For example, a cat might have higher BUN and creatinine levels than they did the year before, even though they are not yet above the normal ranges for those values.
Sometimes the doctor can catch something like kidney disease in its earliest stages by doing this. Veterinarians often recommend blood screens on cats yearly or twice yearly to monitor for indications of illness or disease. When Do Veterinarians Recommend Blood Tests in Cats? Electrolyte imbalances can result in many signs of illness in cats, including heart arrhythmias and muscle weakness. ElectrolytesĮlectrolytes levels, including potassium, sodium, and chloride, can tell a veterinarian a lot about a cat's health status, including information about hydration levels and organ function, especially the kidneys. High thyroid levels can cause a myriad of different signs in cats, including increased appetite, weight loss, eating non-food items or wanting more human food, and increased vomiting. A high T4 might indicate the development of hyperthyroidism, a commonly diagnosed condition in cats. Thyroxine (T4) is usually monitored in cats as they get older. These viruses are serious, life-threatening, and can't be cured once a cat is infected, so it's important to keep tabs on a cat's status with regards to them. FELV and FIVįeline leukemia virus (FELV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are routinely tested for in kittens and periodically throughout adulthood. Low blood sugar can also give a veterinarian valuable information about a cat's health. Glucose, or blood sugar, is mostly tested to determine whether a cat has diabetes mellitus, during which the glucose result will be quite high. They are mostly indicative of liver health, and if they are too high, it usually indicates a liver dysfunction of some kind. ALT and BilirubinĪlanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and bilirubin are blood chemistries that are also often present in routine blood panels. High levels indicate that the cat's kidneys are having difficulty clearing the creatinine from the body and kidney disease may be present. If the BUN is high, it can indicate dehydration, kidney dysfunction, or a liver problem.Ĭreatinine levels are more strictly related to kidney function. BUN and Creatinineīlood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine are blood chemistries that are routinely measured as part of larger blood panels.
A CBC can tell a veterinarian if a cat is anemic, dehydrated, fighting some sort of inflammation or infection, and whether there is internal bleeding occurring.
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