Please keep Luna in your thoughts: Crystals! (blood test results: opinions please!!!)

[Kirsten]

Thank you!

Yes, Luna started eating her dry food the same night. I think her gums were a bit sore after she got her teeth cleaned, and that's why she first prefered wet food. Now her appetite is back!!

BTW, it's been the first time that she got some tartar removed, and only on the four big molars. The rest of her teeth were okay, so I guess she's one of the lucky ones who don't build tartar so easily...

I hope I'll get the results of the blood work tomorrow, please keep her in your thoughts...

Kirsten

[Kirsten]

Okay, got the results of the blood test today.

The good news is: her kidney values and also her liver values are okay, so these organs are working well!

What worries me is her blood count:

erythrocytes: normal
hematocrit: normal
hemoglobin: normal
leukocytes: decreased (2.1 G/l, normal would be 6.0 - 11.0)
neutrophil granulocytes: decreased (47%, normal would be 60 - 78%)
lymphocytes: increased (43%, 15 - 38% would be normal)
monocytes: normal
eosinophils: slightly increased (7%, 0 - 6 would be normal)
basophils: normal
thrombocytes: decreased (120 G/l, 180 - 530 would be normal)


At the vet's I was told that this is a typical blood count after a treatment with antibiotics, and that there's nothing to worry about. I remember that 1 and a half year ago, her blood count was similar, and she also was on antibiotics before.

But I'm still worried about the extremely decreased leukocytes, I worry that she may have cancer, or FeLV. I even called the vet office again because of that, and again, I was told not to worry. They said I could repeat the test in a couple of weeks, but that would mean new stress for Luna, so they recommended not to do it. Except for her UTIs, she never shows any signs of illness.

So, what do you think of this?

Kirsten

[Catty1]

Kirsten - did a quick Google search for you.

White blood cells or leukocytes are cells of the immune system which defend the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials. In conditions such as leukemia the number of leukocytes is higher than normal, and in leukopenia this number is much lower.

Leukopenia (or leukocytopenia, or leucopenia or leukopaenia) is a decrease in the number of circulating white blood cells (leukocytes) in the blood...a decrease in the number of these cells can place patients at increased risk for infection.

Lymphocytes - have 3 types of cells, and are part of the immune system.

Eosinophils make up about 1-5% of white blood cells(in humans). They are also involved in fighting infection when it is present.

Platelets or thrombocytes are the cell fragments circulating in the blood that are involved in the cellular mechanisms of primary hemostasis leading to the formation of blood clots. This means the clotting ability is a bit low, that's all.

Kirsten - many years ago, I was 14, and had had one of many throat infections that plagued me during my teen and young adult years.

Afterwards, there was a raised lymph node on my neck, and my mom was worried. Dad checked with the doctor at his workplace - first thing he asked is if I had had an infection lately. Yes - and I had been on antibiotics. He said that was totally normal.

The lymph system cleans out the 'war dead' - the bad infection bits that are killed when the meds are given and as the body fights the infection.

Her iron and red cell count is normal; the white cells are out of whack from the recent infection and treatment (and stress can affect that too - the immune response/white cells).

If she was up to it - a blood test would show the levels would be much different in a couple of weeks' time.

HUGS

[Craftlady]

I'd run them again in couple weeks.

Maybe they wouldnt have to sedate her just for the blood work. Thumper did great and required no sedation.
I think if the vet's are use to doing blood work they can do it fast enough that an animal shouldnt realize anything was going on.

[Medusa]

Yep, I'd say do the blood work in a few weeks. Vets are fast and experienced w/it and Luna probably wouldn't even have to be put under anesthesia. We'll keep the prayers going......

[kb2yjx]

Kirsten, I have to agree with the above posts to have the blood work repeated in a few weeks! Hugs! Sandra

[Catty1]

Posted by Kirsten

They said I could repeat the test in a couple of weeks, but that would mean new stress for Luna, so they recommended not to do it.

[Kirsten]

Candace, thank you very much for your research, and for the infos.

I called my vet again and spoke about my concerns, and again I was told not to worry. They also told me that her number of leukocytes would have been increased if she had leukemia.

I was told that her blood count was typical for a cat with a chronic UTI under antibiotical treatment.

This week, my vet is on vacation, and when she's back, they will look for the results of her blood count from early 2006. We will compare the results and after that, we'll decide what to do (if the test should be repeated in a couple of weeks or not).

Kirsten