Veterinary Bloodwork: CBC/Chemistry Panels

Bloodwork is a common cost seen on emergency and hospitalization estimates.

The most common panels being a CBC (complete blood count) and a Chemistry (blood chemistry/biochemistry panel). These are two different types of veterinary blood tests used in diagnosing and assessing different aspects of an animal’s health.

A CBC panel focuses on the cellular components of blood.

·  Red Blood Cells (RBCs) – Carry oxygen. Helps assess for anemia or dehydration.

·  White Blood Cells (WBCs) – Fight infection. Helps identify infection, inflammation, or immune disorders.

·  Platelets – Help with blood clotting.

·  Hemoglobin & Hematocrit – Measure the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

·  Cell morphology – Microscopic examination may show abnormal cells (e.g., signs of cancer or parasites).

This specific blood test is used for detecting infection, anemia, clotting issues, and early signs of disease.

A Chemistry panel evaluates the organ function and metabolic status.

·  Kidney values – BUN, Creatinine

·  Liver enzymes – ALT, AST, ALP, GGT

·  Glucose – Blood sugar

·  Electrolytes – Sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus

·  Proteins – Albumin, globulin, total protein

·  Cholesterol, bilirubin, etc.

This specific blood test is used in assessing organ function (liver, kidney, pancreas), diagnosing metabolic disorders, diabetes, dehydration, and monitoring response to treatment or medications.

Both tests are minimally invasive and have a quick turnaround time for results. The majority of veterinary practices have in-house analyzers or if more in-depth analyzes are needed, these panels can be sent to a partnered laboratory. Even if bloodwork does not give a final diagnosis, these panels can show which system is affected, guide whether more specific tests are needed, and determine the stability of the patient.