LIVER FUNCTION TEST (LFT)

Description

The Liver Function Test (LFT) is a comprehensive blood panel that evaluates the health and functional capacity of your pet’s liver. For dogs and cats, this panel typically includes key liver enzymes — ALT (alanine aminotransferase), ALP (alkaline phosphatase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), and GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase) — along with liver function markers such as bilirubin, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, and BUN.

ALT is the most liver-specific enzyme in dogs and cats, making it the most reliable indicator of hepatocellular damage. ALP elevation may indicate cholestasis, Cushing’s disease, or active bone remodeling. GGT is a more sensitive marker for feline hepatobiliary disease than ALP and rises with intrahepatic or extrahepatic cholestasis. Elevated bilirubin indicates impaired bilirubin processing in the liver and can be a sign of hemolysis or bile duct obstruction. Albumin, synthesized exclusively in the liver, will decrease in severe hepatic insufficiency.

Liver disease is extremely common in dogs and cats and often presents subtly. Early detection through routine blood panels including a CBC, serum biochemistry profile, and urinalysis allows for timely intervention and management. At Home Petcare provides at-home LFT collection in Hyderabad, delivered to a certified veterinary diagnostic laboratory for accurate results.