Practical assessment of blood smears in dogs and cats.

摘要

Complete blood count (CBC) or haematological analysis is an integral part of the diagnostic work-up in dogs and cats, and involves assessment of a freshly prepared blood smear (also known as a blood film). Despite the widespread availability of automated analysers, the value of a basic blood smear should not be forgotten and should be incorporated into routine blood testing in clinical practice. This article describes a step-by-step approach to blood smear evaluation, which is simple, inexpensive and quick to perform.Digital Object Identifier http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/inp.d5352