Dog Community

Billy's bloodwork -- not good

Posted : 8/4/2010 11:29:09 AM

I've gotta hold it together cos I'm at work -- but I just got everyone's bloodwork back.

First -- there was a problem somehow with the tubes that the thyroid blood was sent it -- all 3 came back completely whacked out.

But the worry is -- Billy's bloodwork is not good at all (particularly for a dog we can't see ANYTHING wrong with).

His hematacrit (PCV) is down to TWENTY-FIVE. His platelets are WAY down to 70 altho clumped (that may be a red herring). Now ... was there just something wrong with the blood (how it was sent, etc.) OR did he drink TONS?? (I'm not seeing that reflected in the urinalysis)

Honest to Pete -- I'm scared. I knew he's been acting a tad "old" -- and we always try to MAKE SURE that doesn't cause us to make the wrong assumptions (NOOO way do I think "he's just slowing down because ...";)

But I did NOT see this coming.

cakana

Posted : 8/4/2010 11:33:03 AM

Callie - I'm sorry to hear this. With the thyroid results being whacked out, do you thnk all the testing was compromised? Will you ask them to run it again? I'm sure you'll make the very best decision and I hope you find out that there's nothng serious going on with Billy.

Sassy's thyroid results came back "very high" according to the vet and she's been stable for a long time now, so that seemed suspicious to me and even more so after hearing from you. I asked them to fax me the results but haven't gotten them yet.

Spazzy

Posted : 8/4/2010 11:40:48 AM

Oh no, Billy Sad

I have no idea what all that bloodwork numbers stuff means... but obviously its not good. I hope its not too serious, is it possible that the numbers are wrong because of the problem with the tubes?

shadowsgin

Posted : 8/4/2010 12:01:30 PM

Callie...you know we are pulling for Billy! Lots of prayers and good vibes for you all!

jessies_mom

Posted : 8/4/2010 12:22:36 PM

Sending all the healing vibes I can muster. Maybe it's good that you caught this before he was showing symptoms

calliecritturs

Posted : 8/4/2010 12:29:04 PM

I talked to Dr. Bailey (regular vet) -- no, it's probably not the funky thyroid tubes causing the hematacrit numbers to be off.

He wants me to get at least a PCV on him tonight (a hematacrit is machine-read, a PCV/packed cell volume is hand done -- same measurement - just a different name). So my holistic vet will do that for me as soon as I get off work. THEN I also happen to be having my lovely root canal tomorrow afternoon -- and rather than trying to come back to work after that I'm gonna snag Billy again and race back down for some acupuncture and maybe some herbs.

I just need calmness myself -- dang disease, I feel like I got sucker punched again and WE CAUGHT IT EARLY. I can't let myself be discouraged ... 25 is not at all lethal as long as he hasn't continued to fall.

Thanks folks for the support.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 8/4/2010 12:40:31 PM

So sorry to hear this, Callie. For sure I'll be keeping good thoughts for Billy.

Joyce

JackieG

Posted : 8/4/2010 12:50:01 PM

I'm sorry to hear about Billy. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

BEVOLASVEGAS

Posted : 8/4/2010 1:23:01 PM

We're sending good thoughts for Billy!

I wonder if the heat has anything to do with the screwy thyroid numbers. I had Bev & Brinxx's thryoid numbers rechecked a few weeks ago, & they were both out of whack as well. Neither are showing signs of the thyroid being off though. If Bev's numbers are off, he usually gets horribly dry & flakey skin. He's still totally normal even though his numbers were "through the roof" high. Just thinking out loud...