Making Sense of Blood Work in Greyhounds

By William E. Feeman III, DVM,

C. Guillermo Couto, DVM, diplomate ACVIM
M. Cristina Iazbik, DVM
iliana Marin, DVM.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine
The Ohio State Uniersity
Colum!us" O# $%&'(
!"e purpose o# t"is arti$le is to pro%ide a brie# o%er%ie& o# t"e $omponents o# t"e blood &ork in
do's, and to illustrate "o& %alues in Grey"ounds #re(uently di##er #rom t"ose in do's o# ot"er
breeds. Blood &ork is a 'eneral term re#errin' to dia'nosti$ laboratory tests done on blood
samples, and in$lude e%eryt"in' #rom "eart&orm tests to t"yroid "ormone assays. )ome o# t"e
indi$ations #or per#ormin' blood &ork in$lude illness, annual "ealt" $"e$ks, and pre*anest"esia.
!"e most $ommonly per#ormed tests &"en a %eterinarian re#ers to +runnin' blood &ork, are t"e
$omplete blood $ell $ount -CBC. and t"e serum bio$"emi$al pro#ile.
The Complete Blood Count )CBC*
A CBC e%aluates t"e %arious $ellular $omponents o# a blood sample. /ed blood $ells -/BCs or
eryt"ro$ytes., &"ite blood $ells -leuko$ytes., and platelets are all $ounted and ot"er
measurements are per#ormed. /ed blood $ells $arry o0y'en t"rou'"out t"e body and are
typi$ally reported as a pa$ked $ell %olume -1CV., "emato$rit -2$t., or /BC $ount.
!"e 1CV and 2$t report t"e per$enta'e o# red blood $ells in a blood sample a#ter spinnin' it
do&n in a $entri#u'e. Anemia is de#ined as a lo& number o# /BCs -or a lo& 1CV or 2$t.3 do's
&it" anemia "a%e di##i$ulty transportin' o0y'en to t"eir tissues, so t"ey are t"ere#ore tired
-e0er$ise intolerant., pale -li'"t*pink 'ums., and t"eir "eart rates and pulses are usually #aster
t"an normal -ta$"y$ardia..
4ormal re#eren$e %alues #or 1CV and 2$t in do's ran'e #rom 56 to 678, &"ereas normal
Grey"ounds typi$ally "a%e 1CVs o# 96 to :68. !"ere#ore, a Grey"ound &it" a 1CV or 2$t in
t"e lo& end o# t"e normal ran'e -e.'.3 5;8. is likely anemi$. Furt"er testin' s"ould be per#ormed
in t"ese $ases, sin$e anemia $an be asso$iated &it" bone marro& disease, immune*mediated
disease -immune*mediated "emolyti$ anemia., blood loss -trauma, parasites, et$.., and some
in#e$tious diseases -Babesia, E"rli$"ia, et$... A $ondition $alled primary poly$yt"emia or
eryt"ro$ytosis $an be apat"olo'i$ $ause o# an in$reased 1CV or 2$t, but t"is dia'nosis is
e0$eedin'ly rare. De"ydration $an also result in a "i'" 1CV or 2$t. Most CBCs also in$lude a
determination o# total plasma protein -!11. $on$entration3 de"ydration, lipemia -#at in t"e blood,
as it $ommonly o$$urs a#ter a meal., some in#e$tions, and some tumors $an result in "i'" !11.
White !lood cells )WBCs*
WBCs are $ommonly used to #i'"t in#e$tion and are a part o# t"e immune system3 t"e re#eren$e
ran'e #or WBC $ounts in normal do's is 9,777 to <6,777=>l -or 9*<6 ? <7@=.. Grey"ounds
#re(uently "a%e lo&er WBC $ounts t"an normal do's, and $ommonly "a%e bet&een A,777 and
:,777=>l -A*: ? <7@=.3 t"ere#ore, a WBC $ount o# A,777=>l -A.7 ?
<7@=. is normal #or t"e breed and s"ould not be o# $on$ern in an ot"er&ise "ealt"y do'. !"ere
are se%eral types o# $ir$ulatin' WBCs, in$ludin' neutrop"ils -banded or se'mented neutrop"ils.,
lymp"o$ytes, mono$ytes, basop"ils and eosinop"ils.
+eutrophils and monocytes
4eutrop"ils and mono$ytes are &"ite blood $ells t"at $an atta$k and destroy ba$teria and ot"er
or'anisms. !"eir numbers are $ommonly in$reased in asso$iation &it" stress, or in ba$terial
in#e$tions or in#lammation, and $an be de$reased in patients &it" o%er&"elmin' in#e$tions,
immune*mediated diseases, dru' rea$tions, or bone marro& disease.
