Low platelets - Cats
Discussion
Anyone with any experience of low platelets in cats?
My 6 year old Selkirk Rex has recently dropped weight, I had a sneaky suspicion it was her teeth so took her to the vets where they confirmed that she needed a dental and some extractions.
She went in the following week where I requested pre-op bloods to be taken. Lucky for me they did that as they have discovered she has a low platelet count and she was anaemic. They initially thought it could be the infection in her mouth so gave her a big dose of antibiotics and I took her back a week later to be re-tested. The bloods have come back that she still has low platelet count but the anaemia was gone. She is now booked in for a scan next week to see if there are any tumours that could be causing it
Vet has said that it could be her own body destroying the platelets if so she will be put on steroids.
Other than the teeth issue, you would never know anything was wrong - happy and healthy, no bloody loss that I have seen, still active etc.
Anyone had anything similar?
My 6 year old Selkirk Rex has recently dropped weight, I had a sneaky suspicion it was her teeth so took her to the vets where they confirmed that she needed a dental and some extractions.
She went in the following week where I requested pre-op bloods to be taken. Lucky for me they did that as they have discovered she has a low platelet count and she was anaemic. They initially thought it could be the infection in her mouth so gave her a big dose of antibiotics and I took her back a week later to be re-tested. The bloods have come back that she still has low platelet count but the anaemia was gone. She is now booked in for a scan next week to see if there are any tumours that could be causing it
Vet has said that it could be her own body destroying the platelets if so she will be put on steroids.
Other than the teeth issue, you would never know anything was wrong - happy and healthy, no bloody loss that I have seen, still active etc.
Anyone had anything similar?
It may be just an idea to check on any breed related quirks with things like this. Really not saying that would be the case but just occasionally specific breeds of cats and dogs will throw results outside the norm that could be common for the breed or lead to a breed related issue. Ie a very basic one is greyhounds /whippets etc have a much higher red blood cell count than most other breeds due to their need to have a lot of oxygen pumped round them when racing. For the average dog their readings would be considered abnormal.
Having her scanned is sensible if the results were significantly out the normal range though.
Having her scanned is sensible if the results were significantly out the normal range though.
I think the breed is generally healthy, due to their origins though they can be prone to heart disease and kidney issues - her bloods came back saying kidneys are fine.
I'm sure we will get to the bottom of it, just naturally worried if its something serious like cancer. Trying to not to overthink too much but having lost my other cat last year and 2 of my horses I was hoping for a year off from animal illnesses!!
I'm sure we will get to the bottom of it, just naturally worried if its something serious like cancer. Trying to not to overthink too much but having lost my other cat last year and 2 of my horses I was hoping for a year off from animal illnesses!!
Not a cat, but one of our whippets, Sam, has an immune condition (Immune Mediated Haemolytic Anaemia) which means that occasionally his body starts destroying his red blood cells.
Funnily enough, he is in the middle of a flare-up now. He has had 3 in 4 years, so I guess we've been reasonably lucky.
Fortunately we caught it fairly quickly this time. Treatment is fairly straightforward - steroids (quite a high dose to start then gradually reduced). Unfortunately that comes with the associated side effects (increased thirst/appetite and weight loss/loss of muscle mass, which isn't great in a dog that has no fat reserves). While he's being treated he has to go for regular blood tests (weekly/fortnightly). As soon as it's diagnosed, we put him on puppy food to try to keep his weight up but he still loses quite a lot.
They investigated (via ultrasound scan) to see whether he had a tumour, but couldn't find any evidence, so decided that it was 'idiopathic' (ie they don't know the reason for it).
Funnily enough, he is in the middle of a flare-up now. He has had 3 in 4 years, so I guess we've been reasonably lucky.
Fortunately we caught it fairly quickly this time. Treatment is fairly straightforward - steroids (quite a high dose to start then gradually reduced). Unfortunately that comes with the associated side effects (increased thirst/appetite and weight loss/loss of muscle mass, which isn't great in a dog that has no fat reserves). While he's being treated he has to go for regular blood tests (weekly/fortnightly). As soon as it's diagnosed, we put him on puppy food to try to keep his weight up but he still loses quite a lot.
They investigated (via ultrasound scan) to see whether he had a tumour, but couldn't find any evidence, so decided that it was 'idiopathic' (ie they don't know the reason for it).
Edited by moorx on Wednesday 21st March 17:34
moorx said:
Not a cat, but one of our whippets, Sam, has an immune condition (Immune Mediated Haemolytic Anaemia) which means that occasionally his body starts destroying his red blood cells.
Funnily enough, he is in the middle of a flare-up now. He has had 3 in 4 years, so I guess we've been reasonably lucky.
Fortunately we caught it fairly quickly this time. Treatment is fairly straightforward - steroids (quite a high dose to start then gradually reduced). Unfortunately that comes with the associated side effects (increased thirst/appetite and weight loss/loss of muscle mass, which isn't great in a dog that has no fat reserves). While he's being treated he has to go for regular blood tests (weekly/fortnightly). As soon as it's diagnosed, we put him on puppy food to try to keep his weight up but he still loses quite a lot.
They investigated (via ultrasound scan) to see whether he had a tumour, but couldn't find any evidence, so decided that it was 'idiopathic' (ie they don't know the reason for it).
My vet did mention something similar to this as cats can suffer from something where their body destroys its own platelets (it does have a name but I can't remember what she said!) Steroids would be the treatment for that also. Funnily enough, he is in the middle of a flare-up now. He has had 3 in 4 years, so I guess we've been reasonably lucky.
Fortunately we caught it fairly quickly this time. Treatment is fairly straightforward - steroids (quite a high dose to start then gradually reduced). Unfortunately that comes with the associated side effects (increased thirst/appetite and weight loss/loss of muscle mass, which isn't great in a dog that has no fat reserves). While he's being treated he has to go for regular blood tests (weekly/fortnightly). As soon as it's diagnosed, we put him on puppy food to try to keep his weight up but he still loses quite a lot.
They investigated (via ultrasound scan) to see whether he had a tumour, but couldn't find any evidence, so decided that it was 'idiopathic' (ie they don't know the reason for it).
Edited by moorx on Wednesday 21st March 17:34
UPDATE:
She has had a chest x ray and an ultra sound and no tumours could be seen. However, she has a slightly enlarged spleen and some fluid in her abdomen so they have taken samples and i will have some more results next week. If they are still inconclusive then she will be referred to a specialist.
She was bouncing round the bedroom this morning at 6am playing with a damn pen
so she is feeling pretty well in her self!!
She has had a chest x ray and an ultra sound and no tumours could be seen. However, she has a slightly enlarged spleen and some fluid in her abdomen so they have taken samples and i will have some more results next week. If they are still inconclusive then she will be referred to a specialist.
She was bouncing round the bedroom this morning at 6am playing with a damn pen
so she is feeling pretty well in her self!! Emmapuma said:
FURTHER UPDATE:
She was put on steroids for 10 days and had her blood re-tested last night. Platelets still low so now she is being referred to an internal medicine specialist for them to try and find out whats wrong!
I'm sorry to read this. They are doing the right thing to refer her xShe was put on steroids for 10 days and had her blood re-tested last night. Platelets still low so now she is being referred to an internal medicine specialist for them to try and find out whats wrong!
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