cushing's disease (low-dose dexamethasone suppression test) and Addison's disease (ACTH stimulation test).

Cl (Chloride)

An electrolyte often lost with vomiting and Addison's disease, with elevations indicating dehydration.

Na (Sodium)

An electrolyte often lost with vomiting, diarrhea, kidney disease, and Addison's disease, helping to indicate hydration status.

K (Potassium)

An electrolyte lost with vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive urination; high levels can lead to cardiac arrest and indicate kidney failure, Addison's disease, dehydration, or urethral obstruction.

Canine/Feline Heartworm Test

A routine test that checks for deadly parasites living in the heart or lungs.

FeLV/FIV Test

A routine test for feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus.

cPLI (Canine Pancreatic Lipase)

A routine test that indicates pancreatitis if positive.

Parvo Test

Tests stool for parvovirus particles to rule out parvovirus disease.

Bile Acids Test

An assessment of liver function, rather than just determining if the liver is damaged.