Blood chemistry explained (liver / kidney / glucose)
Chemistry panels read organ function: liver (ALT/AST/ALP/BILI), kidneys (BUN/CREA/PHOS), glucose and proteins. Core for senior screening and disease follow-up; requires fasting.
🧾 Before the test
- ✓Fast 8-12 hours before the draw (water is fine)
- ✓Ask the vet before skipping glucose-affecting medication
- ✓Pair with urinalysis for senior pets
📊 Reading the key values
| Search | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| ALT (liver enzyme) | Hepatocyte damage: liver disease, toxins, endocrine disease | Usually not significant |
| AST | Liver or muscle damage | Not specific |
| ALP | Dogs: liver disease / Cushing's / drugs. In cats any rise is significant (liver disease) | Not specific |
| TBIL (bilirubin) | Cholestasis, hemolysis, liver disease — an emergency with jaundice | Not specific |
| BUN | Kidney disease, dehydration, high-protein diet or GI bleeding | Liver disease, low-protein diet |
| CREA (creatinine) | Declining kidney function (read with SDMA), obstruction | Reduced muscle mass |
| PHOS (phosphorus) | Mid-late kidney disease, hyperparathyroidism | Malnutrition, diabetes treatment |
| GLU (glucose) | Diabetes; stress hyperglycemia is very common in cats | Insulinoma, toy-breed puppy hypoglycemia |
| TP/ALB (protein/albumin) | Dehydration | Protein loss (gut/kidney) or poor liver production |
| CHOL (cholesterol) | Endocrine disease, fatty diet | Liver or intestinal disease |
💡 How to read it In cats, even mildly raised creatinine with poor urine concentration warns of CKD; a dog's ALP has many causes and needs context. Ask for SDMA — it flags kidney disease earlier than creatinine.
🤖 AI report interpretation
Type the values from your report below (e.g. “ALT 250, BUN 40”) and the AI will interpret them against each test’s reference meanings.
FAQ
Why fasting?
Food raises glucose and lipids falsely. 8-12 hours fasting (water allowed) gives the most readable results.
Is normal creatinine proof the kidneys are fine?
Not necessarily — cats can have CKD with creatinine still in range. SDMA + urine specific gravity + blood pressure are more sensitive.