What is a biochemical profile?

A biochemical comprehensive profile is a blood test that allows you to understand how the animal's organs function: kidneys, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. Certain indicators allow us to judge the presence of inflammation, trace element imbalances, or heart problems.

How is a biochemical blood test performed on animals?

To begin with, it is important to observe a 7-8-hour fasting diet, as the test results may not be reliable after eating. You can give your pet water. Upon arrival at the veterinary clinic, a small amount of blood is taken from the animal, which is especially important when examining puppies and kittens.

Then the biomaterial is evaluated in the laboratory using a modern biochemical analyzer. The equipment in our network of Animal Clinic veterinary centers ensures optimal accuracy of all the indicators under study, including the following substances

• Urea - a breakdown product of ammonia. This component is partially metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. An increase in urea levels may indicate renal disease, pancreatitis, intestinal inflammation, poisoning; urolithiasis, ureteral obstruction, or impaired urine flow.
• Creatinine is a complex chemical compound found in muscles. A decrease in its level is recorded during fasting, muscle exhaustion, and physical activity. Elevated creatinine levels in the blood most often indicate kidney disease.
• Enzymes: ALT (found in the heart, kidneys, muscles, and most of all in the liver), AST (most of all in muscles and heart), GGT (increased in liver and biliary system pathology), and alkaline phosphotase (increased associated with liver and other organ diseases).
• Bilirubins. They are tested to assess the liver's excretory function. An increase indicates the presence of a dangerous disease - jaundice.
• Bile acids. The indicator is checked in case of suspected pathology of veins in the liver or outside this organ (portosystemic shunt), impaired bile outflow (cholestasis), hepatitis, cholecystitis.
• Glucose. Increases in diabetes mellitus, Cushing's syndrome; decreases with physical exertion, exhaustion, and in dwarf breeds - with severe underlying disease.
• Albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, and urea are tested to assess the synthetic function of the liver.

During laboratory diagnostics, the permissible time interval and temperature conditions are observed. After the results of the biochemical complete blood count are ready, the staff deciphers them to the patient's guardian.

A biochemical complete blood count for cats and dogs is performed not only to recognize the disease. It is important to examine the blood according to this profile for the purpose of prevention, so that a dangerous disease does not reach an advanced form. Blood should be tested for biochemical analysis at least once a year.