Veterinary Care Page 4

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Blood Values

The complete blood cell count provided here is our experience with domestically bred and raised skunks that appear to be in good health at the time of collection. Antech Diagnostics Laboratory prepared the lab work results. This reference page should not be considered the gold standard in skunks, but rather a reference to see if other skunks seem to fall in line with these results. As a side note there appears to be a slightly higher lymphocyte count in animals that were either stressed or under anesthesia during blood collection. This would suggest a stress response in the complete blood cell differential count.

The thyroid panel results were compiled from lab work sent to Michigan State University Endocrinology Laboratory. Their endocrinologists initially compared the results to feline normal results and therefore the publication of this list is an attempt to make public the findings in skunks. At this time we are not prepared to call this a list of normals, as there is not sufficient scientific data to prove these results statistically significant at this time. Continued research and evaluation of lab work will be required before statistically significant results can be published.

Labwork Ranges for Domestic Skunks
CBC
WBC 1.6 - 11.4 a
RBC 6.5 - 8.9 b
HGB 10.6 - 14.2 f
HCT 34 - 46 n
MCV 46 - 57 g
MCH 7.5 - 31.2 h
MCHC 28.5 - 33.6 f
NEUT 29 - 59 n
AB NEUT 736 - 3210 m
LYMP 25 - 63 n
AB LYMP 398 - 4708 m
MONO 3.0 - 5.0 n
AB MONO 51 - 355 m
EOS 2.0 - 14.0 n
AB EOS 157 - 605 m
PLAT 130 - 416 a
SMAC
GLU 80 - 118 e
BUN 14.5 - 29.0 e
CREAT 0.46 - 2.0 e
TP 5.9 - 8.0 f
ALB 2.7 - 3.7 f
TBILI 0.05 - 0.21 b
ALKP 4.0 - 94.0 i
ALT 28 - 266 i
AST 55 - 115 i
CHOL 105 - 171 e
CA 8.65 - 10.55 e
PHOS 3.6 - 7.0 e
NA 147 - 157 k
K 4.5 - 5.5 k
CL 107 - 125 k
GLOB 2.87 - 4.67 f
Thyroid
TT4 33 - 75 c
TT3 0.2 - 0.8 c
T4 (DIALYSIS) 10.7 - 28.3 d
FT3 4.2 - 7.6 d
Units:
a = K/µL
b = M/µL
c = nmol/L
d = pmol/L
e = mg/dL
f = g/dL
g = fl
h = pg
i = IU/L
k = mEq/L, mmol/L
m = #/µL
n = %
 
Created by Dr. F. Krupka, DVM

Drawing blood from cranial vena cava Drawing blood from the jugular vein
Drawing blood from the cranial vena cava. Please use this type of blood draw as a LAST resort.Drawing blood from the jugular vein. You can also draw blood from the back leg or tail.

Photos by Dr. F. Krupka, DVM

Procedures For Domestic Skunk Blood Profile

We are still accepting data for blood profiles. If you wish to participate please use the following -

Thyroid Testing:

Non-Canine Thyroid Profile (TT4,TT3,FT4,FT3). Please check off Lab's interpretation of results.

The blood sample for the Thryoid testing must be sent to:

Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory
[Delivery Service Address - Weekday deliveries only]
Endocrine Diagnostic Section
619 West Fee Hall B
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1315

 

Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory (U.S. Postal Address)
Endocrine Diagnostic Section
P.O.Box 30076
Lansing, MI 48909

Dr. K.R. Refsal DVM, PhD
Phone: (517)353-0621

Blood Testing:

Complete Blood Count ( CBC) and the Serum Chemistry Profile (SMAC), on the form it's called - Comp. Mammalian Profile (GRT-S, LT) # AE200

This blood sample may be sent to:

ANTECH DIAGNOSTICS
Olva sort OPS
Hold for P/U
4450 Distripex Cove
Memphis, TN 38100
Phone: (888)397-8378

Or to this lab:

Pet Labs, Inc.
Diagnostic Laboratories
2510 Substation Road
Medina, Ohio 44256
Phone: (330)220-6435

Please send a copy or fax of the results of all blood work to:

Dr. Frank Krupka
Avon Lake Animal Clinic
124 Miller Road
Avon Lake, Ohio 44012
Phone: (440)933-5297
Fax: (440)933-3258

Blood Transfusion

Dr. Krupka performed a transfusion of blood from one skunk to save another. Blood was drawn from a healthy "volunteer" skunk provided through SkunkHaven™.

Blood transfusion setup Skunk receiving transfusion
Blood Transfusion


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