A plain-language guide to what common blood panel values mean, what abnormal results indicate, and the questions worth asking your vet.
Your vet hands you a printout of numbers. Some are flagged. Some are not. You nod and leave, and then spend the next hour searching the internet for what it all means. This guide gives you a foundation so that conversation with your vet is more productive, not a replacement for it.
Blood panels serve several purposes: baseline health assessment (establishing what is normal for your specific animal); pre-anaesthetic screening before surgery; monitoring known conditions; investigating symptoms such as lethargy, weight loss, or vomiting. Annual bloodwork for senior animals is standard of care — many conditions are detected and treated earlier when monitoring is routine.
The CBC measures the cellular components of blood. Key values: RBC (Red Blood Cell count) — measures the oxygen-carrying cells. Low: possible anaemia, blood loss, or nutritional deficiency. High: dehydration or other conditions. HGB (Haemoglobin) — the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Interpreted alongside RBC. WBC (White Blood Cell count) — measures immune cells. High: infection, inflammation, stress, or certain cancers. Low: viral infection, bone marrow suppression. PLT (Platelets) — blood clotting cells. Low platelets increase bleeding risk; seen in some tick-borne diseases. HCT (Haematocrit) — the percentage of blood that is red blood cells. A key indicator for anaemia.
The chemistry panel assesses organ function. Key values: ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) — a liver enzyme. Elevated ALT indicates liver cell damage. Common causes: fatty liver, medication effects, liver disease, toxin exposure. ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) — another liver/bone marker. Elevated in liver disease, Cushing's disease, or with certain medications (especially steroids). BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) and Creatinine — kidney function markers. Both elevated together strongly suggests kidney dysfunction. GLOB (Globulins) — proteins made by the immune system. Elevated: chronic infection or inflammation. Glucose — blood sugar. High: diabetes (especially in cats). Low: insulinoma or severe illness. Calcium — elevated calcium is a significant finding requiring further investigation.
Reference ranges represent the normal range for the laboratory's population. A value outside the range is "flagged" — but context matters. Mildly elevated values may be clinically insignificant; significantly elevated values may indicate urgent intervention. One abnormal value is rarely diagnostic on its own. Your vet interprets the entire panel in the context of the animal's clinical signs, history, and the trend over time.
When reviewing results: Which values are you most concerned about, and why? Is this a significant change from previous results? Does this result explain the symptoms I've been noticing? What are the next steps — further testing, medication, monitoring, or all of the above? How soon do we need to act? What should I watch for at home?
Abnormal results typically lead to: further specific testing (ultrasound, urinalysis, tick-panel); a recheck panel after a defined period; medication or dietary change; or specialist referral. Ask for a copy of all results for your records — a pattern across multiple panels over time is often more informative than a single result.
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