CSI Case Challenges

Veterinarians use clinical chemistry, hematology, and other laboratory tests to rule out, diagnose, and monitor disease as well as trend response to therapy. How well do you understand clinical pathology testing? Are you up to the challenge?

Mysterious Max

Max, a 6-year-old, neutered male Boston terrier, was presented to your clinic for weakness and ataxia. His appetite was decreased and he had vomited several times in the past 4 days...Solve the Case Challenge!

Too Much Potassium

Potassium is primarily an intracellular ion crucial for neuromuscular and cardiac function.

What’s Up In The ER?

A 3-year-old spayed female terrier mix named Chewie is presented to your ER with a history of inappetence and vomiting for the past 2 weeks. The owners aren’t aware of any toxin ingestion or dietary indiscretion.

Staying Alive - How Cells Do It.

All cells require energy in order to perform the necessary processes they need to stay alive. Cells have three processes they utilize for energy production.

The Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Is Sky High: What Next?

“Treasure” is a 9-year-old, spayed female terrier mix that is presented to your clinic for an annual wellness exam. The thorough physical examination is uneventful and the owner reports that the dog seems to feel great. They are interested in following your recommendation of wellness blood screening.

Clinical Chemistry Case Water Homeostasis

Water is vital to life and considered the most important nutrient. Water perfoms many functions in the body including acting as a solvent in which substances are dissolved and transported, chemical reactions, and regulation of body temperature.

Red Blood Cells

There are a number of red blood cell (RBC) changes that can occur in our patients.

A Quick Review: The Finer Details of Calcium Regulation

Calcium has many functions. It is essential for optimal cell growth, neuromuscular function, blood coagulation, and is also crucial for stabilizing the permeability of cell membranes to sodium. The skeletal structure holds a large reserve of calcium; approximately 99% of the total body calcium.

The Blood Film Review

o Improve the diagnostic & treatment skills of veterinary professionals
o Fun & quick tool to test their knowledge
o Establish awareness and brand awareness

Water, Water, Everywhere

Water is essential for all life to exist, making up more than 70 percent of most living things. Water balance refers to the balance between the amount of water consumed and the amount of water excreted.

What’s It ALT About?

Alanine aminotransferase is an enzyme often measured in dogs and cats. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a hepatic intracellular enzyme that is responsible for the conversion of 2-oxoglutarate to pyruvate as well as glutamate in the liver cells (hepatocytes).

What The Machine Doesn't Tell You

While many veterinary clinics still send blood samples to the reference lab, technological advances have made in-house hematology analyzers both accurate and affordable. Although accuracy has improved, in-house analyzers were never meant to replace microscopic evaluation. Approximately 50% of the samples analyzed will require blood film review.

What's It ALT About

Measuring serum hepatobiliary enzymes can be useful in evaluating the health of animals.

What Red Cells Can Tell You. Why Shape Matters.

There are a number of red blood cell (RBC) changes that can occur in our patients. They can be grouped into 5 major categories: RBC fragmentation, oxidative injury, immune-mediated damage, altered diameter, and shape distortion. Proper recognition and identification of RBC changes can provide invaluable diagnostic information.

How Much Is Too Much?

Potassium is primarily an intracellular ion crucial for neuromuscular and cardiac function.  Serum potassium levels are maintained within narrow limits and can be altered by both internal and external causes.

Electrolyte Abnormalities In DKA Patients

DKA patients are unable to maintain fluid and electrolyte homeostasis; this leads to dehydration, prerenal azotemia, electrolyte disorders, obtundation and even death.

Cell Energy Production

All cells require energy in order to perform the necessary processes they need to stay alive. Cells have three processes they utilize for energy production. Two of these processes require oxygen (electron transport chain and citric acid cycle) and one does not (anaerobic glycolysis).

Interfering Substances

Although technologic advancements have decreased the impact of these interfering substances, they continue to be problematic in veterinary clinical diagnostics.