Jaundice in cats. Increased bilirubin in dogs and cats (jaundice) Increased bilirubin in a cat

Glucose is a universal source of energy for cells - the main substance from which any cell of the body receives energy for life. The need of the cat's body for energy, and therefore - for glucose - increases in parallel with physical and psychological stress under the influence of the stress hormone - adrenaline, during growth, development, recovery (growth hormones, thyroid gland, adrenal glands). The indicator for a cat is 3.3-6.3 mmol/l. For the absorption of glucose by cells, a normal content of insulin, a hormone of the pancreas, is necessary. In case of its deficiency ( diabetes) glucose cannot enter the cells, its level in the blood is elevated, and the cells starve.

Increased blood glucose levels(hyperglycemia) - causes: diabetes mellitus in cats, physical or emotional stress (release of adrenaline), thyrotoxicosis (increased thyroid function), Cushing's syndrome (increased levels of the adrenal hormone - cortisol), pancreatic diseases (pancreatitis, tumor, cystic fibrosis, chronic diseases liver, kidneys).

Reduced blood glucose levels(hypoglycemia) - causes: starvation, insulin overdose, diseases of the pancreas (a tumor from cells that synthesize insulin), tumors (excessive consumption of glucose as an energy material by tumor cells), insufficiency of the function of the endocrine glands (adrenal glands, thyroid, pituitary gland), severe poisoning with liver damage (alcohol, arsenic, chlorine, phosphorus compounds, salicylates, antihistamines)

Total protein in the blood.

The indicator for a cat is 54-77 g/l.

Increased blood protein(hyperproteinemia) - causes: dehydration (burns, diarrhea, vomiting - a relative increase in protein concentration due to a decrease in fluid volume), myeloma (excessive production of gamma globulins).

Decreased protein in the blood(hypoproteinemia): starvation (complete or protein - strict vegetarianism, anorexia nervosa), bowel disease (malabsorption), nephrotic syndrome ( kidney failure), increased consumption (blood loss, burns, tumors, ascites, chronic and acute inflammation), chronic liver failure (hepatitis, cirrhosis).

Albumen- one of two fractions of the total protein that performs a transport function.

The indicator for a cat is 25-37 g/l.

Increased (hyperalbuminemia):

There is no true (absolute) hyperalbuminemia. Relative occurs when the total volume of fluid decreases (dehydration)

Decreased (hypoalbuminemia):

The same as for general hypoproteinemia.

Total bilirubin in cat blood- a component of bile, consists of two fractions - indirect (unbound), formed during the breakdown of blood cells (erythrocytes), and direct (bound), formed from indirect in the liver and excreted through bile ducts into the intestines. It is a coloring matter (pigment), therefore, when it increases in the blood, the color of the skin changes.

Increase in the cat's body(hyperbilirubinemia): damage to liver cells (hepatitis, hepatosis - parenchymal jaundice), obstruction of the bile ducts (obstructive jaundice)

Urea in the blood- a product of protein metabolism, excreted by the kidneys. Some of the urea remains in the blood.

The normal level for a cat is 4-10.5 mmol/l.

Increased urea levels in a cat's blood: renal dysfunction, obstruction urinary tract, increased protein content in food,increased protein degradation (burns, acute myocardial infarction).

Decreased blood urea levels: protein starvation, pregnancy, acromegaly, malabsorption.

Creatinine in blood- the end product of creatine metabolism, which is synthesized in the kidneys and liver from three amino acids (arginine, glycine, methionine). It is completely excreted from the body by the kidneys, by glomerular filtration, without being reabsorbed in the renal tubules.

The indicator for a cat is 55-180 µmol/l.

Increased blood creatinine levels: impaired renal function (renal failure), hyperthyroidism.

Decrease in creatine level: pregnancy, aging muscle mass cats.

Alanine aminotransferase (ALAT)- an enzyme produced by the cells of the liver, skeletal muscle and heart.

