Blood work and it's mysteries

My dogs are addicted to having blood work done. It's the only explanation. Tank has been testing as anemic since May, but we finally got normal results except that his platelet count is still high and was higher this last round--but everything else is normal, finally. We have no clue why his platelets are high and he's not exhibiting any symptoms to account for it. So we'll redo blood work in May and see (sooner if anything starts to go wrong)

Hazel's liver values were way off in May, but now are normal again. WHY do they do this? Do they not understand that I'm WAY too compulsive and obsessive to survive this hemotological yo-yo? I have files for each of the dogs and keep all their blood work results so that I can compare (yes, I know, it's sad).

I told them all after getting back the blood work that I don't want to learn anything new about illness in pugs or how to read lab results. Their efforts at keeping me on the cutting edge of pug health are appreciated, but my brain is full. No more Learning On The Job!!

I don't have any ideas for you on the anemia. But since I have a pug with chronic active hepatitis I have lots of experience with specialists in the liver department. There are a huge number of factors that can affect the liver enzyme readings. Pancrease insuffiency, diabetes, infection, high lipids, vet machine dilutions, and the list goes on and on. If your ALT and ALP were high in May and normal now, could even be a reaction to food, and that can change from week to week.

If you have any doubts at all, one of the best supplements for liver protection and regeneration with no side effects at all, is milk thistle. About 250mg for a pug is good. I have actually put several of my older pugs on it as protection.

Joan

Penny's liver enzymes are borderline high, and she's on Rimadyl, so I'm going to start her on milk thistle.

I can imagine how it would drive you mad!

I can sit here with a smug little smirk on my face. Imi had a UTI last week (all better now) and I thought I might as well have a senior blood panel done and a complete urinalysis as well as the culture. Imi turns 11 next week so it was due. My vet phoned to say that all her results were pretty remarkable for an older girl - EVERYTHING in the middle of normal!

PUGSMUM wrote:I don't have any ideas for you on the anemia. But since I have a pug with chronic active hepatitis I have lots of experience with specialists in the liver department. There are a huge number of factors that can affect the liver enzyme readings. Pancrease insuffiency, diabetes, infection, high lipids, vet machine dilutions, and the list goes on and on. If your ALT and ALP were high in May and normal now, could even be a reaction to food, and that can change from week to week.

If you have any doubts at all, one of the best supplements for liver protection and regeneration with no side effects at all, is milk thistle. About 250mg for a pug is good. I have actually put several of my older pugs on it as protection.

Joan

Joan:
I'm no stranger to liver issues having had a few dogs with liver problems. Hazel just ended up with weird results (out of the blue) and now they are fine. I know that older dogs sometimes do throw "off" results, especially with liver enzymes. I have used Milk Thistle or SAMe on occasion. I didn't with Hazel as I wanted to see if the results were a fluke or not. And it seems it was a fluke.
Tank's anemia resolved with some diet changes and tinkering. Still don't understand why his platelets are off, however. And neither does my vet. He has to get regular blood work to monitor his thyroid issues so we'll just keep an eye on his platelets for now. Just odd that everything else resolved except the platelet one.

I am telling you, having dogs has made me a lot smarter. I am the same way with Sophie, I have a folder of all her tests, and go and compare them myself too. Her folder is like 3 inches thick now. I have had that happen a few times too-her numbers were off, then the retest they were fine. Our belief is Sophie just loves her vet and wants to keep seeing her. Here is hoping they will all be fine in the retest!

Saira wrote:I am telling you, having dogs has made me a lot smarter. I am the same way with Sophie, I have a folder of all her tests, and go and compare them myself too. Her folder is like 3 inches thick now. I have had that happen a few times too-her numbers were off, then the retest they were fine. Our belief is Sophie just loves her vet and wants to keep seeing her. Here is hoping they will all be fine in the retest!

I think my dogs just want to make sure I'm too poor to ever take a holiday without them. I'm convinced they check my balance to see if I'm creeping out of the veterinary hole.

northernwitch wrote:

Saira wrote:I am telling you, having dogs has made me a lot smarter. I am the same way with Sophie, I have a folder of all her tests, and go and compare them myself too. Her folder is like 3 inches thick now. I have had that happen a few times too-her numbers were off, then the retest they were fine. Our belief is Sophie just loves her vet and wants to keep seeing her. Here is hoping they will all be fine in the retest!

I think my dogs just want to make sure I'm too poor to ever take a holiday without them. I'm convinced they check my balance to see if I'm creeping out of the veterinary hole.

No question that Penny goes on-line to check my bank balance, and if it's anything that has me comfortable, she gets an infected bum or an ear infection or something. Every time I walk through the dogtor's door, I can hear the bookkeeper going "Oh, good, she's here! Bonuses for Christmas!"

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I think my dogs just want to make sure I'm too poor to ever take a holiday without them. I'm convinced they check my balance to see if I'm creeping out of the veterinary hole.[/quote]

I'm certain that mine do the same. Just when I think that we haven't had a vet visit in a few weeks, something happens.

hmm..very interesting! not sure why it would be like that..did your vet have any idea? is it that common? i haven't have to take my pugger in to have blood work done, but always good to learn about signs of any problems... hope your doggies are ok!