Blood Tests for Seniors

Hi Guys !

I am taking my 12 yr old cat to the vet, I want to take blood samples and do a proper senior panel, I live in an island and normally tests are sent to the human lab, but because is a diffucult cat to handle I want vet to send it all to a pet lab in Athens, but because I am not sure he knows what to ask for more than general tests, is there anything that I HAVE to ask as I will not do this again for 2-3 years (when I say difficult cat, I mean it.. a nightmare to handle... )

I have the vet apointment in 1 hr... so any extra tips will be SUPER !!

Thanks

Originally Posted by ronit

Hi Guys !

I am taking my 12 yr old cat to the vet, I want to take blood samples and do a proper senior panel, I live in an island and normally tests are sent to the human lab, but because is a diffucult cat to handle I want vet to send it all to a pet lab in Athens, but because I am not sure he knows what to ask for more than general tests, is there anything that I HAVE to ask as I will not do this again for 2-3 years (when I say difficult cat, I mean it.. a nightmare to handle... )

I have the vet apointment in 1 hr... so any extra tips will be SUPER !!

Thanks

Click to expand...

I hope one of the vet techs or vets who are on the forum will see this, but based on my life with senior catizens..you want to check their kidney function - see the sticky note at the top of the message thread on CRF - you would surely want checked their: cbc - complete blood count (to check if they are anemic, which can go along with decreased kidney function), glucose levels, bun (blood urea nitrogen), creatinine, potassium and phosphorus and calcium levels. Thyroid levels and I'm sorry...I have to go, now for an important apt...I hope someone else will come on.

Oooo...an a urinalysis to check for urine dilution (specific gravity), signs of blood in the urine or white blood cells (as sign of infection).

best wishes to you for this apt. to go as well as possible.

Thank you Pat !

I took a note of all the things you posted to ask the vet here not to forget to do.

And thanks for reminding the urinalysis , completely forgot.

R

Magnum's last senior panel included
* CBC
* Blood Glucose
* BUN
* Creatinine
* Calcium
* Total Protein
* Albumin
* Globulin
* Total Bilirubin
* Alkaline Phosphatase
* ALT (SGPT)
* Cholesterol
* Sodium
* Potassium
* Urinalysis
* Fecal Sample
* Physical exam

We also had some thyroid tests done as he is gaining weight

I would ask for a Complete Blood Count. That would check kidneys, red and white blood count, liver function and more.

Hi Again !
It took me a while to find the time and post this... I had a horrible experience with my vet regarding the tests for Pancho... but the result is what infuriates me the most....
He did not make the complete tests because one of the vials with blood had a clog !!!!! After all the trouble of taking a super hysterical cat to the vet and taking blood etc.... it made me really mad so mad that I just took the partial results and left without saying another word to him, it was really unprofessional.

So if someone could give me a hand with this partial results I have it would be of great help.

12 yr old castrated male, 4.8 kilo approx

Creatine 1.76 range 0.70 - 2.20
Urea 47,25 range 38.50 - 87.7
SGOT/AST 60.46 range 26 - 43
SGPT/ALT 60.25 range 6 - 83


Uranalysis -
EB 1030
PH 6.5
Proteine 300mg/dL
Glucose 100mg/dl
now the following is in Greek so is what the online translator gives me

traces of sediments

presence of "ourothiliakon" cells (sorry couldnt find a word for that)

a little red cells

a little of "lipostagonidia" could not find a translation either but if "lipos" is fat and "stagona" is drops... it has to be something related to that.

presence of Oxalate Crystals

a little of calcium salts

a little of glassy cylinders...


I am sorry that is all I can translate to...


If someone could give me a tip, I will be really greatful !

Thank you !