The indicator for a cat is 0-75 units.

Increase (ALAT) in the blood: destruction of liver cells (necrosis, cirrhosis, jaundice, tumors), destruction muscle tissue(trauma, myositis, muscular dystrophy), burns, toxic effect on the liver of drugs (antibiotics, etc.).

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the blood:- an enzyme produced by cells of the heart, liver, skeletal muscles and red blood cells.

The cat’s indicator is 9-30 units.

An increase in the level of (AST) in the blood of a cat: liver cell damage (hepatitis, drug toxicity, liver metastases), severe exercise stress, heart failure, burns, heat stroke.

Gamma-glutamyltransferase (Gamma-GT) in the blood:- an enzyme produced by the cells of the liver, pancreas, thyroid gland.

The cat's indicator is 0-3 units.

Increased Gamma-GT in the blood: liver diseases (hepatitis, cirrhosis, cancer), pancreatic diseases (pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus), hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism).

Alpha-Amylase in the blood:- an enzyme produced by the cells of the pancreas and parotid salivary glands.

The cat’s indicator is 450-1550 units.

Increased alpha-amylase in the blood: pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), mumps (inflammation of the parotid salivary gland), diabetes mellitus, volvulus of the stomach and intestines, peritonitis.

Decreased alpha-amylase in the blood: pancreatic insufficiency, thyrotoxicosis.

Potassium in the blood - The indicator in a cat is 3.5-5.3 mmol / l.

Increased potassium in the blood(hyperkalemia): cell damage (hemolysis - destruction of blood cells, severe starvation, seizures, severe injuries), dehydration, acute renal failure (impaired renal excretion), hyperadrenocorticosis.

Decreased potassium in the cat's blood(hypokalemia): chronic fasting (failure to receive food), prolonged vomiting, diarrhea (loss with intestinal juice), impaired renal function, excess adrenal hormones (including intake dosage forms cortisone), hypoadrenocorticosis.

Sodium in the blood- The indicator in a cat is 150-160 mmol / l.

Increased sodium in the blood(hypernatremia): excess salt intake, loss of extracellular fluid (severe vomiting and diarrhea, increased urination (diabetes insipidus), excessive retention (increased adrenal function), impaired central regulation water-salt metabolism(pathology of the hypothalamus, coma).

Reduced sodium in the blood(hyponatremia): loss, decreased concentration due to increased fluid volume (diabetes mellitus, chronic heart failure, liver cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, edema).

Chlorides in the blood- The cat’s indicator is 114-128 mmol/l.

Increased blood chlorides: dehydration, acute renal failure, diabetes insipidus, salicylate poisoning, increased function of the adrenal cortex.

Reduced chlorides in the blood: profuse diarrhea, vomiting, increased fluid volume.

Calcium in the blood– The cat’s indicator is 2.1-2.8 mmol/l.

Increase in blood(hypercalcemia): increased function of the parathyroid gland, malignant tumors with bone damage (metastases, myeloma, leukemia), excess vitamin D, dehydration.

Decreased blood levels(hypocalcemia): decreased thyroid function, vitamin D deficiency, chronic renal failure, magnesium deficiency.

Inorganic phosphorus in the blood– The indicator in a cat is 0.9-2.3 mmol/l.

Increase in blood: destruction bone tissue(tumors, leukemia), excess vitamin D, fracture healing, endocrine disorders, kidney failure.

Decreased blood levels: growth hormone deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, malabsorption, severe diarrhea, vomiting, hypercalcemia.

Alkaline phosphatase in the blood- The cat’s indicator is 4-85 units. An enzyme produced in bone tissue, liver, intestines, placenta, and lungs.

Increase in blood: pregnancy, increased turnover in bone tissue ( fast growth, healing of fractures, rickets, hyperparathyroidism), bone diseases (osteogenic sarcoma, cancer metastases to the bones), liver diseases.

