Bloodwork is one of the most valuable tools in veterinary medicine, especially for senior dogs. It reveals organ function, hydration status, infection, and metabolic disease long before symptoms appear. Here is what the major values mean.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Red blood cells (RBC): Carry oxygen throughout the body. Low counts (anemia) can indicate chronic disease, blood loss, or bone marrow problems. High counts may signal dehydration.
White blood cells (WBC): The immune system's front line. Elevated counts often indicate infection or inflammation. Very high or very low counts warrant further investigation.
Platelets: Essential for blood clotting. Low platelet counts can result from immune-mediated disease, tick-borne infections, or certain cancers.
Chemistry Panel
BUN and Creatinine: These kidney markers rise when the kidneys lose filtering capacity. In senior dogs, trending creatinine values over time is more useful than a single measurement. SDMA is a newer, more sensitive kidney marker we also monitor.
ALT and ALP: Liver enzymes that indicate liver cell damage or bile duct issues. Mild elevations in older dogs are common and may simply require monitoring, while significant elevations warrant ultrasound imaging.
Glucose: High values may indicate diabetes mellitus, stress, or Cushing's disease. Low values can signal sepsis, liver failure, or certain tumors.
Total Protein and Albumin: Reflect nutritional status, liver function, and kidney protein loss. Low albumin in a senior dog raises concern for chronic kidney, liver, or gastrointestinal disease.
What Happens Next
If your senior dog's bloodwork shows abnormalities, we will discuss what additional diagnostics — if any — are recommended, and whether dietary or medication changes could help. The goal is to establish a baseline and track trends over time so we can intervene early.