Following are differential diagnoses, listed in order of likelihood, for patients presented with hypercholesterolemia.
Hemolysis (false increase with marked hemolysis)
Postprandial (mild, typically does not exceed the reference interval)
Obesity
Certain high-fat diets (dogs only; meat-based diets only)
Hypothyroidism
Diabetes mellitus
Hyperadrenocorticism
Cholestasis
Pancreatitis (hypertriglyceridemia more common)
Familial hyperlipidemia of miniature schnauzers (primarily hypertriglyceridemia)
Nephrotic syndrome (in combination with hypoalbuminemia, proteinuria, and edema)
Familial hypercholesterolemia (Briards, rottweilers, Doberman pinschers, rough collies, Shetland sheepdogs)
Inherited hyperchylomicronemia (in cats; primarily hypertriglyceridemia)