Decreased blood levels: hypothyroidism (underfunction of the thyroid gland), anemia (anemia), lack of vitamin C, B12, zinc, magnesium.

Total blood cholesterol– The cat’s indicator is 2-5.9 mmol/l.

Increase in blood: liver disease, hypothyroidism (underfunction of the thyroid gland), ischemic disease heart (atherosclerosis), hyperadrenocorticism.

Decreased blood levels: enteropathy accompanied by protein loss, liver disease (cirrhosis), malignant neoplasms, poor nutrition.

However, on this external symptoms, indicating a significant increase in the level of bilirubin in the blood, does not end, because in the first place there is a strong yellowing of the earlobes of a fluffy pet, and it is categorically not recommended to let it go further development events.

As a rule, a situation where a cat has increased bilirubin can be found in one explanation - hemolysis caused by too rapid or intense breakdown of red blood cells; another thing is that the root cause of this pathology can be almost any external or internal factors. In any case, at the slightest suspicion of jaundice, it is recommended that the animal be urgently examined at the nearest veterinary institution, because it is actually quite simple to establish that the bilirubin in a cat is elevated. To do this, it is necessary to check the ratio of the volume of erythrocytes (hematocrit) and the total plasma protein concentration, and if the first indicator is significantly inferior to the second, we can safely confirm a significant increase in bilirubin.

Often in cases where bilirubin is elevated in a cat, one can observe a certain clinical picture, characteristic of such side effects such as anemia, apathy, fatigue and loss of appetite. Sometimes tachycardia is added to everything described, as a result of anemia, given that both phenomena can appear only 4-6 days after the increase in bilirubin. As for the root cause of such manifestations, one should not exclude various infectious diseases, including such dangerous illnesses, like viral leukemia and immunodeficiency, to which all felines are subject, without exception.

But non-infectious hemolysis in furry pets is much less common. This point should be taken into account when conducting diagnostics and establishing the root cause of the increase in the level of bilirubin in the blood of the animal.

In its turn, hemolytic anemia conditionally divided into primary and secondary, and if in the first case it is characterized by loss of appetite, drowsiness, icteric coloration and heart murmurs, then the acquired type of this pathology involves much more severe symptoms. This includes severe anemia with Heinz bodies, hypophosphatemia (lack of phosphates in the animal’s body), oxidative stress and various neoplasms, including tumors. The cause of jaundice should not be excluded when elevated level bilirubin is concentrated in the liver and gallbladder. Exceeding the permissible level of 2.5-3 milligrams per deciliter is already considered a deviation from the norm, while the color of the mucous membranes and skin the animal may remain unchanged.

It should be remembered that, according to statistics, animals with increased concentrations of bilirubin live much shorter than their normal counterparts. normal level this indicator. Great value have results biochemical analysis plasma, or rather the level of alkaline phosphatase, which is known to be a kind of indicator of liver disease. Moreover, a decrease in this level is a bad harbinger, although in dogs this indicator tends to play a much smaller role. In addition, you should pay attention to enzymes, in particular GGT, which are also quite informative in this matter.

However, one should not rush to certain conclusions, forgetting about the potential contradictions that occur with such a disease as hepatic lipidosis in cats, because it is this disease that can give the opposite effect when alkaline phosphatase increases noticeably, while GGT enzymes, on the contrary, rapidly fall.

As for the main causes of hepatic jaundice, in which bilirubin tends to increase sharply, they include various inflammatory processes, lymphocytic and neutrophilic cholangitis, lipidosis, neoplasms, infectious peritonitis(inflammation of the peritoneum), etc.

A serum enzyme produced by the pancreas and parotid salivary gland, called Alpha Amylase.

When do alpha-amylase levels increase in a cat's blood?

The level increases during inflammatory processes or obstruction.

And it is also possible to increase the level of alpha-amylase in pathologies of the small and large intestines, musculature of the skeleton, and ovaries. The norm for cats is 580–1720 units.

