Blood Chemistry Panels: A Practical VetCSR Reference
Researched By: Emily Ridyard
Date: January 27th, 2026
Blood Chemistry Panels: A Practical VetCSR Reference
What Those Numbers Mean (and Why Context Matters)
Blood chemistry panels are one of the most common diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine — and one of the most misunderstood.
This post exists as a reference explainer to accompany the VetCSR Blood Chemistry Quick Reference chart. It’s designed to help Veterinary CSRs understand patterns, not memorize lab values or diagnose disease.
What a Blood Chemistry Panel Actually Tells Us
A chemistry panel evaluates organ function, hydration status, metabolic balance, and systemic stress.
It does not provide a diagnosis on its own.
Individual values must always be interpreted alongside:
physical exam findings
patient history
clinical signs
trends over time
One abnormal number rarely tells the full story.
Key Chemistry Values & What They Suggest
TP (Total Protein)
Increased: dehydration, inflammation
Decreased: bleeding, liver disease, kidney disease, intestinal disease, heart failure
👉 TP reflects hydration and protein balance, not a single organ.
ALB (Albumin)
Increased: dehydration
Decreased: liver disease, kidney disease, GI loss, bleeding, heart failure
👉 Low albumin often signals protein loss or impaired production.
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
Increased: kidney disease, dehydration, urinary obstruction, shock, high-protein diet
Decreased: liver disease, low protein intake, overhydration
👉 BUN must be interpreted with creatinine.
GLOB (Globulin)
Increased: chronic inflammation, infection
Decreased: blood loss, GI disease, immunodeficiency
👉 Changes often reflect immune system activity.
CREAT (Creatinine)
Increased: kidney disease, dehydration, muscle damage, urinary obstruction
Decreased: overhydration
👉 Creatinine is more specific for kidney function than BUN.
GLU (Glucose)
Increased: diabetes mellitus, stress response
Decreased: sepsis, malnutrition, systemic illness
👉 Stress hyperglycemia is common in veterinary patients.
ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
Increased: liver cell damage
Decreased: clinically insignificant
👉 ALT reflects liver injury, not liver function.
ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase)
Increased: liver disease, cholestasis, bone growth, steroid influence
Decreased: clinically insignificant
👉 ALP elevations are common and must be interpreted cautiously.
AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
Increased: liver, cardiac, or skeletal muscle damage
Decreased: clinically insignificant
👉 AST is less specific and often evaluated with ALT and CK.
CHOL (Cholesterol)
Increased: hypothyroidism, diabetes, Cushing’s disease, pancreatitis, kidney disease
Decreased: liver insufficiency, intestinal disease
👉 Cholesterol trends often guide endocrine workups.
Why Single Values Don’t Equal Diagnoses
A chemistry panel is a pattern-recognition tool, not a verdict.
For example:
dehydration can elevate multiple values at once
stress can affect glucose and liver enzymes
chronic disease may produce subtle changes over time
This is why veterinarians emphasize trends, not snapshots.
The VetCSR Role in Bloodwork Conversations
Veterinary CSRs are often the first to field questions about lab results.
Helpful framing includes:
explaining that values are interpreted together
reinforcing that follow-up testing is common
avoiding over-interpretation of single numbers
Clarity reduces anxiety and builds trust.
How to Use the VetCSR Blood Chemistry Quick Reference
This chart is designed for:
quick orientation
pattern recognition
communication support
It is not a diagnostic guide and should always be paired with veterinary interpretation.
Bottom Line
Blood chemistry panels provide valuable insight — but context is everything.
Understanding why values change helps CSRs support clients without speculation, misinformation, or unnecessary alarm.
This post exists as a standing reference for those conversations.
Reference Companion Image:
VetCSR Blood Chemistry Quick Reference (see image above)
https://www.facebook.com/thevetcsr/
https://thevetcsr.blogspot.com/
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