Normal Dog And Cat Blood Chemistry And Lab Values

Feline & Canine Blood Chemistry Values, Temperature, Urine and Other Values for Your Dog and Cat

Ron Hines DVM PhD

   Some Reasons Your Pet’s Blood Chemistry Values Are Abnormal

Common veterinary abbreviations

  Veterinary School, Davis, California

Your Dog And Cat’s Normal Test Reference Values

Deciding what “normal” test results are for your dog and cat is not always easy. Just as in healthy people, no two pets have exactly the same normal baseline values. So, what might be “normal” in one pet might be slightly abnormal in another. When a test result is slightly outside of your laboratory’s “normal range”, it needs to be interpreted in light of how your pet is feeling and the problems that brought your pet in for testing in the first place. It also needs to be determined more than once. The two major blood analysis corporations in North America are Antech Diagnostics and Idexx Laboratories. Although they have similar normals, they are not identical. Veterinary schools also have clinical laboratories, and each maintains its own list of what it considers to be “normal values” on its analytical machines. I added a color code to identify the laboratory source of the individual “normal values”. 

You Can Read About The Actual Causes Of Many Of These Abnormal Test Result here.

In non-emergency situations, request that your pet’s blood sample be sent to a national laboratory for analysis rather than performed at your local animal hospital (read here). These large national laboratories have the staff and resources to insure the most accurate results. They also provide your local veterinarian with the backup advice of university-grade experts ready to offer assistance when your dog or cat’s test results are perplexing. It is always safest to have an abnormal test result confirmed on more than one occasion before deciding if it is truly significant

Data sources: Antech=green, Plumb’s=purple, Idexx CentralLab=dark azure, IdexxCatalyst DX™=magenta   Cornell=royal blue   A&M Univ. GI Lab=Orange   FINN Pathologists, Harleston, UK=italics     Rx=treat  μmol/L=umol/L   IU=iu=international units

ACTH Stimulation Test    Dog: 13.8-137.9 nmol/L pre   151.75-469 nmol/L post  (read here) Post result of <2 µg/dL indicative of Addison’s    Cat: —

A/G ratio (albumin/globulin)  Dog: 0.8-2.0   0.7-1.5   0.9-1.9   Cat: 0.35-1.5   0.8-1.5   0.6-1.4

Albumin   Dog: 2.7-4.4   g/dL   2.7-3.9   3.2-4.1 Cat: 2.5-3.9   3.2-4.3 g/dL   26-42 g/l

ALP  Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) Dog: 5-131   5-160   7-115 u/L   Cat: 6 -102 11-49 u/L   11-67 U/l@37C

ALT (aka SGPT)  Dog: 12-118   18-121   17-95 u/L   Cat: 10-100   28-109 u/L   18-77 U/l@37C

Ammonia (in blood) Dog: 2-110 μmol/L Some give <35.7 µmol/L (50 µg/mL)  (read here)  Cat: —

Amylase (in blood)  Dog: 290-1125   322-1310 u/L   Cat: 100-1200   603-2183 iu/L

ANA (antinuclear antibody)  Dog : some say a titer of <10, other <40?  Cat: <10, other <40 ?

Anion Gap (of blood)*  Dog: 8-25   11-26 17-27 mEq/L or mmol/L Cat: 10-33 18-29 mEq/L or mmol/L

AST (aka SGOT)Dog: 15-66   16-55 18-56 u/L  Cat: 10-100   17-48 u/L

Basophils   Dog:  0-1% of WBCs   Cat: 0-1% of WBCs

Basophils   Dog:  0-150 Total #/µL 0-100/uL   Cat:  0-150 Total #/µL   0

Bicarbonate   Dog: 18-25 14-24 mmol/L = mEq/L 13-27   Cat: 16-22 14-20 mmol/L = mEq/L

Bile acids   Dog:  < 15 μmol/L < 10 μmol/L Cat:  < 10 μmol/L

Bilirubin (direct/conjugated) Dog: 0-0.1 0-0.1 mg/dL   Cat: 0-0

Bilirubin (indirect/unconjugated)    Dog: 0-0.4   0-0.1   0-0.2 mg/dL   Cat: 0-0.4 0-0.1 mg/dL

Bilirubin (total)    Dog: 0.9 – 10.5 mmol/L   Cat: 1.2-7.9 mmol/L

Bilirubin (total)    Dog: 0.1-0.3   0.0-03 0-0.2 mg/dL Cat: 0.1-0.4   0-0.1 mg/dL

