Does my dog need a full blood test to check liver and kidneys?

The SGPT (ALT), BUN and CREA are fine to do as preliminary tests. If they are normal, that is great! If there are any abnormalities with these values there are other tests that can be done to evaluate kidney and liver health but you would have to ask after you get the results for us to be able to properly recommend any other tests.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sundari. Her BUN and Cr are mildly elevated. This can indicate early kidney disease, but there are other causes as well. Simple dehydration will make these values increase. I would recommend that she has a urinalysis performed on a first morning urine sample. This sample will be the most concentrated and give you more information regarding how the kidneys are functioning. There is also a new blood parameter known as SDMA. This is much more sensitive indicator of kidney function than BUN/Cr. I would recheck her blood work in 1-3 months to monitor the liver value (ALT) that is slightly elevated to see if this is a consistent finding. Liver enzymes can fluctuate in the blood stream so this may not be significant. I hope this information helps!

That will depend on the lab offering the test. T4 checks thyroid function, Urinalysis (UA) checks for blood, white blood cells, specific gravity, bilirubin, glucose, protein, ketones, and urobilinogen, the results of all of these can tell whether kidneys, and liver are working properly and whether there may be a problem with your dog's metabolism. Here is information on the blood tests: https://www.petcoach.co/article/chemistry-panels-tests-for-pets/

Bloodwork is typically done around 6 months of age before anesthesia for a spay or neuter. There is no set time that it should be done. Typically, if a dog is ill or requires sedation/anesthesia, then bloodwork is done to diagnose or to make sure the pet can undergo anesthesia. Some owners choose to have bloodwork done yearly as part of the physical exam. If Bruno has never had bloodwork, you can have your vet do it if only to obtain a healthy/normal baseline for comparison in case Bruno ever gets sick.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The liver function tests commonly available in a routine chemistry panel are glucose, albumin, cholesterol and BUN. A more specific, though separate test of liver function is bile acids which is the gold standard as far as liver function goes. Good luck!

These are 3 different blood tests commonly performed to assess overall health. The CBC (complete blood count) assesses the red & white blood cells and platelets. A chemistry 24 evaluates overall organ function, measuring values of liver and kidney enzymes, blood glucose, electrolytes and blood proteins. There are several different thyroid tests, which measure different thyroid hormones. Always remember that any test results are interpreted in light of clinical exam findings and any clinical signs that Hobbs may be displaying at home.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm so sorry to hear Smudge was diagnosed with kidney issues. Unfortunately, a complete blood chemistry panel that includes a urinalysis is very accurate for kidney disease. If you have concerns about Smudge's diagnosis, I would recommend you reach out to Smudge's veterinarian to discuss what the findings were, and what steps may need to be taken. Good luck.