The Three Core Tests — Explained
What we're measuring and why it matters for your pet
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Dogs & CatsThe CBC evaluates the cellular components of blood — red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It is one of the most informative and commonly run tests in veterinary medicine.
🎯 Why This Test Matters
The CBC can detect anaemia, infection, inflammation, immune disorders, clotting problems, and even early cancer — often before your pet shows any outward signs of illness.
What We Measure:
Red Blood Cells (RBC) & Haematocrit (PCV)
What it is: Measures the number and size of red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body.
What abnormal means: Low RBC = anaemia (from blood loss, bone marrow disease, chronic illness, or parasites). High RBC = dehydration or polycythaemia.
Haemoglobin (Hgb)
What it is: The protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen.
What abnormal means: Low haemoglobin confirms anaemia. We look at this alongside the RBC count to understand the type of anaemia.
White Blood Cells (WBC) — Total & Differential
What it is: Counts the total number of white blood cells and breaks them down by type: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.
What abnormal means: High WBC = infection, inflammation, stress, or leukaemia. Low WBC = viral disease, bone marrow suppression, or overwhelming infection. The differential tells us which type of WBC is elevated, which points to the cause.
Neutrophils
What it is: The most common WBC — the first responders to bacterial infection.
What abnormal means: Elevated in bacterial infections, inflammation, and stress. Low in severe infection (the body is using them faster than producing them) or bone marrow disease.
Lymphocytes
What it is: Key players in the immune system — involved in viral responses and long-term immunity.
What abnormal means: Elevated in viral infections, chronic disease, or lymphoma. Low in stress, steroid use, or immunodeficiency.
Eosinophils
What it is: White blood cells involved in allergic reactions and parasite responses.
What abnormal means: Elevated with allergies, parasitic infections (especially intestinal worms), or eosinophilic disease.
Platelets (Thrombocytes)
What it is: Tiny cells that form blood clots and stop bleeding.
What abnormal means: Low platelets (thrombocytopenia) cause bruising and bleeding — seen with tick-borne disease (e.g. Lyme, RMSF), immune-mediated disease, or bone marrow problems. High platelets seen with inflammation or iron deficiency.
Ready to get your pet tested?
Blood Chemistry Panel
Dogs & CatsThe chemistry panel evaluates the function of vital organs including the liver, kidneys, and pancreas, as well as electrolyte balance and blood sugar. It gives us a detailed picture of your pet's metabolic health.
🎯 Why This Test Matters
The chemistry panel can detect kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, pancreatitis, hormonal disorders, and electrolyte imbalances — many of which show no obvious symptoms until they are advanced.
What We Measure:
ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
What it is: A liver enzyme that leaks into the bloodstream when liver cells are damaged.
What abnormal means: Elevated ALT is one of the earliest signs of liver disease, toxin exposure, medication effects, or hepatitis.
ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase)
What it is: An enzyme produced by the liver, bone, and intestines.
What abnormal means: Elevated in liver disease, Cushing's disease, bone disease, or steroid use. Persistently high ALP always warrants further investigation.
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) & Creatinine
What it is: Waste products filtered by the kidneys. When kidneys lose function, these values rise in the blood.
What abnormal means: Elevated BUN and creatinine indicate reduced kidney function (chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, dehydration). By the time creatinine is elevated, 75% of kidney function may already be lost — this is why early detection matters.
SDMA (Symmetric Dimethylarginine)
What it is: A newer, more sensitive kidney biomarker that detects kidney disease earlier than creatinine.
What abnormal means: SDMA rises when as little as 25–40% of kidney function is lost, making it invaluable for early detection. We include this in our senior wellness panels.
Glucose
What it is: Blood sugar level — regulated by insulin from the pancreas.
What abnormal means: High glucose = diabetes mellitus (or stress in cats). Low glucose = insulinoma (insulin-producing tumour), liver failure, or sepsis.
Total Protein, Albumin & Globulin
What it is: Proteins produced by the liver. Albumin maintains fluid balance; globulins are immune proteins.
What abnormal means: Low albumin = liver disease, kidney disease (protein loss), or malnutrition. High globulins can indicate chronic infection or inflammation. The albumin:globulin ratio helps identify specific disease patterns.
Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride)
What it is: Minerals that regulate fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle activity.
What abnormal means: Abnormal electrolytes occur with vomiting, diarrhea, kidney disease, Addison's disease, and heart disease. A classic low sodium + high potassium pattern is a hallmark of Addison's disease.
Total Bilirubin
What it is: A byproduct of red blood cell breakdown, processed by the liver.
What abnormal means: Elevated bilirubin causes jaundice (yellow tint to skin/eyes/gums) — seen with liver disease, bile duct obstruction, or haemolytic anaemia.
Cholesterol & Triglycerides
What it is: Blood fats that can reflect metabolic and endocrine health.
What abnormal means: Elevated cholesterol is commonly seen with hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease, diabetes, and kidney disease.
Lipase & Amylase / cPLI (Canine Pancreatic Lipase)
What it is: Enzymes produced by the pancreas. cPLI is the gold standard test for pancreatitis in dogs.
What abnormal means: Elevated values indicate pancreatitis — a painful and potentially life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. Often triggered by high-fat meals.
Ready to get your pet tested?
Urinalysis (Urine Testing)
Dogs & CatsA urinalysis examines the physical, chemical, and microscopic properties of urine. It provides critical information about kidney function, urinary tract health, and systemic diseases that may not show up on blood tests alone.
🎯 Why This Test Matters
Urinalysis is especially critical for early kidney disease detection. Kidneys can lose up to 75% of their function before blood values become abnormal — but changes in urine concentration show up much earlier. It also screens for diabetes, UTIs, bladder stones, and urinary tumours.
What We Measure:
Specific Gravity (USG)
What it is: Measures the kidneys' ability to concentrate urine — a direct reflection of kidney function.
What abnormal means: Dilute urine (low USG) in a dehydrated patient is a red flag for kidney disease, diabetes, Cushing's, Addison's, or liver disease. Concentrated urine means the kidneys are working well.
pH
What it is: The acidity or alkalinity of the urine.
What abnormal means: Abnormal pH can predispose pets to certain types of bladder stones. Diet, infections, and metabolic disease all affect urinary pH.
Protein
What it is: Protein should not normally appear in the urine in significant amounts.
What abnormal means: Persistent proteinuria (protein in urine) indicates kidney damage, hypertension, or glomerular disease. We use the UPC ratio (urine protein:creatinine) to monitor protein loss in pets with known kidney disease.
Glucose
What it is: Sugar in the urine.
What abnormal means: Glucose in urine almost always means blood glucose is very high (diabetes mellitus). Rarely, kidney damage can cause glucose to spill despite normal blood sugar (Fanconi syndrome).
Ketones
What it is: Byproducts of fat breakdown — appear when the body can't use glucose for energy.
What abnormal means: Ketonuria in a diabetic pet = diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate hospitalization.
Blood (Haematuria)
What it is: Red blood cells in the urine.
What abnormal means: Can indicate urinary tract infection (UTI), bladder stones, bladder tumour, trauma, or clotting disorders. Even trace blood warrants investigation.
Bilirubin
What it is: Bile pigment in the urine.
What abnormal means: Small amounts are normal in dogs but not cats. Elevated bilirubin supports liver or haemolytic disease.
Urine Sediment (Microscopic Exam)
What it is: The urine is spun down and the sediment examined under a microscope.
What abnormal means: We look for: white blood cells (infection/inflammation), red blood cells (bleeding), bacteria (UTI), crystals (bladder stones or diet issues), casts (kidney damage), and abnormal cells (possible cancer).
Urine Culture & Sensitivity
What it is: A separate test where urine is cultured to identify specific bacteria and which antibiotics will treat them.
What abnormal means: Recommended when a UTI is suspected or confirmed, especially for recurrent infections. Guides targeted antibiotic therapy rather than broad-spectrum guessing.
Ready to get your pet tested?
Don't Wait for Symptoms
Most serious diseases in pets are silent until they're advanced. A simple blood and urine panel — done annually or semi-annually — gives us the earliest possible warning. Book a wellness appointment with Dr. Ogilby today.
Book a Wellness Appointment⚕️ Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Testing recommendations are general guidelines — Dr. Ogilby will tailor a wellness plan specific to your pet's age, breed, and health history.