Bilirubin (in urine) Dog: Negative to 1+

Bleeding Time    Dog: 2-4 minutes (clinically:< 4)  Cat: 2-4 minutes

Blood (in urine)    Dog: Up to 5 RBCs seen/high-power microscope field = hpf. Some say <3   Cat: the same

Blood Pressure **   (systolic at animal hospital add 20%) Dog: 120-140 mmHg   Cat: 124-140 mmHg (Some vets deem 160 OK others begin Rx @ 160)

Body Temperature  (rectal)    Dog: 101-102.5 F, 38.3-39.2 C   Cat: 101.5-102.2 F, 38.6-39 C   Plumbs: Dog: 99.5-102.5 F 37.5-39.2 C

Breaths per minute   Dog: 18-34   Cat: 16-40

BUN  (US & Canada)    Dog: 6-25   9-31 mg/dL Cat: 14-36  17-35 mg/dl

BUN  (Euro & UK)     Dog:  2.5-9.6 mmol/L Cat:  5.7-12.9 mmol/L

BUN/Creatinine ratio    Dog: 4-27   Cat: 4-33

C-reactive protein   Dog: 0-12 mg/L   Cat:  — mg/L

Total Calcium (in blood)    Dog: 8.9-11.4   8.4-11.8   9.4-11.1 mg/dL   Cat: 8.2-10.8   9.0-11.3 mg/dL   

Total Calcium (in blood)    Dog: 2.2-3.0 mmol/L   Cat: 2.0-2.7 mmol/L   1.6 – 3.0 mmol/l

Chloride  Dog: 102-120   109-122   108-119   106-114 mEq/L or mmol/L   Cat: 104-128   111-124 mEq/L or mmol/L 

Cholesterol  Dog: 92-324 136-392   131-345 mg/dL   Cat: 75-220   101-323 mg/dL

Cholesterol   Dog: 3.0-6.6 mmol/L   Cat: 1.8-4.2 mmol/L   0.9-6.5 mmol/l

Cholinesterase  Dog: 1,895-5,240   3164-8164 u/L   Cat: 736-3,016   1540-4055 u/L

CK (CPK, Creatine Kinase)  Dog: 59-895 64-314   10-200 u/L Cat: 56-529   74-386 iu/L

Clotting Time (ACT activated clotting time)  Dog: 55 – 80 seconds.  Cat: 55 – 85 seconds

Clotting Time (buccal bleeding time)  Dog: 2-4 minutes   Cat: 2 – 4 minutes

CO2 (in blood)  Dog: 15-25 mmol/L   13-27   Cat: 12-30 mmol/L (same as bicarbonate)

Coagulation Time (on glass)  Dog:  2-4 minutes   Cat: 2 – 4 minutes   exposure to glass greatly reduces clotting time. 

Cobalamin (vit B-12)  Dog:  251-908 ng/L   Cat: 290-1,500 ng/L

Cobalamin (fasting, A&M GI Lab) Dog: >300 ng/L   Cat: 290-1,499 ng/L

Cortisol (resting level)  Dog:  1.0-5.0 μg/dL   Cat: 1.0-4.5 μg/dL

cPL (canine pancreas-specific lipase)  Dog:  0–200 μg/L is within the normal reference range; 201–399 μg/L is an equivocal zone; and ≥400 μg/L is consistent with pancreatitis. (read)

C-Reactive Protein   Dog: 0-7.6 mg/L

Creatinine (in blood)  Dog: 0.5-1.6   0.6-1.4    0.5-1.5 mg/dL   Cat: 0.6-2.4   0.8-2.1 mg/dL IRIS* considers any canine value > 1.4 or feline value > 1.6 to be evidence of kidney disease

Creatinine (in blood, Euro)  Dog: 44-138 mmol/L   Cat: 49-165 mmol/L   45-170 umol/l

Creatinine (in urine)  Dog: 100-500 mg/dL

CRT (Capillary Refill Time)  Dog: 1-2 seconds   Cat: 1-2 seconds

cTLI (canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity) Dog: 5.7 – 45.2 µg/L   Cat:  12.0 – 82.0 µg/L

D-Dimer (A&M) Dog: 116.2-371.5 ng/ml

Eosinophils  (% Eos)  Dog: 2-10%  Cat: 2-12%

Eosinophils  (total #)  Dog: 0-1,200 /μL 70-1,490/uL   Cat:  0-1,000 /μL   0.0-1.5×109/L

Fecal Alpha1 Proteinase Inhibitor   Dog: 2.2-18.7 (α1-PI)μg/gm   Cat: 0.04-1.6 (α1-PI)μg/gm

