Dog Blood Test Normal Ranges: Complete Chart for All Values

Q: What are normal liver enzyme levels in dogs?

Normal liver enzymes: ALT 10-125 U/L, AST 10-50 U/L, ALP 23-212 U/L, GGT 0-11 U/L. ALT is most liver-specific. ALP can be elevated from bone growth in young dogs. Ranges vary by lab.

Q: What are normal kidney values for dogs?

Normal kidney values: BUN 7-27 mg/dL, Creatinine 0.5-1.8 mg/dL, Phosphorus 2.5-6.8 mg/dL. SDMA (9-24 μg/dL) is a newer, more sensitive kidney marker. Elevated BUN and creatinine together indicate kidney disease.

Q: What is normal blood glucose in dogs?

Normal blood glucose in dogs is 74-143 mg/dL. Values above 200 mg/dL may indicate diabetes, especially with symptoms like increased thirst and urination. Stress can temporarily raise glucose.

Q: What is a normal white blood cell count in dogs?

Normal WBC in dogs is 5,500-16,900 cells/μL. Elevated WBC often indicates infection or inflammation. Low WBC can occur with bone marrow issues or overwhelming infection.

Q: What is normal hematocrit in dogs?

Normal hematocrit (HCT/PCV) in dogs is 37-55%. Low hematocrit indicates anemia. High hematocrit can occur with dehydration or certain diseases. Some breeds like Greyhounds normally run higher.

Q: Why do different labs have different normal ranges?

Labs use different equipment, testing methods, and reference populations, which creates slight variations in normal ranges. Always compare your dog's results to the reference range printed on that specific lab report.

Q: What does it mean if one value is slightly out of range?

A single slightly abnormal value often isn't concerning, especially without symptoms. Vets look at patterns and trends. Mild elevations may be rechecked, while significantly abnormal values or multiple abnormalities warrant investigation.

Q: How often should dogs have bloodwork done?

Healthy adult dogs: annually. Senior dogs (7+): every 6-12 months. Dogs on medications: as directed (often every 3-6 months). Sick dogs: as needed for diagnosis and monitoring. Baseline bloodwork before anesthesia is recommended.

Quick Reference

This chart covers the most common dog bloodwork values. Always compare to your lab's reference range — values vary slightly between laboratories. Click any value below for a detailed explanation.

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Just got your dog's bloodwork results? This comprehensive chart shows normal ranges for liver enzymes, kidney markers, blood cells, and more. Use it to understand what's being measured and whether your dog's values fall within typical ranges.

Liver Enzymes & Function

ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)

10-125 U/L

Most liver-specific enzyme. Elevated = liver cell damage.

AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)

10-50 U/L

Found in liver AND muscle. Check with CK to determine source.

ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase)

23-212 U/L

Elevated in liver disease, Cushing's, bone growth. Higher in young dogs.

GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase)

0-11 U/L

Bile duct marker. Elevated with cholestasis/bile flow issues.

Total Bilirubin

0.0-0.9 mg/dL

Liver function marker. Elevated = jaundice, liver or RBC issues.

Albumin

2.3-4.0 g/dL

Protein made by liver. Low = liver failure, kidney loss, or GI loss.

Test	Normal Range	What It Measures
ALT	10-125 U/L	Liver cell damage (most liver-specific)
AST	10-50 U/L	Liver OR muscle damage (not liver-specific)
ALP	23-212 U/L	Liver, bone, bile ducts. High in Cushing's, young dogs.
GGT	0-11 U/L	Bile duct/cholestasis marker
Total Bilirubin	0.0-0.9 mg/dL	Liver function, RBC breakdown
Albumin	2.3-4.0 g/dL	Liver protein production

Note: ALP is commonly elevated in dogs and doesn't always indicate disease. Young growing dogs and dogs on steroids often have high ALP. Cushing's disease is a common cause of very high ALP.

Kidney Function

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)

7-27 mg/dL

Kidney filtration. Can also rise with dehydration or high protein diet.

Creatinine

0.5-1.8 mg/dL

Most reliable kidney marker. Less affected by diet than BUN.

SDMA

0-14 μg/dL

Early kidney marker. Detects disease before BUN/creatinine rise.

Phosphorus

2.5-6.8 mg/dL

Rises in kidney disease. Important for staging CKD.

Test	Normal Range	What It Measures
BUN	7-27 mg/dL	Kidney filtration (affected by diet, hydration)
Creatinine	0.5-1.8 mg/dL	Kidney function (most reliable kidney marker)
SDMA	0-14 μg/dL	Early kidney disease (more sensitive)
Phosphorus	2.5-6.8 mg/dL	Kidney function, bone metabolism

BUN:Creatinine Ratio: Normal is 10:1 to 20:1. Ratio >20:1 suggests dehydration or GI bleeding. Ratio <10:1 may indicate liver disease or low protein diet.

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Complete Blood Count (CBC)

WBC (White Blood Cells)

5,500-16,900 /μL

Immune cells. High = infection/inflammation. Low = bone marrow issues.

RBC (Red Blood Cells)

5.5-8.5 M/μL

Oxygen-carrying cells. Low = anemia. High = dehydration or disease.

Hemoglobin (HGB)

12-18 g/dL

Oxygen-carrying protein. Low = anemia.

Hematocrit (HCT/PCV)

37-55%

% of blood that is RBCs. Low = anemia. High = dehydration.

Platelets

175,000-500,000 /μL

Clotting cells. Low = bleeding risk. High = inflammation or cancer.

Test	Normal Range	What It Measures
WBC	5,500-16,900 /μL	Immune/infection response
RBC	5.5-8.5 M/μL	Oxygen-carrying capacity
Hemoglobin	12-18 g/dL	Oxygen transport protein
Hematocrit	37-55%	Red blood cell percentage
Platelets	175,000-500,000 /μL	Blood clotting ability

Metabolic & Other Values

Glucose

74-143 mg/dL

Blood sugar. High = diabetes or stress. Low = emergency situation.

Total Protein

5.2-8.2 g/dL

Albumin + globulins. Indicates nutrition, liver, immune status.

Globulins

2.5-4.5 g/dL

Immune proteins. High = infection, inflammation, or cancer.

Cholesterol

110-320 mg/dL

High with hypothyroidism, Cushing's, diabetes. Low with liver disease.

Calcium

9.0-11.3 mg/dL

Bone, parathyroid, some cancers. High calcium is concerning.

Sodium

144-160 mEq/L

Electrolyte balance, hydration status.

Potassium

4.1-5.8 mEq/L

Critical for heart. Abnormal levels can be dangerous.

CK (Creatine Kinase)

10-200 U/L

Muscle enzyme. High = muscle damage, exercise, seizures.

Amylase

500-1500 U/L

Pancreas enzyme. High with pancreatitis or kidney disease.

Lipase

100-750 U/L

Pancreas enzyme. More specific for pancreatitis than amylase.

Test	Normal Range	What It Measures
Glucose	74-143 mg/dL	Blood sugar (diabetes screening)
Total Protein	5.2-8.2 g/dL	Overall protein status
Globulins	2.5-4.5 g/dL	Immune proteins
Cholesterol	110-320 mg/dL	Fat metabolism, endocrine function
Calcium	9.0-11.3 mg/dL	Bone health, parathyroid function
Sodium	144-160 mEq/L	Electrolyte/hydration balance
Potassium	4.1-5.8 mEq/L	Heart and muscle function
CK	10-200 U/L	Muscle damage marker
Amylase	500-1500 U/L	Pancreas function
Lipase	100-750 U/L	Pancreas function (more specific)

Thyroid Function

T4 (Total Thyroxine)

1.0-4.0 μg/dL

Thyroid hormone. Low = hypothyroidism (common in dogs).

Free T4

0.7-2.1 ng/dL

Active thyroid hormone. More accurate than Total T4.

TSH

0.03-0.5 ng/mL

Pituitary signal to thyroid. High TSH + Low T4 = hypothyroidism.

Test	Normal Range	What It Measures
T4 (Total)	1.0-4.0 μg/dL	Thyroid hormone level
Free T4	0.7-2.1 ng/dL	Active thyroid hormone (more accurate)
TSH	0.03-0.5 ng/mL	Thyroid-stimulating hormone

Important Notes About Reference Ranges

• Ranges vary by lab: Different laboratories use different equipment and methods. Always compare your dog's results to the reference range printed on that specific lab report.
• Breed variations: Some breeds have naturally different values. Greyhounds have higher hematocrit, Miniature Schnauzers have higher triglycerides, and large breeds may have higher ALP.
• Age matters: Young growing dogs often have elevated ALP from bone growth. Puppies may have different glucose and protein ranges.
• Fasting vs non-fasting: Glucose, triglycerides, and some other values are affected by recent meals. Your vet may request fasting bloodwork for accuracy.
• Stress effects: Stress (from the vet visit) can temporarily elevate glucose and white blood cells.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are normal liver enzyme levels in dogs?

Normal liver enzymes: ALT 10-125 U/L, AST 10-50 U/L, ALP 23-212 U/L, GGT 0-11 U/L. ALT is most liver-specific. ALP is often elevated in dogs and doesn't always indicate liver disease.

What are normal kidney values for dogs?

Normal kidney values: BUN 7-27 mg/dL, Creatinine 0.5-1.8 mg/dL, SDMA 0-14 μg/dL, Phosphorus 2.5-6.8 mg/dL. Both BUN and creatinine need to be elevated for kidney disease.

What is normal blood glucose in dogs?

Normal blood glucose in dogs is 74-143 mg/dL. Persistent values above 200 mg/dL with symptoms (increased thirst, urination) suggest diabetes. Stress can temporarily raise glucose.

What is a normal white blood cell count in dogs?

Normal WBC in dogs is 5,500-16,900 cells/μL. Elevated WBC usually indicates infection or inflammation. Very high or very low WBC warrants investigation.

What is normal hematocrit in dogs?

Normal hematocrit (HCT/PCV) in dogs is 37-55%. Low values indicate anemia. High values may indicate dehydration. Greyhounds and other sighthounds normally have higher hematocrit.

Why do different labs have different normal ranges?

Labs use different equipment, reagents, and methods, creating slight variations. Some labs also use different reference populations. Always compare to the reference range on your specific lab report.

What does it mean if one value is slightly out of range?

A single slightly abnormal value often isn't concerning, especially without symptoms. Vets look at the overall pattern and trends over time. Mild elevations may just need rechecking.

How often should dogs have bloodwork done?

Healthy adults: annually. Senior dogs (7+): every 6-12 months. Dogs on long-term medications: as directed, often every 3-6 months. Before anesthesia: baseline bloodwork is recommended.

Dog Blood Test Normal Ranges: Complete Chart