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If you’ve got an aging dog and your vet has just handed you a lab report full of weird abbreviations and numbers, you’re not alone. All dog parents get that tight feeling in their chest when the words “elevated liver enzymes” or “low red blood cells” pop up.

So let’s break it down. In regular, real talk. No fluff. No jargon. Just what you actually need to know about your senior dog’s bloodwork and how to understand it.

First things first: Why bloodwork even matters

You might be thinking, “He seems fine, why poke him with needles?” I get it. But dogs don’t always show signs when something’s brewing under the hood. Especially senior dogs. They’re tough old souls.

Bloodwork is how we catch things early. Before there’s vomiting, weight loss, or that awful moment when they can’t get up one morning.

It’s like reading the engine codes before your car breaks down on the motorway.

Let’s start with the CBC (Complete Blood Count)

The CBC looks at your dog’s blood cells. Three main types:

1. Red Blood Cells (RBCs)
These carry oxygen. If they’re low, your dog might be anemic. That could mean blood loss, chronic disease, or even something going on with the bone marrow.

2. White Blood Cells (WBCs)
These fight infections. Too high? Your dog might be battling an infection or inflammation. Too low? Could be something suppressing their immune system.

3. Platelets
These help the blood clot. Low platelets can mean a risk of bleeding, especially after injury or

surgery. But don’t panic over a slight drop, labs mess up sometimes. Always retest before worrying too much.

Now, the chemistry panel (aka the organ check)

This part tells us how your dog’s organs are behaving, especially the kidneys and liver.

1. BUN and Creatinine
These measure kidney function. High numbers? It could mean kidney disease. Very common in older dogs, especially those who drink more water or pee more often.

But sometimes it’s just dehydration, which is why your vet might ask for a recheck.

2. ALT, ALP, AST
These are liver enzymes. A small rise might mean your dog’s been on certain meds or had some fatty food. A big rise could mean liver disease, gallbladder issues, or even cancer.

ALP can be sky-high when tested sometimes. Especially if your dog is already on med [Arthritis probably]. But this isn’t something to worry about. You can always switch meds with the guidance of your vet and retest in a month’s time. 

3. Glucose
This one you probably know, it’s blood sugar. Too high can mean diabetes. Too low can mean insulin problems or even a tumour in rare cases.

4. Albumin and Globulin
These are proteins. Albumin helps with fluid balance. Globulin relates to immune function. If either is too low or too high, your vet might look into liver function, inflammation, or even gut health.

Other values that come up a lot

Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and chloride are checked too. They tell us about hydration and organ function. Low potassium? Your dog might feel weak. High sodium? Could be a kidney or hormone issue.

Calcium gets tested because high levels might mean cancer. Doesn’t always, but it’s one of those “hmm, let’s check further” things.

So your dog’s results came back abnormal… now what?

First off, take a deep breath. Slight changes don’t always mean disaster. One high or low number doesn’t write the whole story. We look at patterns.

I once had a senior Husky whose bloodwork screamed “kidney failure.” But he was bouncing around like a puppy. We rehydrated him, retested, and everything normalized. He’d just been sneaky and wasn’t drinking enough.

On the flip side, I’ve seen bloodwork catch cancer before a dog showed any symptoms. The early heads-up gave us time to make decisions and keep the dog comfortable.

So yeah, bloodwork matters.

How often should you run bloodwork in senior dogs?

Honestly? At least once a year. Every six months if they’re on meds or have had issues before.

Think of it like an oil change for their body. Doesn’t seem urgent until something’s broken. And trust me, you’d rather know early.

A real moment that stuck with me

There was this little dog, Benny, a scruffy mix from the UK whose dad swore he was “just a bit old and grumpy.” He brought him in because Benny had skipped a meal.

Bloodwork showed early-stage kidney disease. We got him on a renal diet, adjusted his meds, and Benny got two more good years. Full of park walks, chicken treats, and scolding the postman.

All because his human listened to his gut and came in early.

Wrapping it up, vet to vet-parent

Bloodwork isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about understanding your dog from the inside out. It gives you answers, yes, but more importantly, it gives you options.

And isn’t that what we want as dog parents? A little control in a world where our dogs age far too quickly.

So next time your vet says, “We should run some labs,” don’t shrug it off. It’s not just numbers on paper. It’s your dog’s story, told in enzymes and cells and clues.

And if you’ve just got those results and feel overwhelmed, sit down, take a breath, and ask your vet to walk through it slowly. No silly questions. No rush.

Now I’m curious, has your dog ever had surprising bloodwork results that changed how you cared for them?