Fibrinogen   Dog: 150-400 mg/dL   Cat: 150-400 mg/dL

Fibrinogen   Dog: 1-4 g/L   Cat: 0.5-3 g/L

Folate (fasting)  Dog: 7.7-24.4 μg/L   Cat:  9.7-21.6 μg/L

fPL (feline pancreas-specific lipase) Cat: < 3.5 μg/L

Free T-4   Dog: 8-40 pmol/L   Cat: 10-50 pmol/L

Free T-4 (FT4) Dog: 0.6-3.7 ng/dL   Cat: —

Fructosamine   Dog: (Unv of GA Lab): 258-343,  266-381  μmol/L, Dog  (Kansas State U): 136-350 μmol/L     Cat: 175-400   219-365 μmol/L

Gestation Period (pregnancy)  Dog: 62-63 days   Cat: 63–64 days

GGT (GGTP aka Gamma GT)  Dog: 1-12   0-8  0-13 u/L   Cat: 1-10   0-2 u/L    0.1-9.0 U/l@37C

GLDH (Glutamate dehydrogenase, GDH)   Dog: 1-20 u/L   Cat: 0-12 u/L

Globulin (total in blood) Dog: 1.6-3.6   1.9-3.7 g/dL 2.4-4.0   Cat: 2.3-5.3   2.9-4.7 g/dL

Globulin (total in blood) Dog: 1.6-3.6   2.4-4.0 g/dL   Cat: 23-53 g/L   15-57 g/l

Glucose (in blood) Dog: 70-138   68-104 63-114 mg/dL Cat: 64-170   71-182 mg/dL

Glucose (in blood) Dog: 4.4-8.3 mmol/L   Cat: 3.9-9.4 mmol/L   3.8-7.6 mmol/l

Hb A1c (%)   College of Vet Med, Kansas State U.: 4% or less

HCO3 (buffering capacity of venous blood) Dog: 19-24 mEq/L   Cat: 19-24 mEq/L

Heart Rate   Dog: 70-120 beats/minute   Cat: 120-170 beats/minute

Hematocrit (PCV, Hct)  Dog: 36-60  38.3-56.5   41-58 %  Cat: 29-48   31-48 %   27-50 %

Hemoglobin (Hg)  Dog: 12.1-20.3   14.1-20 g/dL   13.4-20.7   Cat: 9.3-15.9   10.9-15.7 g/dL    8.0-15g/dl

Hemoglobin (Hg)  Dog: 120-180 g/L   Cat:  80-150 g/L   

Insulin (blood level) Dog: 5-20 μunits/ml   Cat: 5-20 μunits/ml

Iron (serum level)  Dog: 46-241   97-263 μg/dL   Cat: 42-165   59-169 μg/dL

Ionized Calcium   Dog: 5.0-6.0 mg/dL   Cat: 4.6-5.5 mg/dL

Ionized Calcium   Dog: 1.24-1.43   1.16-1.40 mmol/L   Cat: 1.16-1.34   1.11-1.38 mmol/L

Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)  Dog: 363-475 μg/dL   Cat: 296-318 μg/dL

LDH (lactate dehydrogenase)  Dog: 20-500 24-388 u/L   Cat: 20-500   71-406 u/L

Lipase   Dog: 77-695   15-228 u/L   Cat: 10-205   7-23 u/L

Lipase-DCL   Dog: 65-691 u/L   Cat:  5-222 u/L

Lipase Pancreas-Specific Dog: cPLI: A&M 0-200   Cat: fPLI: Antech 2.0–6.8 µg/L A&M 0-3.5 µg/L

Lipase (Precision PSL™)    Dog 24-140 u/L   Cat: 8-26 u/L

Lymphocyte   Dog: 12-30% of WBC count   Cat: 20-45% of WBC count

Lymphocyte   Total number Dog: 690-4,500 /µL 1,060-4,950/uL  Cat:  1,200-8,000 /µL   1.5-7.0×109/L

Magnesium   Dog: 1.5-2.5   1.5-2.1 mEq/L   Cat: 1.5-2.5   1.7-2.2 mEq/L

Magnesium   Dog: 0.7-1.1 mmol/L   Cat: 0.8-1.2 mmol/L 

MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin) Dog: 19-28   21.9-26.1   21-26 pg   Cat: 11-21   13-17 pg   11.5-16.7 pg (=Picograms)

MCV (mean corpuscular volume)  Dog: 58-79   64-76   59-76 /fL = μm3   Cat: 37-61   40-52/fL= /μm3    37.1-54.7 fl

MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) Dog: 30-38   33-36   32.6-39.2 g/dL Cat: 30-38   32-35 g/dL   28.3-34.3 g/dl

Microalbumin (in urine) Dog: <2.5 mg/dL   Cat: <2.5 mg/dL

Monocyte (in blood)  Dog: 3-10% of WBC count   Cat: 1-4% of WBC count

Monocyte (in blood aka absolute) Dog: 0-840   130-115 /µL   Cat:  0-600 /µL   0.0-0.8×109/L

M:E ratio (Myeloid/erythroid ratio) Dog: 0.75-2.5:1   Cat: 0.6-3.9:1

Myoglobin Dog: 0   Cat: 0   should not be in blood or urine

Neutrophil (total %) Dog: 60-77 % of WBC count   Cat: 35-75 %  of WBC count

Neutrophil (total number aka absolute) Dog: 2,060-10,600 2,940-12,670 /uL 2.7-9.4 x103/µL   Cat: 2,500-8,500 /µL   2.3-11.6 x103/µL   2.5-12.5 x109/L

Neutrophil (total % immature Band neutros)  Dog: 0-3% of WBC count   Cat: 0-3% of WBC count

Neutrophil  (total number of Band neutros)  Dog: 0-300 /µL   Cat: 0-150 /µL

Osmolality (of blood) Dog: 277-311 mOsm/L   Cat: 299-330 mOsm/L

PCO2 (of venous blood) Dog: 40-45 mmHg   Cat: 40-45 mmHg

PCV (packed cell volume = hematocrit) Dog: 37-55   42-54 %  Cat: 29-45   31-48 %

pH (of blood)  Dog: 7.32-7.42   Cat: 7.24-7.40

pH (of urine)  Dog: 5.5-7.0   Cat: 5.5-7.0

Phosphate (in blood)  Dog: 2.3-6.5   2.7-5.4 mg/dL   Cat: 2.7-6.5   2.6-5.5 mg/dL   0.7 – 2.1 mmol/l

Phosphorus (in blood)  Dog: 2.5-6.0   2.5-6.1 mg/dL   Cat: 2.4-8.2 mg/dL Most vets begin Rx @4-4.6 for CKD

Phosphorus (in blood)  Dog: 1.0-2.0 mmol/L   Cat 1.3-2.4 mmol/L

Phosphorus (in blood)  Dog: 2.8-6.2 mg/dcL 2.5-6.1 Cat: 3.7-9.3 mg/dcL

Platelets (estimated)  Dog: “adequate”  Cat: “adequate”   200-600 x109/L

Platelet Count   Dog: 2-9 x 105/µL3    143-448 K/uL   Cat: 3-7 x 105/µL3  

Platelet Count   Dog: 170-400 x 109/L or 103/µL   Cat: 200-500 x 109/L or 103/µL 

Potassium  Dog: 3.6-5.5   3.5-5.8   4.0-5.4   4.1-5.4 mEq/L or mmol/L   Cat: 3.4-5.6   3.8-5.5   3.4-5.6 mEq/L or mmol/L

Protein:Creatinine UPC ratio (urine) Dog: <or = 0.5   Cat: <or = 0.5

Protein (TP total in blood)  Dog: 5.0-7.4 gm/dL   Cat: 5.2-8.8 gm/dL

Protein (TP in blood plasma)  Dog: 55-75 gm/L   Cat: 57-80 gm/L

Protein (TP in blood serum)  Dog: 50-75 gm/L   Cat: 60-82 gm/L

Protein (in urine)  Dog & Cat   mg/dL varies depending on how dilute your pet’s urine sample is. 

Prothrombin Time Dog: 10-25 seconds   Cat: 10-25 seconds

PTH (parathyroid hormone) Dog: 20-130   Cat: 0-40

PTH (parathyroid hormone) Dog: 2-13 pmol/L   Cat: 0-4 pmol/L

PTH (parathyroid hormone N-terminal) Dog: 15-55 pg/ml   Cat: 8-28 pg/ml =Picograms

PTHrP (parathyroid hormone-related protein) Dog: —   Cat: 0-1 pmol/L

Pulse Rate   Dog: 70-120 beats/minute   Cat:  120-170 beats/minute

Red Blood Cells  (RBC = erythrocytes) Dog: 4.8-9.3 x 106 /μL or mm³  5.39-8.70 also=M/uL 5.39-8.7   Cat:  5.92-9.93 x 106 /μL or mm³    5.5-10 x1012/L

