VETERINARY LABORATORY INTERPRETATION: A Clinical Guide to Blood Work, Urinalysis, Diagnostic Patterns, and Clinical Decision-Making in Dogs and Cats

VETERINARY LABORATORY INTERPRETATION doesn't just tell you which value is abnormal — it teaches you why it's abnormal, how strongly it supports a diagnosis, and what to do next.

Many laboratory manuals treat hematology, chemistry, urinalysis, and cytology as isolated subjects. This book takes a different approach: pattern recognition and clinical reasoning that reflect the structured interpretation used in clinical practice. Written specifically for dogs and cats, it moves beyond single-value thinking to show how findings interact across organ systems and how laboratory abnormalities can be translated into meaningful diagnostic decisions.

Inside, you'll learn to interpret:

Blood & Immune System

Complete blood count interpretation and hematologic patterns Regenerative and nonregenerative anemia Leukocyte and platelet abnormalities Hemostasis and coagulation testing Organ Systems & Metabolic Function

Serum chemistry and metabolic patterns Renal biomarkers, azotemia, and kidney dysfunction Liver enzymes, bilirubin, and hepatic function Pancreatic and gastrointestinal laboratory testing Electrolyte, mineral, and acid-base disorders Endocrine, Urinalysis & Infectious Disease

Systematic urinalysis and proteinuria Thyroid and adrenal testing Diabetic laboratory patterns Cytology, body fluids, PCR, culture, and infectious disease diagnostics Clinical Integration

Multivariable laboratory patterns and conflicting results Selecting the most useful next diagnostic step The final section ties these concepts together through high-yield diagnostic combinations, showing how abnormalities across multiple organ systems can form clinically meaningful patterns.

Five rapid-reference appendices put the essentials at your fingertips:
CBC interpretation • Serum chemistry patterns • Urinalysis interpretation • Electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities • Common diagnostic pattern combinations

Whether you're reviewing a routine wellness panel or working through a complex multisystem case, this book provides a repeatable framework for turning raw laboratory data into clearer, more confident clinical decisions.

Designed for veterinarians, veterinary students, interns, technicians, and small-animal practitioners.

Interpret the pattern. Understand the mechanism. Choose the next step.