Grey"ounds "a%e lo&er neutrop"il $ounts t"an t"e re#eren$e ran'e #or do's -5,777*<7,777=>l or
5*<7 ? <7@=.3 t"us, neutrop"il $ounts as lo& as <,;77=>l -<.; ? <7@=. s"ould not be o# $on$ern
i# t"e do' is "ealt"y.
,ymphocytes
ymp"o$ytes are &"ite blood $ells t"at play a key role in re$o'nizin' #orei'n proteins and
produ$in' antibodies3 t"ere are B* and !*lymp"o$ytes. Cir$ulatin' lymp"o$yte numbers are
$ommonly in$reased in response to #orei'n proteins in t"e body -e.'. a normal %a$$ine response.,
in some in#e$tions -e.'.3 e"rli$"iosis., in some do's &it" adrenal insu##i$ien$y
-AddisonBs disease., and in some leukemias -e.'.3 lymp"oid leukemias..
ymp"o$ytes are $ommonly de$reased in response to stress or disease, and in some
immunode#i$ien$y syndromes3 most si$k do's "a%e lo& lymp"o$yte $ounts due to stress.
-osinophils
Eosinop"ils are &"ite blood $ells in%ol%ed in immunity a'ainst parasiti$ in#e$tions and aller'i$
rea$tions. Interestin'ly, eosinop"ils in Grey"ounds #re(uently la$k t"e $"ara$teristi$ oran'e
'ranules o# eosinop"ils in ot"er breeds, and $an be misdia'nosed as +to0i$ neutrop"ils,, $ells
$ommonly #ound in se%ere o%er&"elmin' in#e$tions.
Basophils
Basop"ils are &"ite blood $ells t"at also play a key role in aller'i$ rea$tions3 t"ey $an be
in$reased in do's &it" parasiti$ in#e$tions or aller'i$ rea$tions, but t"at is rare. De$reased
numbers o# basop"ils or eosinop"ils are rarely $lini$ally si'ni#i$ant &it"out ot"er indi$ations o#
disease.
.latelets
1latelets are $ells &"i$" are used by t"e body to "elp #orm blood $lots and repair inCuries to
blood %essels. 1latelets are $ommonly de$reased in asso$iation &it" bone marro& disease,
immune*mediated diseases -immune*mediated t"rombo$ytopenia., and &it" some in#e$tious
or'anisms -E"rli$"ia, Babesia.. )ome breeds, in$ludin' Grey"ounds and Ca%alier Din' C"arles
spaniels "a%e lo&er numbers o# $ir$ulatin' platelets t"an t"e re#eren$e ran'e #or do's, yet t"ey
do not e0perien$e any bleedin' problems. Most non*Grey"ound do's "a%e platelet $ounts o#
o%er <67,777=>l -<67 ?<7@=., &"ereas Grey"ounds #re(uently "a%e platelet $ounts as lo& as
;7,777* <A7,777=>l -;7*<A7 ?<7@=.. I# your Grey"ound "as a mildly de$reased platelet $ount,
but is ot"er&ise "ealt"y, $lose obser%ation and repeatin' t"e platelet $ount in <*5 &eeks is t"e
best approa$". I# "e=s"e de%elops e%iden$e o# bleedin' -pinpoint bloody spots E pete$"iae, or
bruisin'., additional e%aluation is &arranted. In t"ose $ases, tests #or ti$k*borne diseases su$" as
E"rli$"ia spp and Babesia spp are indi$ated. 2i'" platelet $ounts are rarely $lini$ally rele%ant.
CBC/Summary
In $on$lusion, Grey"ounds usually "a%e "i'"er 1CV=2$t, lo&er WBC and neutrop"il $ounts,
and=or lo&er platelet $ounts t"an non*Grey"ound do's.
The Serum Biochemical .rofile
0idney function
A serum bio$"emi$al pro#ile is t"e +se$ond "al#, o# t"e traditional blood &ork3 it e%aluates
kidney #un$tion, li%er enzymes, ele$trolytes, mus$le enzymes, $"olesterol, and ot"er important
%alues. Didney #un$tion is determined primarily by t&o analytes, t"e $reatinine and t"e blood
urea nitro'en -BF4. $on$entrations3 t"ese are protein byprodu$ts normally eliminated by t"e
kidneys. !"e term azotemia re#ers to an in$rease in bot" %alues, and is typi$ally asso$iated &it"
kidney disease, urinary obstru$tion -more $ommon in $ats t"an in do's., or se%ere de"ydration.
