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Animal Health – General (Expert Forum)
Low Platelet Count
Answered by
Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A - Small Animals, dogs, cats, C.V.A, Western Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Herbalist, Acupuncture
American Animal Hospital
Randolph - NJ
This forum is for general pet health questions, such as questions about medications, parasites, vaccines, infectious diseases, breed specific and genetic problems.
Low Platelet Count
by terryann99, May 24, 2009 12:51AM
Dear Dr.
Shocking news today after receiving CBC on my Dog Dusty, 5 years old. His platelets were 59. He has always had normal platelet count. Everything else was normal. Yesterday the vet said he looked very good, he was not sick that could be seen. He has not had any change in behaviour. I had taken him in to look at a small cyst on his eye. Dusty has a history of tummy problems that were never completely diagnosed, but lipase has been high since he was a year old, and stays in upper range all the time now, in the 600s. He has some gurgling and is relieved by Pepcid. Vet suspected chronic pancreatitus (pancreatitis), maybe some form of IBD, maybe ulcer. Morning pain episodes for the last three years on occasion, but lately has not had any episodes for a couple months.
For low platelet count, vet said to come back in a week and test again. I am worried that we should not wait. Would a platelet count be that low and then suddenly go back to normal in a week? Blood test in November showed normal platelets. Could an ulcer bleeding cause this? There is no evidence of blood in stool, either red or black.
Please give me your thoughts on this? I am SO worried. If he has immune-related problem and that is normally treated with steroids, how can we do this when he has such a sensitive tummy?
Thank you SO much.
Terry and Dusty
Shocking news today after receiving CBC on my Dog Dusty, 5 years old. His platelets were 59. He has always had normal platelet count. Everything else was normal. Yesterday the vet said he looked very good, he was not sick that could be seen. He has not had any change in behaviour. I had taken him in to look at a small cyst on his eye. Dusty has a history of tummy problems that were never completely diagnosed, but lipase has been high since he was a year old, and stays in upper range all the time now, in the 600s. He has some gurgling and is relieved by Pepcid. Vet suspected chronic pancreatitus (pancreatitis), maybe some form of IBD, maybe ulcer. Morning pain episodes for the last three years on occasion, but lately has not had any episodes for a couple months.
For low platelet count, vet said to come back in a week and test again. I am worried that we should not wait. Would a platelet count be that low and then suddenly go back to normal in a week? Blood test in November showed normal platelets. Could an ulcer bleeding cause this? There is no evidence of blood in stool, either red or black.
Please give me your thoughts on this? I am SO worried. If he has immune-related problem and that is normally treated with steroids, how can we do this when he has such a sensitive tummy?
Thank you SO much.
Terry and Dusty
Type of Animal
:
Dog
Age of Animal
:
5
Sex of Animal
:
Male
Breed of Animal
:
Pomeranian
Last date your pet was examined by a vet?
:
May 22, 2009
Doctor's Answer
by Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A, May 26, 2009 05:32PM
, May 26, 2009 05:32PM
Platelet counts can be low due to platelet clumping. In other words many platelets can be counted as one in some testing machines, and this is very common. That is why your vet suggested waiting a week and retesting.
Other causes of low platelets include Anaplasmosis, and immune-mediated or auto-immune thrombocytopenia, internal blood loss due to gastric-duodenal ulceration, tumor or other infectious disease, and trauma, amongst others.
If not already performed, have your vet test for Anaplasmosis. Additional blood tests include an ANA and Coombs test.
Other causes of low platelets include Anaplasmosis, and immune-mediated or auto-immune thrombocytopenia, internal blood loss due to gastric-duodenal ulceration, tumor or other infectious disease, and trauma, amongst others.
If not already performed, have your vet test for Anaplasmosis. Additional blood tests include an ANA and Coombs test.
We are running bloodwork again today to see what it says. What is Anaplasmosis?
Terry