Alpha amylase levels should be between 580 and 1720 units.

High enzyme levels

High levels of the enzyme are observed in the following diseases:

• mumps;
• intoxication due to poisoning;
• diabetes;
• acute hepatitis;
• biliary cirrhosis of primary origin;
• volvulus of the stomach or intestines;
• imbalance of electrolyte metabolism.

Low enzyme levels

A decrease in enzyme levels occurs in cases of chemical poisoning.

At the same time, a decrease in the level of the enzyme occurs with necrotic pathology of the pancreas, thyrotoxicosis, poisoning with chemical toxic agents.

Symptoms

The course of pancreatitis is accompanied by progressive vomiting.

• Acute pancreatitis is accompanied by progressive vomiting, .
• Against the background of vomiting and diarrhea comes.
• Cat lethargic, non-communicative, aggressive when trying to make contact.
• Possible violations of cardio-vascular system – arrhythmia, shortness of breath.
• Temperature rises, jaundice appears mucous membranes.
• Pronounced pain syndrome.

Mumps

Inflammation of the salivary glands - parotitis - is manifested by fever, rapid anorexia.

The glands become inflamed and enlarged, with soreness and fluctuation. Abscesses often appear on the skin.

When a cat has mumps, abscesses appear on the skin.

Kidney failure

The early stage of renal failure is asymptomatic, then polydipsia begins - increased thirst.

• An increase in the amount of urine, which is almost transparent in color.
• Alternation of presence and absence of appetite.
• Nausea and symptoms are less common.
• In the advanced stage, the swallowing reflex is disrupted and a lethargic state occurs.
• Sharp weight loss, lethargy, weakness, anemia.

Kidney failure is accompanied by intense thirst.

Diabetes

Sudden weight loss is a sign of diabetes.

Signs of diabetes include a sharp decline weight, increased thirst, increased amount of urine.

• There may be an excessive appetite, which is replaced by a refusal to feed.
• The hind limbs weaken, as a result of which the gait becomes unsteady, and the pet falls on the entire surface of the paw.
• The skin becomes thinner, weakness and apathy begin, and pain is felt.
• Wool disheveled, sloppy overall appearance.

Hepatitis

With hepatitis, body temperature rises.

A characteristic sign of hepatitis is yellowness of the mucous membranes.

• Body temperature rises, appetite is lost.
• An irrepressible thirst sets in, and the pet constantly vomits.
• Alternating diarrhea and...
• feces light, almost white color.
• The urine darkens, almost brick-colored.
• The cat is losing weight dramatically.

Cirrhosis

Ascites develops in cats with cirrhosis.

The early stage of cirrhosis has no visible signs.

• Deterioration occurs when practically nothing can be done to help the cat.
• Ascites develops and the pet becomes easily fatigued.
• With a complete lack of appetite, polydipsia is present, and weight is rapidly lost.
• The last stage is characterized by disturbances nervous system– convulsions, causeless aggression, lack of coordination of movement.
• Vision decreases, loss of orientation in space.

Intestinal volvulus in a cat manifests itself as a serious condition.

• Weakness, apathy, hematemesis sharply sets in.
• Severe pain and tension in the abdomen.
• Pet from severe pain extends the hind limbs.
• The belly is large and hard.
• The cat goes into shock.
• The animal abruptly loses weight, as if shrinking, dehydration occurs.
• The pet often goes to the litter tray, but all attempts are unsuccessful and are accompanied by severe pain.

Volvulus in a cat leads to a lethargic state.

Peritonitis and its forms

There are two forms of peritonitis - exudative and dry form. The exudative form is characterized by the formation of effusion in the cat’s body cavity. In the dry form there is no effusion.

Exudative form

The exudative form of peritonitis is characterized by the formation of effusion in the body cavity.

The exudative form is manifested by febrile conditions that cannot be relieved by antibiotic therapy.

