Testing & Diagnostics

Serum Chemistry Panel

A blood test measuring organ function markers including kidney values (BUN, creatinine), liver enzymes (ALT, ALP), blood sugar, protein levels, and electrolytes.

A serum chemistry panel (also called a biochemistry profile) measures dissolved chemicals in blood serum that reflect organ function. Combined with a CBC, it forms the standard annual wellness blood panel for dogs.

Key Chemistry Values

Kidney Function

  • BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen): waste product from protein metabolism, cleared by kidneys. Elevated in renal insufficiency, dehydration, or high-protein diet.
  • Creatinine: muscle metabolism waste product, more specific to renal function than BUN. Elevated only when ~75% of kidney function is lost in traditional testing.
  • SDMA (Symmetric Dimethylarginine): newer marker detecting kidney dysfunction at ~25% function loss — significantly earlier than creatinine.
  • Phosphorus: elevated in renal disease; dietary restriction slows progression.

Liver Function and Injury

  • ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase): elevated when hepatocytes (liver cells) are damaged or dying. Specific to liver in dogs.
  • ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase): elevated with liver disease, bile duct obstruction, or Cushing’s disease. Less specific than ALT.
  • Total bilirubin: elevated with liver disease or hemolysis.
  • Albumin: protein produced by the liver; low in chronic liver disease or protein-losing conditions.

Metabolic Markers

  • Glucose: elevated in diabetes mellitus; low (hypoglycemia) in insulinoma or toy breed fasting.
  • Total protein and globulin: protein levels reflecting immune status and nutritional state.

Electrolytes

  • Sodium, Potassium, Chloride: electrolyte balance reflecting hydration status, endocrine disorders.
  • Calcium: elevated in some cancers (lymphoma, anal gland adenocarcinoma), primary hyperparathyroidism.

Annual Chemistry Screening

Annual chemistry panels allow detection of organ function changes before clinical signs appear. Trending values over multiple years reveals slow deterioration — a single value in isolation may appear normal while a downward trend over 3 years is clinically meaningful. This is why keeping consistent veterinary records and running panels at the same laboratory is recommended.