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Pet Lab Results Explained

Enter lab values to understand your pet's blood work

Species-Specific Reference Ranges

Dogs, cats, and rabbits have different normal values. Get accurate interpretations for your pet's species.

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)

Kidney

Measures kidney function and protein metabolism. BUN is a waste product filtered by kidneys.

Reference Range (dog):

7 - 27 mg/dL

High: Kidney dysfunction, dehydration, high protein diet, or bleeding in digestive tract

Low: Liver disease, malnutrition, or overhydration

Your Pet's Value:

mg/dL

Creatinine

Kidney

Muscle waste product filtered by kidneys. More specific for kidney function than BUN.

Reference Range (dog):

0.5 - 1.5 mg/dL

High: Kidney disease or decreased kidney function

Low: Muscle wasting or severe liver disease

Your Pet's Value:

mg/dL

SDMA (Symmetric Dimethylarginine)

Kidney

Newer kidney marker that detects kidney disease earlier than BUN/creatinine.

Reference Range (dog):

0 - 14 µg/dL

High: Early kidney disease (can be elevated when BUN/creatinine are still normal)

Low: Normal kidney function

Your Pet's Value:

µg/dL

Phosphorus

Kidney/Mineral

Mineral regulated by kidneys. Important for bone health and energy metabolism.

Reference Range (dog):

2.5 - 6 mg/dL

High: Kidney disease, certain cancers, or high-phosphorus diet

Low: Malnutrition, vitamin D deficiency, or certain hormonal conditions

Your Pet's Value:

mg/dL

Calcium (Total)

Mineral

Essential mineral for bones, muscle function, and nerve signaling.

Reference Range (dog):

8.8 - 11.5 mg/dL

High: Certain cancers, kidney disease, or vitamin D excess

Low: Kidney disease, vitamin D deficiency, or malnutrition

Note: Rabbits have uniquely wide calcium ranges compared to dogs/cats. High calcium is common and doesn't always indicate disease.

Your Pet's Value:

mg/dL

Potassium

Electrolytes

Essential electrolyte for nerve and muscle function.

Reference Range (dog):

3.7 - 5.8 mmol/L

High: Kidney failure, tissue damage, or certain medications

Low: Kidney disease, vomiting, diarrhea, or certain medications

Your Pet's Value:

mmol/L

ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)

Liver

Liver enzyme that increases with liver cell damage.

Reference Range (dog):

10 - 100 U/L

High: Liver disease, hepatitis, toxin exposure, or certain medications

Low: Normal liver function

Note: Rabbit ALT reference range is significantly higher than dogs/cats. Interpret with caution.

Your Pet's Value:

U/L

ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase)

Liver

Liver enzyme found in liver and bone.

Reference Range (dog):

10 - 150 U/L

High: Liver disease, bone growth, or certain medications

Low: Normal liver function

Your Pet's Value:

U/L

AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)

Liver

Enzyme found in liver, muscle, and other tissues.

Reference Range (dog):

10 - 50 U/L

High: Liver disease, muscle damage, or heart problems

Low: Normal liver and muscle function

Your Pet's Value:

U/L

GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase)

Liver

Liver enzyme specific to liver and bile ducts.

Reference Range (dog):

0 - 20 U/L

High: Liver disease or bile duct obstruction

Low: Normal liver function

Your Pet's Value:

U/L

Bilirubin (Total)

Liver

Pigment produced by liver breakdown of red blood cells.

Reference Range (dog):

0 - 0.5 mg/dL

High: Liver disease, bile duct obstruction, or hemolysis

Low: Normal liver function

Your Pet's Value:

mg/dL

RBC (Red Blood Cells)

Blood Cells

Red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body.

Reference Range (dog):

5.5 - 8.5 ×10⁶/µL

High: Dehydration or polycythemia

Low: Anemia, bleeding, or bone marrow problems

Your Pet's Value:

×10⁶/µL

PCV / Hematocrit

Blood Cells

Percentage of blood volume occupied by red blood cells.

