[Reference values for haematological and clinical-chemical parameters in the dog]

The aim of the study was to establish reference values for haematological and clinical-chemical parameters in adult dogs and to evaluate whether they are influenced by age, sex and feeding.

The study population consisted of 508 clinically healthy dogs of both genders and different breeds aged between ≤ 1 and 17 years. To establish reference values, results of 396 dogs aged 1-9 years were used. Analysis of haematological and clinical-chemical parameters was performed using the following devices: Cell-Dyn 3500, Hitachi 911, GEM Premier 3000 and the coagulometer BE CL 4. The statistical program SPSS was used to calculate the reference values.

In 75% of the tested parameters no major discrepancies were noted in comparison to existing reference values. For eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, glutamate dehydrogenase, lipase, creatine kinase, bilirubin and creatinine cleardeviationsfromthe existing referencevalues were demonstrated. The reference ranges for eosinophils, monocytes and glutamate dehydrogenase were higher than reported inthe literature whereas for basophils they were lower. The reference ranges for the enzymes alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lipase in young (< 1 year) and old dogs (≥ 10 years) differed significantly from the reference values of dogs aged 1-9 years.

Reference require regular re-evaluation because through continuing developments and new knowledge, some factors related to their determination, particularly methods and equipment, change.