Grey"ounds "a%e "i'"er $reatinine $on$entrations t"an do's o# ot"er breeds -probably due to
t"eir lar'e mus$le mass.3 t"ere#ore mild in$reases in $reatinine $on$entration &it"out in$reases
in t"e BF4 $on$entration in a "ealt"y Grey"ound are likely normal #or t"e breed. !"e BF4
$on$entration $an also in$rease as a $onse(uen$e o# "i'" dietary protein intake, 'astrointestinal
bleedin', or de"ydration. A urinalysis s"ould al&ays be per#ormed in do's &it" azotemia to
determine i# it is due to kidney disease or e0trarenal $auses. A lo& $reatinine $on$entration $an
be asso$iated &it" de$reased mus$le mass, &"ereas lo& BF4 $on$entration $an be asso$iated
&it" li%er #ailure, malnutrition, or in$reased &ater intake.
,ier en1ymes
!"e li%er enzymes alanine transaminase -A!., aspartate aminotrans#erase -A)!., and alkaline
p"osp"atase -A1. are all used to e%aluate t"e "ealt" o# t"e li%er and $an be in$reased in
asso$iation &it" %arious li%er diseases. A! is an enzyme #ound inside "epato$ytes -li%er $ells.
and in mus$le #ibers3 dama'e to "epato$ytes or mus$le by to0ins, trauma, or in#lammation $auses
in$reases in A! a$ti%ity -%alues. in serum. As a 'eneral rule, "i'" A! a$ti%ity is su''esti%e o#
on'oin' li%er dama'e -o# &"i$" t"ere are many $auses, su$" as "epatitis and in'estion o# to0ins
or dru's.3 "o&e%er, trauma -e.'. a do' "it by a $ar. or e0tensi%e mus$le dama'e -e.'.
r"abdomyolysis. $an $ause in$reases in A! a$ti%ities. A)! is less li%er* spe$i#i$ t"an A!3
"i'" A)! a$ti%ity usually o$$urs in $ases o# se%ere mus$le or li%er dama'e, in addition to li%er
disease. In most do's &it" e0tensi%e mus$le disease, anot"er enzyme -CD or $reatinine kinase. is
also markedly in$reased in serum. Grey"ounds "a%e sli'"tly "i'"er A!, A)!, and CD
a$ti%ities t"an non*Grey"ound do's.
A1 is less li%er*spe$i#i$ t"an A!. W"en in$reases in A1 are due to li%er disease, t"e bile
pi'ment -bilirubin. $on$entration also in$reases, and t"e do' may be Caundi$ed -yello&.. A1
a$ti%ity $an also be mildly in$reased in youn' 'ro&in' do's, and markedly in$reased in
asso$iation &it" rea$tions to $ertain dru's -$orti$osteroids, barbiturates. or adrenal 'land disease
-"yperadreno$orti$ism or Cus"in'Bs disease.. Additional in#ormation on t"e li%er $an be 'ained
by e%aluatin' t"e $"olesterol, albumin, BF4, and bilirubin $on$entrations. De$reased
$on$entrations o# $"olesterol, BF4, and=or albumin -see belo&., and in$reased $on$entration o#
bilirubin $an be seen in do's &it" some types o# $"roni$ li%er disease. C"an'es in some or
se%eral o# t"ese %alues may be an indi$ation #or your %eterinarian to assess li%er #un$tion or
morp"olo'y. A bile a$id blood test be#ore and a#ter #eedin' is one o# t"e tests used to e%aluate
li%er #un$tion, and is normally not in$luded in a standard bio$"emi$al pro#ile3 abdominal
radio'rap"s and ultrasono'rap"y are nonin%asi%e te$"ni(ues used to ima'e t"e li%er.
-lectrolytes
!"e ele$trolytes e%aluated on a standard serum bio$"emi$al pro#ile in$lude sodium, potassium,
$al$ium, $"loride, and p"osp"orous. !"ese minerals $an in$rease or de$rease in asso$iation &it"
a %ariety o# $auses ran'in' #rom de"ydration to "ypoadreno$orti$ism -AddisonBs disease..
