ALB/GLOB Ratio in Dogs: What It Means When Low or High
Last reviewed: April 2026
The ALB/GLOB ratio (albumin:globulin ratio, or A:G ratio) appears on your dog's chemistry panel as a derived value: albumin divided by globulin. Normal range in dogs is approximately 0.6–1.1. A low ratio means albumin is disproportionately low relative to globulin — either because globulins are elevated from chronic infection or myeloma, because albumin is depleted from gut or kidney loss or liver failure, or both. The ratio doesn't change the underlying albumin and globulin values — it frames the relationship between them and helps direct which further tests are needed.
Normal ALB/GLOB ratio (dog): 0.6–1.1. Calculated as Albumin ÷ Globulin. Always examine the absolute albumin and globulin values — the ratio alone doesn't say which fraction is abnormal.
Abnormal ALB/GLOB ratio on your dog's panel?
Upload bloodwork to see albumin, globulin, and the A:G ratio together with total protein, kidney values, and liver enzymes — the full protein pattern identifies whether the cause is gut loss, kidney loss, liver failure, or immune activation.
Analyze My Dog's Protein ValuesHow the A:G Ratio Is Calculated
Most labs don't directly measure globulin — it's a calculated value:
A:G Ratio = Albumin ÷ Globulin
Example: Total protein 7.0, Albumin 2.8 → Globulin = 4.2 → A:G ratio = 0.67
Example: Total protein 9.5, Albumin 2.2 → Globulin = 7.3 → A:G ratio = 0.30
What the A:G Ratio Tells You
Marked imbalance. Very high globulins (Ehrlichia, Leishmania, myeloma) or very low albumin. SPEP + tick panel indicated. In cats — not dogs — this range strongly suggests FIP.
Albumin is lower than expected relative to globulin. Check absolute values — high globulin or low albumin (PLE, PLN, liver). Further testing needed.
Normal balance between albumin and globulin. A normal ratio does not mean both values are normal — both could be low (PLE) while still in proportion.
Unusual. Suggests low globulins (young puppy, immunodeficiency) or early PLE where globulin drops more quickly. Verify absolute globulin value.
| Ratio | Interpretation | Likely Cause |
|---|---|---|
| <0.4 | Marked imbalance | Very high globulins (Ehrlichia, myeloma) or very low albumin. SPEP + tick panel. |
| 0.4–0.6 | Low | High globulins (chronic infection/inflammation) or low albumin (PLE, PLN, liver). Check absolutes. |
| 0.6–1.1 | Normal | Normal balance. May still have both low — check absolute values if TP is low. |
| >1.3 | High (unusual) | Low globulins — young puppy, immunodeficiency, early PLE. Verify absolute globulin. |
Reading the Ratio with Context: Four Patterns
Pattern 1: Low ratio — high globulin, normal albumin
Albumin is in the normal range, but globulins are elevated from chronic immune activation. The ratio drops because the denominator (globulin) is large. Causes: Ehrlichia, Bartonella, Leishmaniasis, systemic fungal disease, chronic hepatitis, immune-mediated disease. Work up: tick-borne disease panel, consider SPEP if globulin >5 g/dL.
Pattern 2: Low ratio — low albumin, normal globulin
Albumin is selectively depleted while globulins are maintained. Points to protein-losing nephropathy (PLN — kidneys spill albumin specifically), liver failure (reduced albumin synthesis), or severe protein malnutrition. Work up: urine UPC ratio, liver panel (ALT, ALP, bile acids).
Pattern 3: Normal ratio — both albumin and globulin low
Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is the classic cause. Because the gut leaks both fractions proportionally, the ratio stays in the normal range even as total protein falls. This is one reason PLE can be missed by ratio alone — the absolute values reveal it. Hallmark: low albumin + low globulin + low cholesterol + low B12.
