Table 1.

Recommended diagnostics for senior cats

Baseline tests	Ancillary tests*
Complete blood count: hematocrit, red blood cells, white blood cells, differential count, platelets	Heartworm antibody/antigen Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)/feline immunodeficiency virus ELISA, FeLV provirus PCR 28 Hematology slide review
Serum biochemistry panel: total protein, albumin, globulin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, potassium, phosphorus, sodium and calcium as mininum parameters	Ionized calcium/parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTH-related peptide Cobalamin (B12)/folate Feline pancreatic-specific lipase Fructosamine NT-pro BNP SDMA Trypsin-like immunoreactivity
Optional parameters often included in routinely available commercial panels: aspartate transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, creatine kinase, total bilirubin, chloride, HCO3 or CO2, magnesium
Urinalysis: specific gravity, sediment, glucose, ketones, bilirubin, protein, urine pH	Urine culture/sensitivity Urine protein:creatinine ratio
Total T4 †	Free T4/thyroid-stimulating hormone
Blood pressure†
	Fecal analysis (centrifugation)
	Echocardiogram Electrocardiogram Radiography Ultrasound

^*May be indicated by patient health status and/or baseline test results

^†See discussion in text