Did you pay this vet? Has your cat ever had a blood panel done before. If he has had a panel done previously and you don't have a copy of it, call the vet who did it and ask for a paper copy so you can compare the numbers. The alt is a marker of liver issues. It is not within the normal range so this needs to be checked. Your cat apparently could have some liver issues. I am not sure what the AST is unless it is alkaline phosphatase, which also is a marker for possible liver problems or bone disease. The other stuff you listed looks like most of it has to do with the cat's urine. The presence of oxyalate crystals means your cat needs an antiobiotic I think. The bun and urea are markers of kidney issues and they appear to be within the normal range. Your vet needed to check the thyroid also. All that being said, I am not a vet, but I do have cats I have had this panel done on and the vet has explained them to me. Go to http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-labtests.htm and there is an explanation of bloodwork in cats.
Maybe someone else will come on here and help you further. My advice is either call this vet back for an explanation over the phone or an appointment in the office because your cat is not finished. He needs some vet care.

Originally Posted by ronit

Hi Again !
It took me a while to find the time and post this... I had a horrible experience with my vet regarding the tests for Pancho... but the result is what infuriates me the most....
He did not make the complete tests because one of the vials with blood had a clog !!!!! After all the trouble of taking a super hysterical cat to the vet and taking blood etc.... it made me really mad so mad that I just took the partial results and left without saying another word to him, it was really unprofessional.

So if someone could give me a hand with this partial results I have it would be of great help.

12 yr old castrated male, 4.8 kilo approx

Creatine 1.76 range 0.70 - 2.20
Urea 47,25 range 38.50 - 87.7
SGOT/AST 60.46 range 26 - 43
SGPT/ALT 60.25 range 6 - 83


Uranalysis -
EB 1030
PH 6.5
Proteine 300mg/dL
Glucose 100mg/dl
now the following is in Greek so is what the online translator gives me

traces of sediments

presence of "ourothiliakon" cells (sorry couldnt find a word for that)

a little red cells

a little of "lipostagonidia" could not find a translation either but if "lipos" is fat and "stagona" is drops... it has to be something related to that.

presence of Oxalate Crystals

a little of calcium salts

a little of glassy cylinders...


I am sorry that is all I can translate to...


If someone could give me a tip, I will be really greatful !

Thank you !

Click to expand...

Here's a link about Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD):
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/in.../bc/130617.htm

These links are about all of the different tests and results on Urinalysis:
Sediment http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/in.../bc/150220.htm
Urine Chemistry http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/in.../bc/150219.htm

They are definitely in veterinary language, so I will try to adapt some of it to your post.

ourothiliakon could possibly be urolith. A urolith is a kidney or bladder stone. Perhaps a ourothiliakon cell would be a precurser to a kidney stone.

Red cells would be blood in the urine. This is common with crystals (Oxalate Crystals) in the urine. Often, Oxalate crystals are also called Calcium Oxalate crystals, so this could explain the phrase calcium salts.

I'm guessing that the phrase glassy cylinders is probably a rough translation meaning casts. A few casts are normal in a urinalysis, but many can be indication of problems.


I don't see anywhere in the lab results if there is any evidence of a urinary tract infection (no elevated WBC, either in the blood work or the urinalysis.) You might want to contact the vet to see if your cat needs to be on any antibiotics to treat a UTI. My Lola has crystals in her urine constantly, but has no evidence of UTI. I give her COSEQUIN daily, which is supposed to protect the lining of the bladder. I think it helps, as she has fewer 'accidents' beside the litter box since she's been on it (almost a year now.)

Another person mentioned the slightly elevated AST. Without going into a medical dissertation about liver function tests, etc... I wouldn't worry about a minimally elevated AST, especially with a normal ALT. ALT is a much more reliable liver function indicator than AST.

If there's anything I can explain for you, or have confused you even more about, please feel free to PM me, or post back, and I'll try my best to explain better!

All the blood numbers look great, but I see a lot in the urinalysis to be concerned about, as has already been explained above by pookie-poo. The strange thing is...the pH is perfect at 6.5, but those oxalate crystals (among other things) are bad news.

