Clinical pathology interpretation in geriatric veterinary patients

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2012 Jul;42(4):615-29, v. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2012.04.004. Epub 2012 May 18.

Abstract

Routine monitoring of clinicopathologic data is a critical component in the management of older patients because blood and urine testing allows the veterinarian to monitor trends in laboratory parameters, which may be the early indicators of disease. Laboratory profiling often provides an objective and sensitive indicator of developing disease before obvious clinical signs or physical examination abnormalities are observed. The primary key to the power of this evaluation is that the data are collected year after year during wellness checks and are examined serially. Chronic renal failure, chronic active hepatitis, canine hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus, and feline hyperthyroidism were reviewed and expected laboratory findings are summarized.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology*
  • Animal Welfare
  • Animals
  • Blood Cell Count / veterinary
  • Blood Chemical Analysis / veterinary
  • Cat Diseases / blood
  • Cat Diseases / pathology*
  • Cat Diseases / urine
  • Cats
  • Diabetes Mellitus / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus / pathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus / urine
  • Diabetes Mellitus / veterinary
  • Dog Diseases / blood
  • Dog Diseases / pathology*
  • Dog Diseases / urine
  • Dogs
  • Endocrine System Diseases / blood
  • Endocrine System Diseases / pathology
  • Endocrine System Diseases / urine
  • Endocrine System Diseases / veterinary
  • Health Status
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / blood
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / pathology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / urine
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / veterinary
  • Urinalysis / veterinary