What questions should I ask my vet after abnormal bloodwork?

Key questions include: How abnormal is this — mildly, moderately, or severely? Is this a trend or a single data point? What conditions could cause this? What is the next diagnostic step? Does this require treatment now or watchful waiting? What dietary changes can I make today? What symptoms should prompt an immediate callback? How and when should we recheck this?

Can I ask an online vet about my dog's abnormal bloodwork?

Yes. Online vets can review bloodwork results, explain what the values mean, help prioritize next steps, and in some cases prescribe medication or recommend follow-up testing. Dutch is a popular telehealth platform for ongoing medication management and follow-up consultations. For new diagnoses requiring physical examination, an in-person visit is still needed.

What to Ask Your Vet After Abnormal Bloodwork Results

Q: What does it mean when a dog's bloodwork comes back abnormal?

Abnormal bloodwork means one or more values fall outside the laboratory's reference range. This does not always mean serious disease — some values are mildly elevated due to stress, recent meals, medications, or normal aging. Whether it is concerning depends on how far outside range it is, which values are affected, whether multiple values are abnormal together, and your pet's symptoms.

Q: Should I be worried if my dog's bloodwork is abnormal?

Not always. Mild single-value abnormalities in an otherwise healthy pet often just need a recheck. You should be more concerned if: the value is severely elevated (5x normal or more), multiple values are abnormal, your pet has symptoms (lethargy, vomiting, weight loss, excessive drinking), or values are worsening on repeat tests.

Q: How long can I wait after getting abnormal bloodwork results?

It depends on severity. Mild abnormalities in a pet with no symptoms can typically be rechecked in 2–4 weeks. Moderate abnormalities usually warrant follow-up within 1–2 weeks. Severely abnormal values — especially creatinine, bilirubin, glucose, or potassium at extreme levels — may need same-day or next-day attention even in a pet that seems okay.

Most people leave the vet after an abnormal panel with a vague sense of concern and a follow-up appointment on the calendar, but without a clear picture of what they're actually dealing with. These 12 questions change that.

Quick checklist — print or screenshot before your appointment

01How abnormal is this — mild, moderate, or severe?
02Is this a trend, or the first time we've seen it?
03What conditions could cause this?
04What is the next diagnostic step?
05Treat now, investigate more, or monitor?
06Any diet or medication changes to make immediately?
07What symptoms mean come in same-day?
08When and how do we recheck this?
09Could current medications be contributing?
10What is the realistic cost range if this is what you suspect?
11Is a specialist referral worth it?
12Can I get a copy of the full results?

Not sure what your dog's results actually mean?

Upload the bloodwork to VetLens before your follow-up appointment. We'll give you a plain-English breakdown of every flagged value — so you arrive at the conversation already informed.

Understand My Dog's Results

The 12 Questions — With Context

How abnormal is this — mildly, moderately, or severely?

A value that is 1.2× the upper limit of normal is very different from one that is 10× normal. Get a plain-English severity assessment, not just the flag on the printout.

Ask: 'On a scale of mild, moderate, or severe — where would you put this?'

Is this a trend, or is this the first time we've seen it?

A single elevated value means much less than a value that has been rising across two or three visits. If you have older bloodwork, bring it or upload it to VetLens so you can compare.

Ask: 'Do we have previous results to compare this against?'

What conditions could explain this result?

Most abnormal values have multiple possible causes ranging from benign to serious. Getting the differential diagnosis list helps you understand what you're investigating — not just what you know.

Ask: 'What are the most likely and most important causes we need to rule out?'

What is the next diagnostic step?

Bloodwork rarely gives a final diagnosis on its own. Understanding whether the next step is a repeat panel, urinalysis, imaging, or specialist referral helps you plan and prepares you for what's coming.

Ask: 'In what order should we be doing these, and what are we looking for with each?'

Does this require treatment now, or watchful waiting?

Some results are watch-and-recheck. Others need immediate action. The answer changes your timeline completely — and helps you avoid both under-reacting and over-reacting.

Ask: 'If you had to pick a lane — treat now, investigate more, or monitor — where are we?'

Are there any diet or medication changes I should make immediately?

While waiting for follow-up tests or a specialist appointment, there are often things you can do: switching proteins, adjusting supplements, stopping a medication that may be affecting results.

Ask: 'Is there anything I should start or stop doing at home right now?'

What symptoms should prompt me to call or come in immediately?

Bloodwork is a snapshot. Your pet's condition can change. Knowing the red-flag symptoms specific to this abnormality means you won't be guessing at 10pm whether something warrants an ER visit.

Ask: 'What specifically should make me bring them in same-day versus waiting for a scheduled appointment?'

How and when should we recheck this?

The recheck timeline matters. A 2-week recheck gives you much less information than a 4-week one for assessing a trend. Ask why that specific interval was chosen.

Ask: 'What would a good outcome versus a concerning outcome look like on the recheck?'

