We discussed the importance of regular, thorough physical exams for the older pet. My purpose today is not to make you an expert in clinical pathology, but rather to give some background information that will enable you to better understand the lab tests that are done on your pet. These tests give the veterinarian a more complete picture of the dog's internal organ system function, especially important when dealing with patients who cannot tell us what problems they are having. Performing routine lab testing on senior dogs when they are healthy allows us to establish normal values for each individual pet, and gives a baseline to refer to later in the animal's life if illness develops. The CBC analyzes the red and white blood cells present in the circulation, their numbers, size, and shape.
Red cells are the oxygen carrying cells in blood.
Decreases in these parameters can indicate anemia, a common condition in pets. Increases in red blood cell counts often indicate a dehydrated patient. There is a total white blood cell count, and a differential count. The differential count measures the numbers of each type of white blood cell and expresses them in an absolute number and as a percentage of the total white blood cell count. The primary types of white blood cells we evaluate in dogs are neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils.