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Blood Sample

To gather a little more data on what's going on inside the dog, a blood sample may be taken and a few basic items are checked. A normal blood cell count is in the range from five to nine thousand cells per millilitre. If by chance the dog is dehydrated the red cell count could be falsely reflected to be normal because of the dehydrated condition of the dog and the dog may be anaemic.

Just like the urine sample, the blood sample is centrifuged and the solids (red and white blood cells and platelets) are packed to the bottom of the test tube so that the fluid portion (plasma or serum) can be tested. A simple test can show that the kidneys are clearing waste products from the blood.

The test or blood urea nitrogen (BUN) can show if the kidneys are doing a good job and coping with waste and toxins that could be produced by an infection.
 

• Red Blood Cells, are responsible for carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body.
• Platelets, Play an important role in blood clotting.
• White blood cells, the body?s primary means of fighting infection.
• Lymphocytes, these smooth, round white blood cells increase in number with chronic infection.
• Calcium, blood calcium levels are influenced by diet, hormone levels and blood protein levels.
• Phosphorus, affected by diet, Para hormone and kidney.
• Electrolytes, (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride) The balance of these chemicals is vital to health.
• Cholesterol, Decreased levels are found in an overactive thyroid gland.

This is brief look at the blood sample and may give you some idea to why a blood sample has been requested, this information does not try to diagnose any problems, but just to give in insight into sample testing.

Should your Westie be ill, you should take him/her to a vet as soon as possible, and not try and make any diagnosis yourself, an incorrect diagnoses could endanger the health of your dog.

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