Times change and my website needed to change too. To see the 2020 update of this page click this link |
To see what normal blood and urine values are, go here |
For an explanation of causes of most abnormal blood and urine tests, go here |
To see how tests are grouped, go here |
A better article appears here
Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) of your pet’s blood is an indirect way to measure its blood levels of transferrin. Transferrin is a blood protein that helps move iron from food or recycled RBC to locations where it is needed to manufacture hemoglobin for new red blood cells (hematopoiesis in your pet’s bone marrow). Transferrin is primarily made in your pet’s liver.
Sudden liver failure (acute necrotic hepatitis = destruction) due to infection or toxins that cause a sudden release of its stored iron increase TIBC values. Increased TIBC can also occur when blood iron levels are abnormally high.
Chronic Liver
disease that decreases transferrin production or any inflammatory and
chronic disease that
liberates “acute phase” proteins (eg C-reative
protein) and inflammatory cytokines can cause TIBC values
to go down.
Misdirected blood circulation in your pet's liver (portosysystemic shunts), severe malnutrition or starvation, kidney or intestinal diseases that cause the body’s blood albumen stores to leak into the urine or intestinal tract (chronic kidney failure, IBD, triad disease, etc.) can all decrease TIBC.
CBC/WBC and blood chemistry panel, urinalysis, C-reactive protein levels, secondary tests based on the findings of those initial tests
DxMe