Crittercall
Well-known member
After a couple of phone calls (and pitching one small hissy fit) I finally got the results from the specialist. I had been promised these results last week so this past Monday I started bugging them.
Wallis's lymph nodes are normal - no cancer there! According to their lab her platelet count was 6000, which is terribly low. The specialist wanted to do another CBC and have a pathologist look at it then, depending on the results, start her on a large dosage that would basically kill her immune system.
According to the regular vet, the lab work on the blood he took last Friday showed her platelet count to be 86,000. I think this shows that somebody's machine is way off and/or not hand counting to acknowledge the large platelets. Her platelets are functioning normally and her clotting time was normal. Her coagulation profile was also normal. He is still waiting for the results of the ehrlicia test. If it is positive we will treat with antibiotics, if not - ???
The only way to get a really accurate view of the platelets is through a bone marrow test, which I'm reluctant to put her through. That would show us whether she is just not making enough platelets or if the are being consumed somewhere in her body. He suggested another CBC after we get the results and said he would send the blood to the head of Hemotology at the University of Florida.
Bubba and I had already talked long and hard and Dr. P agreed that putting Wallis through more testing isn't necessarily the right thing to do. With a younger dog maybe, but given her age and the fact that she is acting fine, eating, drinking, and chasing lizards - if she only has a short time left why make it miserable. This decision is hard to make, but as long as I can keep my logical self thinking and push the emotional self down I know it is right.
The specialist seemed to have more of a gloom and doom attitude that Wallis could suddenly bleed out without any notice. This may be true; I know what to look for should it start to happen and will take all steps necessary to get her taken care of.
Again, not a decision made lightly (and not completely without tears at the oddest times), but the decision we are going to stay with. Wallis has given us so much love and fun all these years that it would be selfish to make however much time she has left miserable.
Thanks for being here with me. Will post another update when I get one.
Wallis's lymph nodes are normal - no cancer there! According to their lab her platelet count was 6000, which is terribly low. The specialist wanted to do another CBC and have a pathologist look at it then, depending on the results, start her on a large dosage that would basically kill her immune system.
According to the regular vet, the lab work on the blood he took last Friday showed her platelet count to be 86,000. I think this shows that somebody's machine is way off and/or not hand counting to acknowledge the large platelets. Her platelets are functioning normally and her clotting time was normal. Her coagulation profile was also normal. He is still waiting for the results of the ehrlicia test. If it is positive we will treat with antibiotics, if not - ???
The only way to get a really accurate view of the platelets is through a bone marrow test, which I'm reluctant to put her through. That would show us whether she is just not making enough platelets or if the are being consumed somewhere in her body. He suggested another CBC after we get the results and said he would send the blood to the head of Hemotology at the University of Florida.
Bubba and I had already talked long and hard and Dr. P agreed that putting Wallis through more testing isn't necessarily the right thing to do. With a younger dog maybe, but given her age and the fact that she is acting fine, eating, drinking, and chasing lizards - if she only has a short time left why make it miserable. This decision is hard to make, but as long as I can keep my logical self thinking and push the emotional self down I know it is right.
The specialist seemed to have more of a gloom and doom attitude that Wallis could suddenly bleed out without any notice. This may be true; I know what to look for should it start to happen and will take all steps necessary to get her taken care of.
Again, not a decision made lightly (and not completely without tears at the oddest times), but the decision we are going to stay with. Wallis has given us so much love and fun all these years that it would be selfish to make however much time she has left miserable.
Thanks for being here with me. Will post another update when I get one.