Interpreting CBC/Chem Panel - Page 1

I did routine blood work on one of my young dogs yesterday.  He just didn't look "right" to me lately... nothing I could put my finger on, just kinda "poorly."   My vet is not in till Monday, but the results faxed to me today have some levels outside normal parameters. Anyone who can help me interpret them, please e-mail me privately: wkgdogs@gmail.com.

thanks,  in advance,

SS

Shelley,

Beware of any advice you may receive from someone whose background has been confined to human medicine.

Values differ greatly from species to species. The age of your dog also plays into the interpretation of any lab results.

Louise, yes there may be significant differences in how these tests are typically interpreted by a vet versus an MD.  For example, quite a few west german imports test a bit low on T3/T4 when tested in the USA (with a slightly high TSH).  And according to my prior vet most of these dogs had no behavioral symptoms, were not overweight and the lab test value norms were questionable without significant behavioral symptoms in these dogs.

Vets I have known over the years do not typically prescribe thyroxin for mildly low T3 or T4 values, with mild elevations in TSH, as they do not see this as a real problem unless there are behavioral problems or the dog is somewhat lethargic, whereas an MD tends to look at it as subclinical or mild hypothyroidism and typically RX thyroxin.  I had one vet tell me that the thyroid profile tests available for dogs were very dependent of time of day testing, and were typically not very reliable or diagnostic unless they showed a major aberration from the norm.  This vet also told me that there were apparently normal breed specific variances in thyroid not well known among the test companies developing the lab norms and he liked to see more than one test drawn and done so early in the AM and sent out to a special lab. 

However, when it comes to  very low T3 or T4 values, or very or low high WBCs, or very low RBCs, I view this as equallly serious in dogs and humans. What is your view on this.

I am curious why you made your assertion about the need to be caeful in transferring the meaning of human lab values to dog lab values.  Was it because of the throid controversy I mention here or something else?

Preston: However, when it comes to  very low T3 or T4 values, or very or low high WBCs, or very low RBCs, I view this as equallly serious in dogs and humans. What is your view on this.

I am curious why you made your assertion about the need to be caeful in transferring the meaning of human lab values to dog lab values.  Was it because of the throid controversy I mention here or something else?

No, Preston, my remark has nothing to do with thyroid values.

As I have extensive experience with multiple domestic and exotic species, knowlege/education regarding clinical pathology (including, but not limited to, hemograms and serum chemistries), and data (laboratory profiles of small animal diseases, differential diagnoses, and "rule-outs") regarding normal parameters readily available at my fingertips, I offered to assist SS via private email.

First of all, most bloodwork is done from samples taken from a fasting animal.

Anyhow, I was worried that some well-meaning individual (asshole? LOL), might attempt to extrapolate their knowledge of normal human parameters and apply these values to dogs. Since SS requested private email responses, I have no way of knowing what sort of advice she may have received.

Hopefully, when her veterinary clinic faxed SS the reports, they may have noticed if anything was sufficiently pathological to warrant more immediate attention than SS had scheduled. With most species, reported lab values falling somewhat outside "normal" parameters may be of no great significance.

The values I was questioning are not far over and under normal limits. I am told there is no cause for serious alarm.

Thanks to those who responded,

SS

FYI to anyone interested: you can find more than you probably wanted to know from the online Merck Vet Manual at http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp   It includes a search function and give values for CBC/chem panels for various types of animals and various characteristic readings in various diseases.

I'll second the suggestion to log on to the Merck Vet Manual site or, better yet, buy the book.  I prefer the book; I think it's easier to find what you're looking for and topics are grouped according to the systems they address. It's a must have.