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Question

My White Shepard is 12. She starting a horse cough. I took her to the vet after 3 days of this cough. Her white blood count was 51,000 and after 4 days on intravenous fluids & antibiotics it is down to 41,000. She has a swollen live & spleen....No cancer detected in any blood work or biopseys...so you have any ideas?PLease help...

Submitted: 1024 days and 23 hours ago.
Category: Dog
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED
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Posted by Dr. Gabby 1024 days and 22 hours ago.

Info Request

Hello there

If it is not cancer then it could be an infectous cause.

Have they tested her for all the tick diseases? Erlichiosis? Lymes? Rocky Mountain?

Have they tested her for toxoplasmosis? Blood test?

Did they do a bone marrow biopsy yet?

Is she on any antibiotics or prednisone?

1024 days and 22 hours ago.

Reply

They have done numerous tests. No bone marrow test. She is on 3 types of antibiotics one specific to liver infections. They did test her for taxoplasmosis. I do not believe they tested for any tick diseases. She had a complete cbc in July and her blood work cam e back perfect. Does it sound like a tick disease issue? Her kidney level was high, too.

Posted by Dr. Gabby 1024 days and 22 hours ago.

Info Request

It sounds really bad. I am sorry to say.

Is she on doxycycline? That would kill a tick disease. Maybe the vet is treating for it anyway.

1024 days and 22 hours ago.

Reply

YES! Thats the name of on eof the meds. Well, I guess I should be happy hes treating her for everything under the sun. Shes quite a dignified girl & does not like the indignities we are subjecting her to. But she is very weak. I don't understand how she could get that sick that fast. No idea for me? Now she doesn't want to eat anything. Even roast chicken I made for her. He just doesn't know what the problem is...no one does...

Accepted Answer

I was thinking acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

More common in females. Average age 6 years.

Signs: large liver and spleen, enlarged lymph nodes, other organs may be affected.

High liver enzymes.

Low red cells, white cells, platelets.

I will relist your question.



Edited by Dr. Gabby on 1/18/2007 at 2:33 PM

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Expert: Dr. Gabby
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 1082
Answered: 1/18/2007

Veterinarian

Veterinarian in practice for 10 years. Compassionate, Caring, Experienced.

1024 days and 22 hours ago.

Reply

Oh, so I guess there isn't anything else they can do for her then? Cause her lymph nodes are enlarged, just the biopsy can back negative for cancer. So I guess I should be grateful we've had her for 12 years. And it just shows up like that and that fast? No early indications? Can you just tell me that? I am feeling rather guilty that I may have missed something in her behavior that she wasn't feeling well....but I cann't think what....Thank you for your input and your help.....

Posted by Dr. Gabby 1024 days and 22 hours ago.

Answer

I think she needs a bone marrow biopsy. That disease I just told you about to diagnose it you need a bone marrow biopsy.

In my experience, in the older pets, the sickness comes on so fast there is nothing you can do. Often it happens over a weekend. I can tell you love her very much or you would not have been to all the specialists trying to find the answers. I do not think you missed anything in her behavior. It is probably her time. 12 is the life expectancy for her even if she was not sick. The best thing you can do for her now is keep her comfortable and then when the time comes she is not comfortable, let her go.

That will be your gift to her.

1024 days and 22 hours ago.

Reply

Thank you. This is very sad for me to hear. I won't make her feel undignified anymore. I appreciate your help. Its a fine service on the web. I'll remember for my other kids. Two rescued Golden boys. They miss her so, too. Keep looking in the car for her.....Thanks again Dr Gabby.

Posted by Dr. Gabby 1024 days and 22 hours ago.

Answer

You are welcome. I did not like typing it either but it is important to be very honest. Thank you for rescuing!

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