Males can block so easily, and it's very painful, and fatal within 24 hours without emergency medical treatment.

What are you feeding Pancho? I'd suggest going to an all canned food diet, (with low phosphorous and magnesium) if he isn't already, and if he is, I'd recommend a special prescription diet designed to control crystal formation.

And yes, adding cosequin for cats is a great idea, both for bladder health, and for any arthritis that may be starting in your senior kitty.

Please keep us posted on him!

It must be so stressful to live somewhere good veterinary care isn't easily available.

Originally Posted by otto

All the blood numbers look great, but I see a lot in the urinalysis to be concerned about, as has already been explained above by pookie-poo. The strange thing is...the pH is perfect at 6.5, but those oxalate crystals (among other things) are bad news.

Males can block so easily, and it's very painful, and fatal within 24 hours without emergency medical treatment.

What are you feeding Pancho? I'd suggest going to an all canned food diet, (with low phosphorous and magnesium) if he isn't already, and if he is, I'd recommend a special prescription diet designed to control crystal formation.

And yes, adding cosequin for cats is a great idea, both for bladder health, and for any arthritis that may be starting in your senior kitty.

Please keep us posted on him!

It must be so stressful to live somewhere good veterinary care isn't easily available.

Click to expand...

If cosiquin is unavailable or too much$$ glucosimin , chondrontin , msm can be used as that is the main stuff in cosequin...

AST is a liver enzyme and is slightly high... I would question the vet, mine would say keep an eye but no worry at this point since senior tests use normals for a adult not a senior...

Does anyone have a link to EU lab tests? As our American tests are different

Originally Posted by sharky

Does anyone have a link to EU lab tests? As our American tests are different

Click to expand...

Here's a convertor link: Either SI (Système Internationale) to US or US to SI
http://www.vin.com/calculators/default.htm

And a chart with US values and UK/International values
http://www.felinecrf.org/diagnosis.htm#ranges

Thank you all for your help !

I know is strange about the PH and the crystals, because the PH is normal, but the crystals are not good... I know by experience that they are very dangerous.
All his life he's had dry food, in the past 2 yrs i've been trying to introduce him to wet food which he does not like at all...so I give him around 80gr per day wet, and during the day he has kibbles of good food (orijen/acana grain free/james welbelloved/nutra diamond/royal canin - all depends on what's on discount, but I prefer the first two)

I sent the results to a friend in a nearby city (who also has a semi-competent vet so maybe he can give us a hand on the results, but on monday)

My concern was the liver as well because of the AST but as he is acting normal I dont now what to say.

About the crystals, he does not have any change on litter behavour so I would have never know. I know of a product called METHIGEL that is an acidifier, but in the warning it says not to give it to pets with liver/kidney problems, and with the high AST i would not want to give it to him.

I wll check next week if they sell the cosequin in Greece, otherwise I will have to order it online... I cant get into getting the active ingredients as it will also imply to order them from the parmacist.... so I prefer ready-made...

Thank you again for all your help, i will study the links carefully and hope that by next time i do this the vet will know better..... really depressing .... but there is no other option here....

i will let you know when my friend's vet reads the report and maybe gives me some conclusion...

Have a good weekend !!

I really wouldn't worry too much about the slighly elevated AST. As someone else said, the liver enzyme ALT is a much better indicator of liver issues..and your cat's ALT is just fine.

I would definitely NOT give any Methigel. That is a urine acidifier. If your cat's got Calcium Oxalate crystals in the urine (this type of crystals form in ACIDIC urine, and your cat's urine pH is on the acidic end (it's less than 7; 0-6.9 = acidic, 7.1-14 = alkaline; 7 is neutral), the last thing you want to do is ACIDIFY the urine even more.

Here's a really fantastic link that gives all kinds of good information on crystals/stones in cats; both kind, struvite and calcium oxalate, causes of, and treatment options for each:

http://www.peteducation.com/article....+2244&aid=2729