Sycamore Veterinary Services offers complete in-house laboratory testing for your pet as well as testing and inspection for beehives and hive health, productivity and disease.

CBC and Blood Chemistries – Understanding the Tests

A complete Blood Count, or CBC, shows a veterinarian your pets hydration status, anemia, infection, blood clotting ability and immune system response. A CBC is essential for animals that have symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pale gums or loss of appetite. If your dog needs surgery, a CBC can also detect bleeding disorders or other unseen abnormalities. Specifically, a Complete Blood Count provides detailed information including:

Hematocrit (HCT): This test measures the percentage of red blood cells to detect anemia and hydration
Hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (Hb and MCHC): These are the oxygen-carrying pigments of red blood cells
White blood cell count (WBC): This test measures the body’s immune cells. Increases or decreases in the WBC indicate certain diseases or infections
Granulocytes and lymphocytes/monocytes (GRANS and L/M): These are specific types of white blood cells
Eosinophils (EOS): These are a specific type of white blood cells that may indicate allergic or parasitic conditions
Platelet count (PLT): This test measures cells that form blood clots
Reticulocytes (RETICS): These are immature red blood cells. High levels indicate regenerative anemia

Blood Chemistries, or blood serum tests, evaluate an animal’s organ function, electrolyte status, hormone levels and more. These tests are important to evaluating the health of older dogs, as well as signs of vomiting, diarrhea or toxin exposure. They are also recommended for pets receiving long-term medications and to determine general health before anesthesia.

Albumin (ALB): This is a serum protein that helps evaluate hydration, hemorrhage and intestinal, liver and kidney disease
Alkaline phosphatase (ALKP): Elevations in this test may indicate liver damage, Cushing’s disease or active bone growth in a young dog
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT): This test may determine active liver damage, but does not indicate the cause
Amylase (AMYL): Elevations in this test indicate pancreatitis or kidney disease
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST): Increases in this test may indicate liver, heart or skeletal muscle damage
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): This test determines kidney function. An increased level is called azotemia and can be caused by kidney, liver and heart disease as well as urethral obstruction, shock or dehydration
Calcium (Ca): Changes in the normal level of this test can indicate a variety of diseases. Tumors, hyperparathyroidism, kidney disease, and low albumin are just a few of the conditions that alter serum calcium
Cholesterol (CHOL): This test is used to supplement diagnosis of hypothyroidism, liver disease, Cushing’s disease and diabetes mellitus
Chloride (Cl): Chloride is an electrolyte that is typically lost with symptoms like vomiting or illnesses such as Addison’s disease. Elevations often indicate dehydration
Cortisol (CORT): Cortisol is a hormone that is measured in tests for Cushing’s disease (the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test) and Addison’s disease (ACTH stimulation test)
Creatinine (CREA): This test reveals kidney function and helps distinguish between kidney and non-kidney causes of elevated BUN
Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT): This is an enzyme that indicates liver disease or corticosteroid excess
Globulin (GLOB): This is a blood protein that often increases with chronic inflammation and certain disease states
Glucose (GLU): Glucose is a blood sugar. Elevated levels may indicate diabetes mellitus. Low levels can cause collapse, seizures or coma
Potassium (K): This is an electrolyte typically lost with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea or excessive urination. Increased levels may indicate kidney failure, Addison’s disease, dehydration or urethral obstruction. High levels can lead to cardiac arrest
Lipase (LIP): Lipase is an enzyme that may indicate pancreatitis
Sodium (Na): Sodium is an electrolyte often lost with signs vomiting, diarrhea, kidney disease and Addison’s disease. This test helps indicate hydration status
Phosphorus (PHOS): Elevations in this test are often associated with kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and bleeding disorders
Total bilirubin (TBIL): Elevations in this test may indicate liver or hemolytic disease. This test helps identify bile duct problems and certain types of anemia
Total protein: This test indicates hydration status and provides additional information about the liver, kidneys and infectious diseases
Thyroxine (T4): Thyroxine is a thyroid hormone. Decreased levels often signal hypothyroidism in dogs

Hive Health Testing

Sycamore Veterinary Services offers complete hive health testing and inspection, including queen checks, pest control, and checking for disease. We can also advise on proper beehive management.

In House Laboratory and Diagnostics

In House Bloodwork

Pets hydration status, anemia, infection, blood clotting ability and immune system response.

CBC	$40
Chemistry	$50
CBC and Chemistry	$85
Urinalysis – Strip and Sediment	$36