Cholesterol
Chemistry ·Also called: CHOL, total cholesterol, blood fats
What it is
Cholesterol is made by the liver and absorbed from food. Dogs and cats do not develop the cholesterol-driven arterial disease that dominates human medicine, so the number is interpreted quite differently on a veterinary panel.
Why your vet measures it
A persistently high cholesterol in a dog with a dull coat, weight gain and low energy is one of the classic pointers towards hypothyroidism. High cholesterol also accompanies Cushing's disease, diabetes, and protein-losing kidney disease.
What a high result can mean
- Hypothyroidism in dogs — one of the most consistent findings in the condition
- A recent meal, if the sample was not taken after a fast
- Cushing's disease or steroid treatment
- Diabetes mellitus
- Protein-losing kidney disease, or reduced bile flow
- Miniature Schnauzers and some other breeds with an inherited tendency to high blood fats
What a low result can mean
- Liver failure or a portosystemic shunt
- Protein-losing intestinal disease
- Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease) in dogs
- Long-term poor nutrition
Dogs and cats differ
The hypothyroid connection is a canine story — cats rarely develop hypothyroidism naturally. In cats, a high cholesterol is more likely to reflect diabetes, a recent meal, or an inherited lipid disorder.
Questions worth asking your vet
- Was my pet fasted for twelve hours before the sample?
- Should we test thyroid function given this result?
- Is my pet's breed prone to high blood fats?
Related terms
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