Q: Last week I took my younger dachshund in to my vet to have her spayed. The surgical procedure was not achieved after pre-surgical bloodwork confirmed an abnormality that triggered my vet to carry off on the process that day. I had by no means heard of an animal having too many pink blood cells. I’m accustomed to anemia, however the reverse struck me as odd. I used to be knowledgeable that morning that my canine’s pink blood cell rely was at 72%. Is that top, how excessive, and what could possibly be the trigger? My vet mentioned that it could possibly be an incidental or transient discovering and that we should always reschedule with bloodwork to be repeated to see if it was simply an odd discovering. I trusted her with that call as a result of I didn’t need to put my canine at any threat. What puzzles me is that my canine has been performing fully regular earlier than and since. Is there the rest that I ought to pay attention to concerning this example?
A: The situation that was of concern is one thing referred to as polycythemia, which is an elevated pink blood cell rely discovered as a part of an entire blood rely. Normal pink blood cell rely in canine is within the vary of 38-55% though with some gentle variability relying on the laboratory service. The worth that your canine had was considerably above regular based mostly on all scales. In some circumstances, it’s polycythemia vera. This is a uncommon illness, of which there is no such thing as a identified trigger, when too many pink blood cells are produced creating thick blood, which might create threat in a scenario similar to anesthesia and surgical procedure, so I imagine your veterinarian was clever to carry off and recheck later.
Clinical indicators embody lethargy, weak spot and even seizures. If your canine has the true kind, it would should be addressed by numerous means together with eradicating blood and treating with a drug referred to as hydroxyurea. Conversely, a canine can have an elevated pink blood cell rely from being dehydrated as a result of lack of water or vomiting and diarrhea. Was that presumably occurring earlier than the day of surgical procedure despite the fact that your recollection was that every one was regular? This could be one thing that may extra simply be addressed.
You will solely have the solutions when your canine goes in for the rescheduled elective process and the bloodwork is repeated. Given how uncommon polycythemia vera is, I’m hopeful that the unique discovering was incidental and has resolved so your canine may be spayed. There is nothing else to concentrate on presently till the observe up is carried out. 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”