Determination of Hemobiochemical Profiles of Apparently Healthy Exotic Breed of Dogs in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

The hematological and serum biochemical profiles of apparently healthy exotic breed of dogs in Jos, Plateau state, Nigeria was studied in this research. One hundred and seven exotic breed of dogs were examined from October - December, 2018. The results from physical, clinical examinations and parasitological examinations were used to determine apparently healthy exotic breed of dogs which were used in this study. The parameters measured were rectal temperature, parasitaemia, hematology which included red blood cells count, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and hemoglobin content; total white blood cell count, including eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes counts, and platelets; serum biochemical parameters also included Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total proteins, albumin, globulin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, cholesterol and triglyceride, using standard methods. Data generated from the study were statistically analyzed using students t-test one-way analysis of variance while the level of significance was measured at p < 0.05. From this study, hematological and serum biochemical values were comparable to and not different from those reported for dogs in available literature, but the upper and lower reference limits (minimum and maximum values) were different for most parameters. Sex-related significant difference (p < 0.05) occurred only in WBC and total protein while age-related significant difference occurred only in total protein and urea level. Breed affected the MCHC and total bilirubin level which was evident in higher MCHC level in Neapolitan mastiff than Alsatian breed while total bilirubin was higher in Alsatian breed than Bull mastiff (p < 0.05). The present study has presented preliminary information on the range of hematological and serum biochemistry profile of exotic breed of dogs in Jos, Plateau state, Nigeria which may be useful to biomedical researchers and veterinary clinicians.