Dear Dr. John,
My husband and I personal three cats which might be all in good well being. Recently that they had their annual exams and two have been decided to want dental cleanings and an extraction or two. Bloodwork was accomplished to evaluate their suitability for anesthesia, and it turned out that one of many cats had a excessive complete bilirubin. What is bilirubin and what does the excessive worth imply? I requested my vet, and he talked about doing one thing referred to as bile acids and another diagnostic exams if a recheck in just a few weeks’ time didn’t present a normalization of the elevated worth. My vet mentioned that each one the opposite bloodwork appeared comparatively regular and since my cat confirmed no signal of being jaundiced then it might have been a fluke discovering. Should I be involved? S.M.
Dear S.M.,
Bilirubin is one thing that the physique makes upon the breakdown or destruction of pink blood cells. Red blood cells in cats have a lifetime of about two to a few months earlier than they cease functioning and are damaged down for elimination by the physique as a course of regular motion. It is present in bile which is produced within the liver to assist in the digestion of meals.
The excessive worth can have varied meanings. It is true that what was discovered might need been a fluke discovering that may appropriate itself, given the dearth of different vital adjustments within the bloodwork. Moderate will increase in complete bilirubin in cats might haven’t any rationalization. The absence of your cat being jaundiced may also counsel an incidental discovering. However, it may be a clue that one thing is mistaken or is growing and a doable drawback can be localized to the liver, the gallbladder, or one thing inflicting elevated breakdown of pink blood cells often known as hemolysis.
Further diagnostics may embrace bile acids, stomach ultrasound, biopsies, and extra. I’d maintain off on caring till observe up bloodwork is completed after which your veterinarian can instruct you additional as wanted. Good luck.
Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He may be reached at 781-899-9994.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”