• The animal loses its appetite and begins to lose weight sharply.
• The abdomen gradually increases in size, abdominal cavity Fluid accumulates and ascites develops.
• Possible accumulation of fluid in the cavity chest, which causes difficulty breathing and shortness of breath.
• The liver increases in size and upon palpation you can feel its enlarged borders, which cause pain for your pet.
• Are increasing The lymph nodes, which subsequently become inflamed and painful on palpation.
• A malfunction occurs digestive system: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea occurs.
• If the disease affects a kitten, all growth processes slow down, and soon the baby stops growing completely.

With palpation, you can feel the enlarged borders of the liver.

Dry form

The dry form is manifested by a lack of appetite, exhaustion, and weakness of the cat.

The dry form is manifested by lack of appetite and weakness.

How to test alpha-amylase levels in cats

The material for research is blood serum, less often plasma. The fence is carried out on an empty stomach. Typically, such an analysis is done before making a diagnosis or starting therapeutic measures. The blood is placed in a dry tube and tested. During the study, the age of the animal being examined should be taken into account. Young animals have a higher level.

Alpha-amylase levels can be detected by blood tests.

Video about alpha-amylase in the blood

Jaundice is the sudden yellowing of a cat's eyeballs, skin and tissues, gums and tongue. Unlike other infectious and non-communicable diseases jaundice is quite rare in cats. As a rule, it is a sign a large number pathologies. So, why is such jaundice dangerous and how does it manifest itself?

Predisposing factors to the disease

Causes jaundice high content bilirubin in the blood. This bile pigment is formed in the cat's body as a result of the processing of hemoglobin from red blood cells. Hemoglobin is the most important component of blood, which saturates all organs and cells with oxygen. If hemoglobin is processed too quickly, the produced bilirubin does not have time to be utilized through the liver and gradually accumulates in the body, causing intoxication.

Jaundice often occurs due to liver disease.

Often jaundice can occur against the background of concomitant (cancer, cirrhosis, hepatitis), tumors compressing the bile ducts or due to the intake of certain medicines. It can be provoked by rupture of the gallbladder, blood diseases, bacterial infections, obesity, poor quality nutrition. Jaundice can be caused by various bacterial and viral infections, blood transfusion, hepatic lipidosis, impaired bilirubin production.

Types of jaundice in cats

There are several varieties of this disease, because there are many causes of jaundice.

Jaundice in cats can be of several types.

You can only determine what type of jaundice your pet is suffering from based on a blood test.

Clinical signs of the disease

The clinical picture of the disease is often accompanied by anemia, signs of which may include drowsiness, slight weakness, loss of appetite and constant or periodic fever. The nature of such anemia greatly affects the general Clinical signs. But in general, cats tolerate low hematocrit much more easily than dogs.

The most dangerous is hemolytic jaundice, which is characterized by the following symptoms:

• liver enlargement;
• refusal to eat;
• sudden increase in temperature, fever;
• enlarged lymph nodes and spleen;
• orange cal.

The disease progresses very quickly and it is almost impossible to notice its signs in time. It is difficult to cure this type of jaundice, and the animal often dies.

Obstructive jaundice is characterized by:

• nausea and vomiting;
• abdominal enlargement;
• sudden weight loss;
• anorexia;
• darkening of urine.

Most symptoms will depend on what caused the jaundice. But the common symptoms are always yellowing and dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, constipation, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain. With jaundice, urine becomes bright orange, and stool becomes completely white.

Mucosal staining in yellow is a very dangerous sign.

Observed frequent urination and severe thirst, sudden weight loss, mental disorders and internal bleeding. In advanced cases, jaundice may result in coma and lethal outcome. Therefore, it is very important to start treatment in a timely manner. After the cat has turned yellow eyeballs, gums and inside of the ears, she dies within a few days.

Infectious causes of hemolysis in cats

The destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis) in cats can be observed by various reasons. A decrease in the number of red blood cells leads to the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood and severe oxygen starvation. The causes of hemolysis can be either infectious or non-infectious.

