How to read bloodwork

The following information comes from "Normal Parameters and Laboratory

Interpretation of Disease States in the Domestic Ferret," an article

written by Dr. Tom Kawasaki around 1994.  Your veterinarian might find

this information helpful.

                            mean    acceptable range

sodium (mmol/L)             153     143-163

potassium (mmol/L)          4.47    3.2-5.77

chloride (mmol/L)           116     105-127

calcium (mg/dl)             8.8     7.5-10.1

inorganic phosphorus (mg/dl) 5.5     3.7-7.4

glucose (fasted) (mg/dl)    110     65-164

BUN (mg/dl)                 21      8-37

creatinine (mg/dl)          0.5     0.16-0.84

BUN/creatinine              42

total protein (g/dl)        5.8     4.4-7.3

albumin (g/dl)              3.3     2.5-4.1

globulin (g/dl)             2.2     1.8-2.9

total bilirubin (mg/dl)     0.2     0.1-0.5

cholesterol (mg/dl)         174     76-272

alkaline phosphatase (IU/L) 37      15-75

ALT (IU/L)                  95      13-176

AST (IU/L)                  61      23-99

CO2                         22      14-30

A/G (g/dl)                  1.3     1.0-2.3

LDH                         274     101-498

triglycerides               98      31-101

GGT                         4.8     1-13

uric acid                   2.2     1.4-3.3

PCV (%)                     45.4    38-54

hemoglobin (g/dl)                   13-18

RBC (X10^6/mm3)             9.0     7.0-11.0

platelets (X10^3)           400     350-600

reticulocytes (%)           N/A

WBC (x10^3/mm3)             5.22    2.8-8.0

neutrophils                 3017    2329-5700

                            (59%)   (39-85%)

lymphocytes                 1157    525-3500

                            (35%)   (11-55%)

monocytes                   119     52-177

                            (2.6%)  (0.76-4.4%)

eosinophils                 133     29-432

                            (2.8%)  (1-8%)

basophils                   0       0

MCV (um3)                   51      46-65

MCH (pg)                    17.7    15.5-19.0

MCHC                        33      29-36 *

Dr. Susan Brown also notes that the normal insulin level is 0-20, but

that insulin may appear normal even in animals with insulinoma [1.1].

There are, of course, dozens of components in your ferret's blood

which can help your vet determine what's wrong.  Here are some of the

ones people ask about most often, and normal ranges.  If you want to

know more about what your ferret's tests mean, don't hesitate to ask

your vet.

The following information is extracted from an article in

The FAIR [Ferret Adoption, Information & Rescue Society] Report,

Vol. II, No. 2, by Mary Van Dahm, with a few additions.

Blood glucose

  Glucose is a sugar, the main energy source for the body.  Its level

  varies through the day, higher just after a meal, lower when the

  ferret is hungry, but the body keeps it fairly constant mainly by

  controlling the amount of insulin in the blood.  A non-fasted blood

  glucose test might give values up to 207 mg/dl, depending on when

  the ferret last ate.  Testing the blood glucose after withholding

  food from the ferret for 6 hours (fasting blood glucose) eliminates

  the variation and gives you a more definite number to judge it by.

  A low reading (hypoglycemia) may be a sign of insulinoma (see the

  Ferret Insulinoma FAQ [1.1]).  A high reading (hyperglycemia) is

  rare, but might be a sign of diabetes.  However, insulinoma can

  also cause a high glucose reading, and since diabetes is extremely

  rare in ferrets, you should double-check any diabetes diagnosis by

  looking for sugar in the urine as well.

Pack cell volume/hematocrit (PCV/HCT)

  This is the percentage of red blood cells in the blood.  Low

  readings indicate anemia; high readings are usually a sign of

  dehydration. 

Red blood cells (RBC)

  Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's tissues and carbon

  dioxide back to the lungs.  Low readings show anemia.

White blood cells (WBC)

  Part of the immune system.  Readings over about 7000 may mean

  the ferret is fighting off an infection, cold or flu.  Readings over

  10,000 may be early signs of lymphoma (see the Ferret Lymphosarcoma

  FAQ [1.1]) or another cancer.  Unusually low readings indicate anemia

  and a bone marrow problem.

Lymphocytes

  Another type of white blood cell.  High readings can indicate a

  "smoldering" infection, possibly Helicobacter mustelae (see the

  Ferret Gastric Ulcer/ H. mustelae FAQ [1.1]).  Many, but not all,

  cases of lymphosarcoma also show elevated lymphocyte levels (see the

  Ferret Lymphosarcoma FAQ [1.1]).

Eosinophils

  Another type of white blood cell.  Often an indicator of intestinal

  disorders, infection, or cancer.  Other parts of the blood profile

  must also be considered for a diagnosis.

Protein, Albumin and Globulin

  Albumin is a kind of protein, and globulin is a general term for all

  proteins that aren't albumin, so protein - albumin = globulin.  The

  numbers indicate the ferret's general health and nutrition, and

  albumin also helps show how well the liver and kidneys are working.

BUN and Creatinine

  The job of the kidneys is to filter out impurities, so if they

  aren't working well, these levels will be high.

Alkaline phosphatese

  This is an enzyme found in the liver and bone.  When bones are

  growing or the liver is damaged, lots of this is released into the

  blood. 

Total bilirubin

  A by-product of the normal breakdown of hemoglobin in red blood

  cells.  Helps diagnose liver disease and bile duct obstruction.

Sodium, Potassium and Chloride

  Controlled by the kidneys, these are commonly called blood

  electrolytes.  They are involved in water balance, acid/base balance,

  and the transmission of nerve impulses, especially to the heart.

Calcium and Phosphorus

  These minerals are controlled by the parathyroid glands and the

  kidneys.  The levels show possible problems with bones, blood

  clotting, and nerve, muscle, and cell activity.