Canine Inflammation and Complete Blood Count (CBC)

A complete blood count (CBC) can determine whether a dog is in good health, suffering from anemia, inflammation, or coagulation problems, and assess its resistance to disease. It can also detect whether the dog has bleeding, infection, and other issues. Generally, a CBC is performed along with a blood smear examination to increase the accuracy of the results.

Benefits of a CBC

A CBC is the most basic hemocytology examination and can reflect the condition of an animal's body. It assesses the changes in blood cell counts to diagnose diseases. Blood cells can be divided into three types: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A CBC can indicate whether a dog has inflammation, anemia, bleeding, bacterial or viral infections, and other conditions.

Treatment for Inflammation

It is best to check the level of inflammation markers when inflammation is present, so that the appropriate antibiotic can be selected. If the inflammation is too high, it is recommended to use a higher-quality antibiotic. If conditions permit, inflammation markers can be tested daily to compare the results. Some antibiotics have a slower onset of action, so it is necessary to monitor inflammation markers to determine if the antibiotic needs to be changed.

Can Inflammation Be Contagious?

Inflammation is a defensive response of the body to stimulation. There are many causes, such as biological factors (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.) and physical factors (high temperatures, low temperatures, radioactive substances, etc.). Inflammation caused by high or low temperatures is not contagious, but viral inflammation will first infect the body with a virus before causing inflammation. Therefore, inflammation itself is not contagious, but the diseases that cause inflammation may be contagious.

Note

The above content is formulated based on the current knowledge and practice of veterinary medicine. Always consult a veterinarian for the diagnosis and treatment of your dog's health problems.