TO infectious causes hemolysis include:

• hemoplasmosis;
• babesiosis;
• cytozoonosis;
• dirofilariasis;
• infectious anemia;
• ehrlichiosis.

The causes of hemolytic anemia include some non-infectious diseases.

Non-infectious causes of hemolysis in cats

Non-infectious hemolysis in cats is quite rare. Its main cause is idiopathic immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, which is conventionally divided into primary and secondary.

Primary hemolytic anemia manifests itself in the form of jaundice, loss of appetite, pallor of the mucous membranes and heart murmurs.

Secondary anemia caused by the use of certain medications (paracetamol, antibiotics or lidocaine), malignant neoplasms(etc.), heredity, low phosphate content in the body.

In rare cases, jaundice may be a consequence of hemolytic anemia.

Jaundice is just one symptom of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Therefore, it is important to correctly diagnose and prescribe proper treatment.

How to make a diagnosis

Treatment of the disease directly depends on the cause of jaundice. During the period of treatment, the cat should be under the constant supervision of a veterinarian, preferably in a hospital. Hemolytic jaundice is often an indication for blood transfusion. After diagnosis, it is prescribed drug treatment.

The following drugs can be used:

In some cases, the drug Globfel is used for treatment.

• Gemavit;
• Ceftriaxone;
• Ranitidine;
• Immunofan.

Sometimes prescribed antiviral agent Globfel, which is administered intramuscularly, for at least three days. To ease your pet's suffering, your veterinarian may recommend the use of painkillers and antiemetics. medications. But only in the absence of liver failure. Under no circumstances should you give a sick animal erythromycin, tetracycline or paracetamol. These drugs destroy the liver.

Many owners have a question: how long does jaundice last in a cat? If treatment is prescribed correctly and started on time, the cat may feel relief within 1-2 weeks. It is difficult to predict when the disease will completely recede. This depends not only on the cause of the jaundice, but also on the general state of the cat’s immunity, its age and other factors. It is important to remember that all drug treatment should only be prescribed by a qualified specialist. You should not self-medicate, as it can be fatal.

Prognosis and care for your cat

If you follow all the doctor’s prescriptions, start treatment at home in a timely manner, and strictly adhere to the dosage of medications, then the prognosis for jaundice will be optimistic. Diet for jaundice is no less important. The cat should be fed with special food for animals with liver diseases, containing a lot of easily digestible protein.

Eliminate everything salty, fried, fatty or spicy from your diet. Be sure to add vitamins B, C, K1 and PP to your food. During the entire period of therapy, it is important to carefully monitor any changes in the cat's condition. Thus, a sharp darkening of urine or light-colored feces can serve as a signal of a ruptured gallbladder.

Disease prevention

Regular vaccination is one of the measures to prevent jaundice.

To avoid contracting jaundice, you must follow some mandatory measures.

These include:

• high-quality and balanced diet;
• regular deworming;
• carrying out preventive examinations at the veterinarian;
• mandatory timely vaccination;
• compliance with nutritional standards.

If you comply with all these requirements, your cat will not have any health problems.

A blood test is one of the most informative and prescribed studies in modern veterinary medicine. It not only allows you to evaluate general state animal, but also the functioning of its individual organs and systems. A blood test in cats makes it possible to evaluate many indicators, on the basis of which a diagnosis is made or additional tests are prescribed. It can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and make adjustments if necessary.

General analysis

There are two basic types of blood tests: general, or clinical, and biochemical.

