Objective: Sighthounds, including deerhounds, have unique physiological traits that result in laboratory test results that may lie outside reference intervals for the general dog population. Although reference intervals for most analytes are thought to be similar among sighthounds, breed-specific reference intervals are available mainly for greyhounds. The aim of this study was to establish reference intervals for haematology and serum biochemical profiles in deerhounds.
Methods: Venous blood samples were collected from healthy deerhounds. Haematological and biochemical analytes were examined and reference intervals were established using the 5th and 95th percentiles.
Results: The reference intervals obtained from 96 dogs for platelets, reticulocytes, total thyroxine, chloride, gamma glutamyl transferase, bilirubin and glucose were lower than the general dog population. Reference intervals for mean cell volume, potassium, urea, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and cholesterol were higher than the general dog population. Reference intervals for eosinophils and globulin were wider than that of the general population.
Clinical significance: These results confirm that differences in haematological and biochemical values exist in the deerhound. Some appear to be shared by all sighthounds but others may be unique to this breed.
© 2013 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.