IMPORTANCE OF WELLNESS TESTING

​A crucial component in ensuring the health of your pet is wellness testing. Not only does bloodwork indicate current disease processes, it can also signal red flags for early signs of disease. Prevention is the best medicine- catching these warning indicators early gives your veterinarian the chance to establish a meaningful plan of action to benefit your pet. 
Below is a list of common tests included in wellness profiles. Your veterinarian will make appropriate test recommendations for your pet. Use this list to better understand your pet's wellness test results.
Complete Blood Count
  • Examination of the red and white blood cells
  • Can indicate how well the body's immune defense system is working and if inflammation is present
  • ​Can aid in the diagnosis of such diseases as anemia, platelet problems, immune medicated diseases and cancer
Albumin
  • Assessing levels of Albumin can help identify problems with its production (liver related)
  • May also help diagnose kidney disease and intestinal or nutritional problems
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
  • Indicates cell damage in liver
Serum Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
  • Associated with disorders of the biliary system in the liver and some hormonal diseases such as Cushing's Disease
Blood Urea Nitrogen (Urea)
  • Helpful in assessing kidney and liver disease 
Serum Creatinine
  • Associated with kidney disease
Calcium
  • A change from normal may indicste kidney disease, bone disease, pancreatic disease, a nutritional disorder or cancer
  • In cats it may be Idiopathic (no known cause)
Phosphorus
  • Can indicate damage in kidney function
  • Can be altered in diabetic states
  • Can be abnormal in pets fed raw diets, especially all meat diets
Potassium
  • Can aid in diagnosis of some hormonal diseases (Hypoadrenocorticism)
  • Abnormal elevations of levels seen in acute kidney failure
  • Abnormal low levels seen in conditions were the pet drinks and urinates excessively , in pets with diarrhea or those who are not eating well
Glucose
  • Levels can be affected by hormone producing organs
  • Can aid in the diagnosis of endocrine diseases, especially Diabetes Mellitus
Globulins
  • Related to the immune system; changes can reflect liver or intestinal diseases or cancer
Amylase
  • Abnormal level elevations seen in kidney disease, pancreatic inflammation and intestinal disease
Lipase
  • Elevations can be seen with pancreatitis
Bilirubin
  • Can be elevated with some types of anemia, liver disease and biliary system disorders
Creatine Kinase
  • Increased levels can be indicative of muscle damage
Cholesterol
  • Often used as a secondary test for kidney, liver and intestinal diseases and thyroid function
Total Protein
  • Used in the diagnosis of a variety of diseases including kidney, liver, bone marrow, intestinal, as well as other nutritional and metabolic disorders
T4
  • Commonly used to analyze thyroid function
Urinalysis
  • Urine of the pet is collected and analyzed both microscopically and macroscopically
  • Is typically run with bloodwork for assessing potential disease processes
  • Can be an indicator of kidney function and lower urinary tract disease such as bladder infections 
  • Can also reflect diseases in other organs (diabetes, liver disease, etc)