The following main indicators are distinguished:

1. 1. Hemoglobin (HGB). A blood pigment found in red blood cells whose function is to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide through the vessels. Its determination in blood is not only diagnostic value, it is also important from the point of view of prognosis of the disease, since pathological conditions, leading to a decrease in the content of this indicator, lead to oxygen starvation of tissues.
2. 2. Hematocrit (Ht, HCT) - the volume of red blood cells in the blood.
3. 3. Red blood cells are red bodies containing hemoglobin. They take part in tissue gas exchange and maintaining acid-base balance.
4. 4. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is an indicator that displays the ratio of plasma protein fractions; it can be used to determine the presence of an inflammatory process.
5. 5. The average concentration of hemoglobin in a red blood cell shows how saturated the red cells are with hemoglobin. The indicator is expressed as a percentage.
6. 6. Average hemoglobin content in an erythrocyte - shows the amount of this protein in an erythrocyte.
7. 7. Leukocytes, or white blood cells, their function is to protect the body from antigens. Include:
   1. neutrophils - granulocytic leukocytes that protect against infections;
   2. 8. lymphocytes – cells that are key in specific immune reactions;
   3. 9. Monocytes – are engaged in the destruction of foreign substances that enter the blood and threaten health;
   4. 10. Eosinophils – cells that phagocytose the antigen-antibody complex;
   5. 11. basophils - help other white blood cells recognize and detect foreign particles in the blood;
   6. 12. platelets - elements responsible for the integrity of blood vessels, play a critical role in the regeneration and healing of damaged tissues;
   7. 13. myelocytes - cells located in the bone marrow; they should not be detected in the blood, since otherwise we can talk about chronic myeloid leukemia or acute inflammatory processes present.

Biochemical analysis

Biochemical analysis is a diagnostic method that allows you to assess activity internal organs, confirm or refute the diagnosis. The attending physician determines specific indicators that need to be examined in more detail if any deviation from the norm is suspected.

Most often, the following main criteria are distinguished:

• total protein - an indicator of the amount of protein in serum, performs important function for transporting many biologically active substances, in particular, hormones;
• albumin is a protein that is produced in the liver and makes up most total blood protein, therefore related to the previous indicator;
• glucose - participates in the synthesis of glycogen, nutrition of brain tissue, muscles, is a universal source of energy to ensure metabolic processes, serves as a criterion for diagnosing diabetes in animals;
• creatinine is the final product of protein metabolism, is involved in the metabolism of muscle and nervous tissue, is excreted from the body in the urine, and therefore speaks about the functioning of the kidneys;
• total bilirubin - is one of the breakdown products of hemoglobin that occurs in the spleen, liver and bone marrow;
• cholesterol is organic compound contained in cell membranes, ensures their strength, participates in the production of many important hormones; this indicator can be used to judge the nature of lipid metabolism in the animal’s body;
• urea - the end product of protein metabolism, is studied to diagnose the functioning of the excretory system;
• alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase - enzymes that are produced by the cells of the liver, heart, red blood cells, muscles; they are used to evaluate the functioning of the heart and liver, respectively;
• lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) - an enzyme involved in the final stage of glucose breakdown; it must be determined to control the functioning of the liver and the cardiac system, as well as with possible risks of tumor formation;
• alkaline phosphatase (AP) - a substance involved in the transport of phosphorus, its determination allows you to control the functioning of the liver;
• gamma-glutamyltransferase - an enzyme that gives an idea of ​​​​the work of the liver, hepatobiliary system, thyroid and pancreas;
• amylase is an enzyme secreted in the pancreas and salivary glands;
• creatine phosphokinase - an enzyme concentrated in high concentration in the myocardium and skeletal muscles and, at a lower concentration, in the brain;
• triglycerides - derivatives of glycerol, they are analyzed in combination with cholesterol levels, are the main source of energy for cells.

Carrying out a general blood test and interpreting the results

Blood is drawn using a tourniquet and a tube or syringe

To carry out this analysis, specialists take from the cat venous blood and place it in a test tube with an anticoagulant medium to prevent clotting and destruction of blood cells.

The analysis is taken in the morning on an empty stomach. It is recommended the day before to exclude active physical activity, the use of medications, especially when administered intramuscularly or intravenously.

The breakdown of the main indicators is as follows: