WHY IS THIS SAMPLE LIPEMIC

Lipemic blood samples are commonly encountered in small animal practic e and are usually due to recent ingestion of a fat-containing meal; ho wever, lipemic samples collected after an overnight fast are abnormal: they are the result of genetic or acquired defects in the metabolism of triglyceride-carrying lipoproteins. Genetic causes of lipemia are r are in the dog, but an inherited abnormality of lipoprotein lipase, th e enzyme that clears these lipoproteins from the circulation, may be r esponsible for idiopathic hyperlipoproteinemia in Miniature Schnauzers . Fasting lipemia is more commonly seen in dogs with diabetes mellitus , hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, or nephrotic syndrome. In such cases, the lipemia is usually corrected with effective treatment of t he primary condition. Dogs with uncontrolled lipemia are at risk of de veloping acute pancreatitis, and, in cases where no underlying disease can be identified, the patient should be prescribed a low-fat diet. D ogs unresponsive to dietary therapy may be candidates for specific lip id lowering agents.