Could any current medications or supplements be causing or contributing to this?

Many common medications elevate liver enzymes, affect kidney values, or alter blood cell counts as a side effect. This is especially relevant for dogs on NSAIDs, steroids, Apoquel, or seizure medications.

Ask: 'Should we pause or change any current medications before rechecking?'

What is the realistic range of treatment options and costs if this is what you suspect?

If the differential points toward a chronic condition, understanding the treatment landscape — including cost range — helps you make informed decisions and consider insurance if you don't have it.

Ask: 'If this turns out to be [condition X], what does treatment look like in terms of monitoring, medications, and cost?'

Is a specialist consultation worth it for this result?

For complex or severe abnormalities, an internal medicine specialist can order advanced diagnostics and interpret results in ways a general practitioner may not. It is a legitimate next step, not a sign your vet is giving up.

Ask: 'At what point would you recommend an internal medicine referral for something like this?'

Can I get a copy of the full results — and what does each flagged value mean?

You are entitled to your pet's records. Having the actual numbers lets you track trends over time, use tools like VetLens for a plain-English second read, and share them easily with any specialist.

Most practices will email or print the full panel — always ask.

When You Can't Get a Vet Appointment Quickly

If your regular vet can't see you for a week and you're sitting with results you don't understand, an online vet consultation is a legitimate option. Telehealth vets can:

Review your pet's actual bloodwork results (you share them during the call)
Explain what each flagged value means in plain language
Help you understand urgency — does this need an ER tonight or can it wait?
Prescribe medications for ongoing conditions that have already been diagnosed
Recommend next diagnostic steps and what to ask at your in-person visit

They cannot replace a physical exam for new diagnoses — if your pet is showing serious symptoms, an in-person visit is essential. But for interpreting results, understanding a follow-up plan, or managing an established chronic condition, a telehealth consultation is often faster, cheaper, and perfectly adequate.

Get a vet consultation Prescribed Online — No Clinic Visit Needed

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How to Read the Results Yourself Before the Appointment

Most bloodwork reports have a reference range printed next to each value, with "H" (high) or "L" (low) flags where results fall outside normal. The numbers alone tell you less than you might think — context matters more:

How to Interpret Flagged Values

Flag level	What it typically means	Urgency
1.1–1.5× normal	Mildly outside range — often insignificant; stress, meals, minor variation	Recheck in 2–4 weeks
1.5–3× normal	Moderate — warrants investigation; could be early disease or medication effect	Follow-up within 1–2 weeks
3–5× normal	Elevated — more likely an active process; imaging or further testing usually needed	Schedule promptly
5×+ normal	Significantly elevated — active disease likely; may require urgent evaluation even without symptoms	Contact vet same day

These are general guidelines — specific values like potassium, glucose, creatinine, and bilirubin have more nuanced thresholds. Our guide to how to read dog blood test results and cat blood test results walks through the most common flagged values and what they mean.

Red Flags That Mean Don't Wait

Regardless of how your vet frames the follow-up timeline, these findings warrant same-day contact:

⚠Severely elevated creatinine (3× normal or more) combined with any symptoms

⚠Very low or very high potassium (below 2.5 or above 7.0 mEq/L)

⚠Blood glucose below 60 mg/dL or above 500 mg/dL

⚠Severely elevated bilirubin with visible yellowing of skin or eyes

⚠Severely low platelet count (under 30,000/μL)

⚠Very low red blood cell count with pale gums, weakness, or rapid breathing

Get a plain-English breakdown before your follow-up

Upload your pet's bloodwork to VetLens and we'll explain every flagged value, flag anything that needs prompt attention, and help you build a list of questions for your vet.

Upload My Pet's Bloodwork

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean when a dog's bloodwork comes back abnormal?

It means one or more values fell outside the reference range. This doesn't always indicate serious disease — stress, recent meals, medications, and normal aging can all cause mild abnormalities. How concerning it is depends on which values are flagged, how far outside range they are, and whether your pet has symptoms.

Should I be worried if my dog's bloodwork is abnormal?

Not necessarily. Mild single-value abnormalities in a pet without symptoms often just need a recheck. Worry more if the elevation is severe (5× normal or more), if multiple values are abnormal together, or if your pet is showing symptoms like lethargy, vomiting, or weight loss.

Can I ask an online vet about abnormal bloodwork?

Yes. Online vets can review and explain bloodwork results, help you prioritize next steps, and prescribe for conditions already under management. For new diagnoses that require a physical exam, you'll still need an in-person visit.

How long can I wait after getting abnormal bloodwork results?

Mild abnormalities in a healthy-seeming pet can typically be rechecked in 2–4 weeks. Moderate abnormalities usually warrant follow-up within 1–2 weeks. Severely abnormal values — especially at extreme levels of creatinine, potassium, or glucose — may need same-day attention.