Pattern 4: Very low ratio — very high globulin (monoclonal)
Globulin is very high (5–8+ g/dL) with albumin relatively preserved — creating a very low ratio. The most important cause in dogs: multiple myeloma (monoclonal globulin spike). Also: chronic Ehrlichia or Leishmania (polyclonal). SPEP is the definitive next test to distinguish monoclonal from polyclonal.
The Ratio vs. Individual Values
The A:G ratio is best understood as a screening prompt that tells you to look harder — not as a diagnostic value itself. Consider:
- • A normal ratio does not mean albumin and globulin are both fine — PLE can cause both to fall while keeping the ratio normal.
- • A low ratio could come from high globulin, low albumin, or both — you must check each absolute value to know which.
- • In dogs (unlike cats), no single ratio value is diagnostic for any specific disease. The ratio directs the workup; SPEP, tick panels, and UPC ratios make the diagnosis.
What Happens Next?
- • Check absolute albumin and globulin values — determine which fraction is driving the ratio change
- • Tick-borne disease panel — if globulins are elevated (especially in tick-endemic areas)
- • SPEP (serum protein electrophoresis) — if globulin >5 g/dL or myeloma is suspected
- • Urine protein:creatinine (UPC) ratio — if albumin is selectively low (to rule out PLN)
- • Full liver panel + bile acids — if albumin is low and liver disease is suspected
- • GI workup — if both albumin and globulin are low (PLE: ultrasound, endoscopy, biopsy)
- • Bone marrow aspirate — if SPEP shows a monoclonal spike
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Related Reading
Total Protein in Dogs
What high and low total protein means — albumin + globulin in context.
Globulin in Dogs
What high and low globulins mean — Ehrlichia, myeloma, PLE, and immunodeficiency.
Low Albumin in Dogs
Why albumin drops in dogs — PLE, PLN, liver failure, and what the pattern means.
Protein-Losing Enteropathy in Dogs
PLE drops both albumin and globulin while keeping the A:G ratio normal.
ALB/GLOB Ratio in Cats
In cats, the A:G ratio below 0.4 is a specific red flag for FIP — a key species difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ALB/GLOB ratio in dogs?
The ALB/GLOB ratio (albumin:globulin or A:G ratio) is albumin divided by globulin. Normal range is approximately 0.6–1.1. It helps identify whether protein abnormalities are driven by high globulins (infection, myeloma), low albumin (PLE, PLN, liver failure), or both simultaneously.
What does a low ALB/GLOB ratio mean in dogs?
A low ratio (below 0.6) means albumin is low relative to globulin. This happens when globulins are elevated (Ehrlichia, myeloma, fungal infection) or when albumin is low (PLE, PLN, liver failure) while globulins remain normal. The absolute values of each fraction determine which scenario applies.
What does a high ALB/GLOB ratio mean in dogs?
A high ratio (above 1.3–1.5) is less clinically significant in dogs. It suggests globulins may be low (young puppies, immunodeficiency, early PLE where globulin drops faster than albumin). Verify the absolute globulin value rather than relying on the ratio alone.
What is a normal ALB/GLOB ratio in dogs?
Normal is approximately 0.6–1.1 in dogs, though lab reference ranges vary. The ratio is derived from albumin and globulin (globulin = TP minus albumin), so small measurement errors can shift it. Absolute albumin and globulin values are more reliable for clinical decisions.
Can the ALB/GLOB ratio identify myeloma in dogs?
A low ratio from high globulins raises the concern, but the ratio alone cannot distinguish myeloma from other causes of high globulins. Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) is required to show the characteristic monoclonal spike of myeloma versus the broad polyclonal band of infection.
Is the A:G ratio as important in dogs as in cats?
Less so. In cats, A:G below 0.4 with effusion is strongly associated with FIP — a specific diagnosis. In dogs, the ratio identifies protein imbalances but is not linked to any single disease with that specificity. It guides which tests to run (SPEP, tick panel, UPC ratio) rather than naming a diagnosis.