Vet Amica
For pet parents
Understanding your pet’s blood test results
A blood test usually looks at two things: the blood cells themselves (the blood count) and the chemicals in the blood that show how organs such as the liver and kidneys are working (the biochemistry).
The results come back as a list of measurements, each with a range beside it. This page explains how to read that list, what the common names mean, and what to ask your vet.
You know your pet the best; we want you to be able to make the best decisions for them.
What a blood test looks at
The blood count (haematology)
This counts and measures the cells in the blood: red cells, which carry oxygen around the body; white cells, which fight infection; and platelets, which help the blood clot.
The biochemistry
This measures substances carried in the liquid part of the blood, such as enzymes, proteins, salts and sugar. They give your vet clues about how organs such as the liver and kidneys are working.
Your vet might add other tests depending on what they are looking for, such as a thyroid test for an older cat. Some tests can be run at the practice, and others go to an outside laboratory, which usually takes longer.
How to read the report
Laboratories lay their reports out differently, but most lines have the same four parts:
| Test | Result | Range | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALT | 240 U/L | 10–125 | HIGH |
| Creatinine | 110 µmol/L | 44–159 | |
| Platelets | 95 ×109/L | 148–484 | LOW |
A made-up example, to show the layout.
- The test
- Often a short code such as ALT or HCT. The common ones are listed further down this page.
- The result
- Your pet’s own measurement, with its unit.
- The range
- Where most healthy animals of that species sit. Dogs and cats have different ranges and each laboratory sets its own, so go by the range printed on your pet’s report rather than one you find online.
- The flag
- The laboratory’s mark to say a result is above or below its range, written HIGH or LOW, or just H or L. No mark usually means the result is inside the range.
Why one result rarely tells you the whole story
A result just outside the range can turn out to be nothing to worry about, and a result inside the range doesn’t rule everything out. A bigger number doesn’t always mean a bigger problem either.
Age, medicines, a recent meal and the stress of a vet visit can all move some results. A growing puppy, for example, can have a higher ALP because of its growing bones. That is why your vet looks at all the results together, alongside your pet’s age, history and how they have been at home.
What the common names mean
Laboratories use different names and codes for the same test. These are the ones you are most likely to see.
| On the report | What it is |
|---|---|
| RBC | Red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. |
| HCT or PCV | The share of the blood made up of red cells. |
| HGB, HB or haemoglobin | The protein in red cells that carries oxygen. |
| WBC | White blood cells, which are immune cells that fight infection. |
| Neutrophils | White cells that fight infection and inflammation. |
| Lymphocytes | White cells central to the immune response. |
| PLT or platelets | Cell fragments that help blood clot. |
| On the report | What it is |
|---|---|
| ALT | An enzyme found mainly in liver cells. |
| ALP or ALKP | An enzyme linked to the liver, bile system and bone. |
| GGT | A liver and bile-duct enzyme. |
| Bilirubin | A yellow pigment the liver processes from old red blood cells. |
| Urea or BUN | A waste product handled by the kidneys. |
| Creatinine | A waste product used to assess the kidneys. |
| SDMA | A kidney marker that can detect changes sooner than creatinine. |
| Total protein | The total of all the proteins in the blood. |
| Albumin | A protein made by the liver. |
| Globulin | A group of blood proteins, some of which are antibodies. |
| Glucose | The level of sugar in the blood. |
| Sodium | A salt that helps regulate fluid balance. |
| Potassium | A salt important for nerves and the heart. |
| Calcium | A mineral important for bones, nerves and muscle. |
| Phosphorus or phosphate | A mineral linked to bone and the kidneys. |
| T4 or total T4 | A hormone made by the thyroid gland that helps control how the body uses energy. |
This tells you what each test is. What a high or low result means for your pet depends on everything else your vet knows about them, so that is the question to take to your vet.
Questions worth asking your vet
- Which of these results matter most for my pet, and why?
- Does anything need repeating? If so, when?
- What should I look out for at home?
- What happens next, and roughly what will it cost?
- Can I have a copy of the results? It helps to have them to compare with the next test.
If your pet seems unwell while you are waiting for results, ring your practice. You don’t need to wait for the results to come back.
How your vet could send you a plain-English version
Lab reports are written for vets. Vet Amica is software that helps veterinary practices turn a report into a sheet you can read. It works with blood and urine tests, lump and tissue samples, and x-rays and ultrasound scans, for dogs and cats. Your vet reads and approves every sheet before you see it.
The sheet answers the four things people want to know, in the order they ask them:
- 1
What was checked
Which parts of your pet’s health the test looked at.
- 2
What the results showed
Which measurements were where they should be, and which were not.
- 3
What it means for your pet
Read against your own animal’s history, not a general description of a disease.
- 4
What happens next
The sensible next step, what to watch for at home, and when to get in touch.
Where it helps, your vet can attach a longer information sheet about the condition itself, and a breakdown of what the next steps would cost.
What Vet Amica is not
- It is not a second opinion. If you disagree with your vet, or want another view, ask your practice about a referral.
- It is not a service you can buy. Vet Amica is sold to veterinary practices, not owners. There is nothing here for you to sign up to or upload.
- It is not somewhere to ask questions. We cannot answer questions about your animal, and we would be wrong to try; we have never met them. Your practice can.
- It is not an emergency service. If your pet is unwell now, ring your vet.
Does your practice use Vet Amica?
Vet Amica opens to practices in early 2027. If you would like yours to use it, the most useful thing you can do is mention it to them.