Reference Range (dog):

37 - 55 %

High: Dehydration

Low: Anemia

Your Pet's Value:

Hemoglobin

Blood Cells

Protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

Reference Range (dog):

12 - 18 g/dL

High: Dehydration

Low: Anemia

Your Pet's Value:

g/dL

WBC (White Blood Cells)

Blood Cells

White blood cells that fight infection.

Reference Range (dog):

6 - 17 ×10³/µL

High: Infection, inflammation, or stress

Low: Bone marrow suppression or severe infection

Your Pet's Value:

×10³/µL

Platelets

Blood Cells

Cell fragments that help blood clot.

Reference Range (dog):

150 - 500 ×10³/µL

High: Inflammation or iron deficiency

Low: Bleeding disorder, immune disease, or bone marrow problems

Your Pet's Value:

×10³/µL

Sodium

Electrolytes

Essential electrolyte for fluid balance and nerve function.

Reference Range (dog):

140 - 150 mmol/L

High: Dehydration or kidney disease

Low: Vomiting, metabolic acidosis, or overhydration

Your Pet's Value:

mmol/L

Chloride

Electrolytes

Electrolyte that balances with sodium.

Reference Range (dog):

105 - 115 mmol/L

High: Dehydration or kidney disease

Low: Vomiting, metabolic acidosis, or overhydration

Your Pet's Value:

mmol/L

Glucose

Metabolic

Blood sugar level. Important energy source for cells.

Reference Range (dog):

70 - 120 mg/dL

High: Diabetes, stress, or certain medications

Low: Insulin overdose, starvation, or severe infection

Note: Rabbits are highly prone to stress hyperglycemia. A single elevated glucose reading does not necessarily indicate diabetes.

Your Pet's Value:

mg/dL

Albumin

Protein

Protein made by the liver. Important for maintaining blood pressure.

Reference Range (dog):

2.7 - 4.4 g/dL

High: Dehydration

Low: Liver disease, kidney disease, or malnutrition

Your Pet's Value:

g/dL

Total Protein

Protein

Total amount of protein in blood.

Reference Range (dog):

5.5 - 7.5 g/dL

High: Dehydration or chronic inflammation

Low: Malnutrition, liver disease, or kidney disease

Your Pet's Value:

g/dL

Cholesterol

Metabolic

Fat-like substance important for cell membranes and hormone production.

Reference Range (dog):

130 - 370 mg/dL

High: Hypothyroidism, liver disease, or high-fat diet

Low: Malabsorption or severe liver disease

Your Pet's Value:

mg/dL

Triglycerides

Metabolic

Type of fat that circulates in blood. Energy storage and transport.

Reference Range (dog):

30 - 150 mg/dL

High: High-fat diet, pancreatitis, or certain hormonal conditions

Low: Malabsorption or malnutrition

Your Pet's Value:

mg/dL

Frequently Asked Questions

What do abnormal lab values mean?

Abnormal lab values indicate potential health issues but don't provide a definitive diagnosis. Your veterinarian considers multiple factors including physical exam findings, symptoms, and other test results to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.

How often should my pet have blood work done?

Healthy adult pets should have blood work annually. Senior pets (7+ years for dogs, 10+ years for cats) benefit from twice-yearly blood work to catch age-related changes early. Pets with chronic conditions may need more frequent monitoring as directed by your veterinarian.

Why does my pet need to fast before blood work?

Fasting (usually 8-12 hours) ensures accurate results by eliminating the effects of recent meals on glucose, fat, and certain enzyme levels. Water is usually allowed during the fast.

What is CKD staging?

CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) staging uses blood values (creatinine, SDMA) and urine specific gravity to determine disease severity. Stages 1-4 help guide treatment decisions and prognosis. Early detection through regular screening improves outcomes.

Can lab values vary between laboratories?

Yes, reference ranges can vary slightly between labs due to different equipment and methods. Always use the reference ranges provided by your specific laboratory, and track trends in your pet's values over time.

Can I save and track my pet's lab results?

Yes. Create a free Furry Health account to save lab values, track trends across visits, and share reports with your veterinarian. Your data is stored securely and you can access it from any device.