The Drake Center features a complete in-house laboratory, which allows us to receive immediate results for pets with emergency or urgent care needs. We also work with an external laboratory that can provide most results within 24 hours for all other types of tests. Lab work is essential before any anesthetic procedure or diagnosis of an illness, but it also aids in the general maintenance of healthy pets.
Understanding Your Pet's Bloodwork
Blood tests help doctors determine causes of illness and monitor the progress of medical treatments. This guide is intended to help you decipher your pet’s test results. We want you to understand our recommendations and be a partner in your pet’s care. 

Complete Blood Count

This is the most common blood test performed on pets and people. A Complete Blood Count, or CBC, provides information on hydration status, anemia, infection, blood clotting ability and immune system response. This test is essential for pets that have symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pale gums or loss of appetite. If your pet needs surgery, a CBC can detect bleeding disorders or other unseen abnormalities.
  • Hematocrit (HCT): This test measures the percentage of red blood cells to detect anemia and hydration.
  • Hemoglobin and mean corpulscular hemoglobin concentration (Hb and MCHC): These are the oxygen-carrying pigments of red blood cells.
  • White blood cell count (WBC): This test measures the body’s immune cells. Increases or decreases in the WBC indicate certain diseases or infections.
  • Granulocytes and lymphocytes/monocytes (GRANS and L/M): These are specific types of white blood cells.
  • Eosinophils (EOS): These are a specific type of white blood cells that may indicate allergic or parasitic conditions.
  • Platelet count (PLT): This test measures the cells that form blood clots.
  • Reticulocytes (RETICS): These are immature red blood cells.  High levels indicate regenerative anemia.

Blood Chemistries

These common blood serum tests evaluate organ function, electrolyte status, hormone levels and more. They are important in evaluating older pets, pets with signs of vomiting, diarrhea or toxin exposure, pets receiving long-term medications and general health before anesthesia.
  • Albumin (ALB): This is a serum protein that helps evaluate hydration, hemorrhage and intestinal, liver and kidney disease. 
  • Alkaline phosphatase (ALKP/ALP): Elevations in this test may indicate liver damage, Cushing’s disease or active bone growth in a young pet. This test is especially significant in cats.
  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT): This test may determine active liver damage, but does not indicate the cause. 
  • Amylase (AMYL): Elevations in this test indicate pancreatitis or kidney disease.
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST): Increases in this test may indicate liver, heart or skeletal muscle damage.
  • Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): This test determines kidney function. An increased level is called azotemia and can be caused by kidney, liver and heart disease as well as urethral obstruction, shock or dehydration.
  • Calcium (Ca): Changes in the normal level of this test can indicate a variety of diseases. Tumors, hyperparathyroidism, kidney disease, and low albumin are just a few of the conditions that alter serum calcium.
  • Cholesterol (CHOL): This test is used to supplement diagnosis of hypothyroidism, liver disease, Cushing’s disease and diabetes mellitus.  This test is most accurate when fasting.
  • Chloride (Cl): Chloride is an electrolyte that is typically lost with symptoms like vomiting or illnesses such as Addison’s disease. Elevations often indicate dehydration.
  • Cortisol (CORT): Cortisol is a hormone that is measured in tests for Cushing’s or Addison's disease (low-dose dexamethasone suppression test and ACTH stimulation test).
  • Creatinine (CREA): This test reveals kidney function and helps distinguish between kidney and non-kidney causes of elevated BUN.
  • Gamma-Glutamyl transferase (GGT): This is an enzyme that indicates liver or gallbladder disease or corticosteroid excess.
  • Globulin (GLOB): This is a blood protein that often increases with chronic inflammation and certain disease states.
  • Glucose (GLU): Glucose is blood sugar. Elevated levels may indicate diabetes mellitus. Low levels can cause collapse, seizures or coma.
  • Potassium (K): This is an electrolyte typically lost with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea or excessive urination. Increased levels may indicate kidney failure, Addison’s disease, dehydration or urethral obstruction.  High levels can lead to cardiac arrest. 
  • Lipase (LIP): Lipase is an enzyme that may indicate pancreatitis.
  • Sodium (Na): Sodium is an electrolyte often lost with signs vomiting, diarrhea, kidney disease and Addison’s disease. This test helps indicate hydration status.
  • Phosphorus (P): Elevations in this test are often associated with kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and bleeding disorders.
  • Total bilirubin (TBILI): Elevations in this test may indicate liver or hemolytic disease. This test helps identify bile duct problems and certain types of anemia.
  • Total protein (TP): This test is the sum of albumin and globulin and indicates hydration status and provides additional information about the liver, kidneys and infectious diseases.
  • Thyroxine (T4): Thyroxine is a thyroid hormone. Decreased levels often signal hypothyroidism in dogs, while high levels indicate hyperthyroidism in cats.