Your cat’s blood and urine report: terms to discuss with the veterinarian

Ask what today’s test is intended to clarify

Write its purpose beside the report: a check-up, investigation of a change, or follow-up already discussed with the hospital. When sharing with family, separate the question being investigated, what was explained and what remains unknown.

• Keep the complete original with the cat, date and hospital
• Retain the item, result, unit and printed reference interval together
• Keep copied values separate from the clinician’s explanation

Separate blood cell counts from chemistry

A CBC counts blood cells: RBCs, WBCs and platelets (PLT). Chemistry measures components such as glucose and creatinine. Abnormal cell counts alone do not establish the cause.

• Ask which part of the report belongs to each group
• Ask what an item can and cannot explain
• Record the clinician’s priority and reason, not the number of colored flags

Discuss blood and urine findings together

BUN, creatinine and SDMA are blood markers used in kidney assessment. USG describes urine concentration; UPC is its protein-to-creatinine ratio. One test does not give the whole picture.

• Ask how the blood and urine findings fit together
• Do not turn an abbreviation into a confirmed diagnosis
• Discuss an unperformed test rather than deciding it is required

Do not assign a stage yourself

IRIS staging applies to diagnosed, stable CKD; it is not a substitute for diagnosis. We do not provide a numeric self-staging table.

• Ask how the veterinarian applied a stage to this cat
• Separate confirmed explanations from further questions
• Do not change food or medicine based on a stage number

Use three separate fields for the next visit

Keep the report’s facts, the clinician’s explanation and agreed actions apart so your later assumptions do not become the hospital’s words. Bring older reports with dates and hospital names, and ask whether they can be compared.

• Explanation: what was understood and what is unresolved
• Action: the next visit’s purpose, date and requested notes
• Contact: whom to call if things change

Keep records private; contact the hospital about changes

The blank template below is an editorial organizing tool, not a form recommended by the cited institutions. Copy it to a private place. Do not post original reports or contact details publicly. If a change worries you, prioritize calling the hospital over completing a note.