RDW (red blood cell distribution width) Dog: 14-19 10.6-14.3 %  Cat: 14-31   13.2-17.5 %

Respiratory rate   Dog: 18-34 breaths/minute   Cat: 16-34 breaths/minute

Reticulocytes   Dog: 0-1.5% 0.2-1.5 of RBCs   Cat: 0.2-1.6% 0.1-0.7 of RBCs

Reticulocytes   Dog: 10-110 K/uL   Cat —

Reticulocytes Dog: 11-92 x109/L Cat: 9-61 x109/L  

Reticulocyte Hemoglobin  (CHr iron in bone marrow, Dx iron deficiency [read here])  Dog: 22.3-29.6 pg =Picograms

 SDH (succinate dehydrogenase) Dog: 3.1-19   3-13 u/L   Cat: 2.4-12   1-11 u/L

SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine) Dog: 0-14 µg/dL   Cat: 0-14 µg/dL   1.0-14.0 ug/dl

Sodium (Na in blood)  Dog: 139-154 mEq/L or mmol/L   144-160 142-152   143-150   Cat: 145-158 mEq/L,   150-165   149-158 mEq/L or mmol/L

Sodium to Potassium Ration (NA/K ratio)  Dog: 27-38 28-37   Cat: 32-41

Specific Gravity (SG of urine, first void of the morning)  Dog: 1.015-1.050, Idexx & IRIS: 1.015-1.045, Osborne: 1.040-1.065   Cat: 1.015-1.060, Idexx & IRIS: 1.035-1.060, Osborne: 1.045-1.085

Spec fPL (feline specific pancreatic lipase) Dog: not applicable   Cat: 0.1-3.5 μg/L

T 3 (thyroid hormone)  Dog: 45-150 ng/dL   Cat: 40-150 ng/dL

T 4 (thyroid hormone)  Dog: 0.8-3.5   0.8-2.9   1.0-4.0 μg/dL   Cat: 0.8-4.0 μg/dL   7.5-55.0 nmol/l

Taurine (in plasma) Dog: —  Cat: 80-120 nmol/L

TCO2 (~ bicarbonate)  Dog: 17-24 mEq/L    13-27 mmol/L   Cat: —

TIBC (total iron-binding capacity)  Dog: 235-495 280-489 μg/dL   Cat: 203-398μg/dL   222-423 μg/dL

TLI (trypsin-like immunoreactivity, fasting) Dog: 5.7-45.2 μg/L  Cat: 12-82 μg/L

Total Protein (in blood)  Dog: 5.0 – 7.4   5.5-7.2 g/dL 5.5-7.5 Cat: 5.2 – 8.8   6.6-8.4 g/dL   56 – 81 g/l

Total Protein (in urine)  Dog & Cat   mg/dL varies depending on how dilute your pet’s urine sample is.

Triglycerides Dog: 29-291 23-102 mg/dL   Cat: 25-160 30-106 mg/dL

TSH (cTSH)  Dog: 0-0.6   milliinternational units/L   13-38 % of hypothyroid dogs have TSH concentrations within the normal reference range 

Urea Nitrogen aka BUN  (US & Canada)    Dog: 6-25   mg/dL   Cat: 14-36 mg/dL

Urea Nitrogen aka BUN   (Euro, UK, etc.)     Dog: 2.5-7.0 mmol/L or 2.5-9.6   Cat: 5.0-11 mmol/L or 5.7-12.9 depending on the laboratory

Urea   (the entire urea molecule, rather than just the nitrogen portion reported as BUN is sometimes what is measured outside of N. America.  Dog:  8.7-30.5 mg/dL   Cat:  13.4-32.5 mg/dL   6.1-12.5 mmol/l

Uric Acid   Dog:  0.2-0.9   0.1-0.4 mg/dL   Cat: 0-0.5 0-0.3 mg/dL

Protein:Creatinine ratio (UPC in urine) Dog: < 0.5   Cat: < 0.4   NCSU give dog and cat UPC normals as < 0.4 and <0.2

Vitamin D3  (in blood)  Dog —   Cat: 125-335 nmol/L   Some vets suggest supplement @200

White Blood Cell Count (WBC, leukocytes) Dog:  4.0-15.5   5.7-14.2   4.9-17.6 x 103 cells/μL or mm³  Cat: 3.5-16.0   5.1-16.2 x 103 cells/μL or mm³   4.0-15.0 x109/L

White Blood Cells (WBCs seen in urine) Dog: 0 – 3   Idexx 0-5 /high-power microscope field Cat: same as dog

* IRIS = International Renal Interest Society 

DxMe

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