De"ydrated do's usually "a%e "i'" sodium, $"loride, and $al$ium $on$entrations3 do's &it"
"ypoadreno$orti$ism usually "a%e "i'" potassium and lo& sodium $on$entrations. 2i'"
$on$entrations o# $al$ium -"yper$al$emia. $an be asso$iated &it" $an$er -lymp"oma, anal sa$
$ar$inoma, myeloma., %itamin D to0i$ity, kidney disease, and parat"yroid 'land problems. I# a
"i'" $al$ium $on$entration persists, your %eterinarian s"ould per#orm additional dia'nosti$ tests
-e.'. ionized $al$ium, "ormones.. Ele$trolyte $"an'es are also $ommon in asso$iation &it"
kidney disease and ot"er endo$rine disorders.
Glucose
Anot"er use#ul %alue on a bio$"emi$al pro#ile is t"e 'lu$ose -su'ar. $on$entration. Glu$ose is
t"e primary sour$e o# ener'y #or li%in' or'anisms3 blood 'lu$ose $on$entration $an be "i'" in
do's &it" diabetes mellitus, pan$reatitis, or &it" some dru' rea$tions. De$reased 'lu$ose
$on$entration $an be asso$iated &it" malnutrition, li%er #ailure, $an$er -insulinoma., septi$emia,
and insulin o%erdose.
2l!umin and glo!ulins
Albumin and 'lobulins to'et"er make up t"e total protein, a %alue measured in t"e bio$"emi$al
pro#ile. Albumin and most 'lobulins are synt"esized -manu#a$tured. by t"e li%er3 some 'lobulins
-antibodies. are made by immune $ells. )erum albumin is %ital to keep #luid inside t"e blood
%essels -on$oti$ pressure.3 lo& albumin $on$entrations #re(uently result in #luid a$$umulation
under t"e skin -edema. or in body $a%ities -e##usion.. o& serum albumin $on$entration $an
o$$ur in patients &it" $"roni$ li%er disease, a spe$i#i$ kind o# kidney disease re#erred to a
,protein*losin' nep"ropat"y,, small intestinal disease -protein*losin' enteropat"y., or blood
loss. 2i'" albumin $on$entration $an only o$$ur in asso$iation &it" de"ydration.
Globulins play an important role in t"e immune system and transport %arious substan$es in t"e
blood. Globulin $on$entrations are $ommonly in$reased in asso$iation &it" de"ydration,
in#lammation, some #orms o# $an$er -myeloma, $"roni$ lymp"oid leukemia., and %arious
in#e$tious diseases, su$" as e"rli$"iosis and ot"er ti$k*borne diseases. De$reased 'lobulin
$on$entrations $an be asso$iated &it" blood loss, protein loss in t"e 'astrointestinal tra$t, or
se%ere immunode#i$ien$y3 lo& 'lobulin $on$entrations are a normal #indin' in youn' do's.
Grey"ounds "a%e si'ni#i$antly lo&er $on$entrations o# protein and 'lobulin t"an non*Grey"ound
do's, but t"eir albumin $on$entration is similar to t"at o# ot"er do's. )erum protein and 'lobulin
$on$entrations in Grey"ounds are #re(uently belo& t"e re#eren$e ran'e #or do's. !"ere#ore, an
ot"er&ise normal Grey"ound &it" lo& protein or 'lobulin $on$entrations in t"e pro#ile s"ould
not be e0tensi%ely e%aluated #or disease.
Thyroid #ormone
A #inal blood &ork $omponent &ort" mentionin' t"at is not in$luded in a standard bio$"emi$al
pro#ile is a t"yroid "ormone $on$entration -le%el.. !"yroid "ormones play a lar'e role in
metabolism. In $ontrast &it" $ats, &"ere "ypert"yroidism is relati%ely $ommon, t"yroid "ormone
$on$entrations are rarely "i'" in do's. o& t"yroid "ormone $on$entration $an be asso$iated
&it" "ypot"yroidism, or any systemi$ illness. Most normal Grey"ounds "a%e mildly to markedly
de$reased t"yroid "ormone $on$entrations, and t"eir %alues are $ommonly belo& t"e re#eren$e
ran'e #or do's3 t"ere#ore, people #re(uently treat t"eir Grey"ounds &it" t"yroid "ormone
repla$ement -supplementation., alt"ou'" t"eir t"yroid #un$tion is normal #or t"e breed. In ot"er
&ords, t"yroid "ormone supplementation s"ould not be used in a "ealt"y Grey"ound on a$$ount
o# a +lo& t"yroid le%el, -see belo&..
Common si'ns o# "ypot"yroidism in do's in$lude let"ar'y, &ei'"t 'ain, alope$ia -loss o# "air.,
dry skin and "air$oat, $old intoleran$e, and neurolo'i$ si'ns su$" as in$oordination. Gne o# t"e
di##i$ulties in assessin' t"e $lini$al si'ns o# "ypot"yroidism in Grey"ounds is t"at Grey"ounds
normally "a%e many o# t"ose si'ns. Most Grey"ounds are $ou$" potatoes -apart #rom a
'ood run in t"e ba$kyard. and are normally #airly ina$ti%e do's. Furt"ermore, most Grey"ounds
are normally intolerant o# t"e $old and many s"o& si'ns o# alope$ia in t"eir t"i'"s -t"i'"
alope$ia is %ery rarely related to "ypot"yroidism.. !"ere#ore, a #ull t"yroid panel s"ould be done
on any do' -espe$ially any Grey"ound. prior to startin' t"erapy as treatment is li#elon' and
unne$essary supplementation may "arm your pet.
A #ull t"yroid panel in$ludes t"e #ollo&in' testsH total !9, #ree !9 by e(uilibrium dialysis -ED.,
total !5, #ree !5, t"yroid stimulatin' "ormone -!)2., !9 autoantibody, !5 autoantibody, and
t"yro'lobulin autoantibody. All o# t"ese tests 'i%e a $omplete %ie& o# t"e t"yroid 'land and aid
in interpretation o# t"e results. The 2nimal #ealth Diagnostic ,a!oratory at Michigan State
Uniersity per#orms a $omplete panel and &ill 'i%e interpretation by t"e endo$rinolo'ists &"o
"a%e e0tensi%e kno&led'e o# a Grey"oundBs normal t"yroid $on$entrations.
Serum Biochemical .rofile/Summary
In summary, Grey"ounds typi$ally "a%e "i'"er $reatinine $on$entrations and mus$le and li%er
enzyme a$ti%ities, and lo&er protein and 'lobulin $on$entrations t"an non*Grey"ound do's.
!"eir t"yroid "ormone $on$entrations are also lo&er.
3eferences
Cline Iazbik MC, Couto CGH Abnormal eosinop"il 'ranulation in retired ra$in'
Grey"ounds. I Vet Clin 1at"ol in press.
Feeman W, Couto CG, Gray !H )erum $reatinine $on$entrations in retired ra$in'
Grey"ounds. Vet Clin 1at"ol A7753 5AH97*9A.
Gau'"an D/, Bruyette D)H !"yroid #un$tion testin' in Grey"ounds. Am I Vet /es
A77<3:AH<<57*<<55.
2ill /C, Fo0 E, e&is DD, et alH E##e$ts o# ra$in' and trainin' on serum t"yroid
"ormone $on$entrations in ra$in' Grey"ounds. Am I Vet /es A77<3:AH<@:@*<@JA.
1orter I, Canaday W/ IrH 2ematolo'i$ %alues in mon'rel and Grey"ound do's bein'
s$reened #or resear$" use. I Am Vet Med Asso$ <@J<3<6@H <:75*<:7:.
)teiss IE, Bre&er WG, Welles E, Wri'"t ICH 2ematolo'i$ and serum bio$"emi$al
re#eren$e %alues in retired Grey"ounds. Compend Cont Edu$ A7773 AAHA95*A9;.
)ulli%an 1), E%ans 2, M$Donald !1H 1latelet $on$entration and "emo'lobin #un$tion in
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2!out the authors
Dr4 5eeman is a A77A 'raduate o# !"e G"io )tate Fni%ersity o# Veterinary Medi$ine and
$urrently pra$ti$es in G"io. 2e is an a$ti%e %olunteer #or Grey"ound Adoption o# G"io and a
member o# Veterinarians #or /etired /a$in' Grey"ounds.
Dr4 Couto is a board*$erti#ied on$olo'ist and internist, and 1ro#essor and C"ie# o# t"e
Gn$olo'y=2ematolo'y )er%i$e, Colle'e o# Veterinary Medi$ine at !"e G"io )tate Fni%ersity.
2e "as been in%ol%ed &it" Grey"ound res$ue #or <6 years, &orks $losely &it" Grey"ound
Adoption o# G"io, and "as re$ently #ounded Veterinarians #or /etired /a$in' Grey"ounds.
Dr4 6a1!ik is t"e Dire$tor o# t"e G)F Animal Blood Bank, a$ti%ely %olunteers #or Grey"ound
Adoption o# G"io and is a member o# Veterinarians #or /etired /a$in' Grey"ounds.
Dr4 Marin is t"e Coordinator o# t"e Grey"ound 2ealt" and Wellness pro'ram and a 'raduate
student in t"e department o# $lini$al s$ien$e at !"e G"io )tate Fni%ersity.