Bingo's blood test

[Vally]

Patrice he’s actually been great. Seems to have more energy – I wonder whether it’s because the weather has finally cooled down.

The TBIL – 18 (0-15) from the previous test also has me worried. I actually asked for the full blood test as I had noticed he was drinking more water. Didn’t seem to need to go to the toilet more often but he was definitely drinking more – then again – we’ve had a really hot summer, but this suddenly seemed different. Vet said on examination his bladder didn’t seem unusual.

In the last 6 weeks, I’ve cut out more fat from his diet as well as increased his milk thistle by a fair bit and he’s lost some more weight. He’s probably on the leaner side now, but that’s better for his joints in any event. I started to worry he was losing too much weight, so I’ve upped his proteins by a bit more and his weight has inched up a little bit again – every time I pull out the scales (which is only about once or twice a day Bingo!!!) Bingo takes off – he hates being weighed – obviously very self conscious about his weight.

I will post results tomorrow.

Love Vally & Bingo

[Patrice]

The tbil is total bilirubin, this is a breakdown product of hemoglobin (the dark coloring) in red blood cells, usually removed by the liver. It can be a bit high because the liver isn’t doing a good job, but it can also happen if the blood sample is not handled carefully and some of the red blood cells get jostled and damaged, leaking this coloring into the sample. And it can also happen if the sample sits too long before being taken care of.

If it has never been high before and is not high again this time, then it is most likely damage to the blood sample by mishandling.

Weight loss can be good. I noticed this with Cassie two weeks ago. She now weighs about 4-5 pounds less than her last test but her CBC and chem screen were PERFECT. Not bad for a 10 year old dog, who eats like a pig.

Can you get him to drink water before he leaves for the test? Would be better.
my best patrice

[Vally]

Thanks Patrice – yes I’ll get him to drink some water before we go tomorrow.

Thank you.

[admin]

Oh Vally, you know I will be thinking about you tomorrow & crossing everything. I think Bingo’s liver enzymes look pretty OK, especially considering the length of time he has been taking these drugs as well.

Worzel has his check up tomorrow too. Let’s hope everything is relatively normal for them both. I have had to up Worzel’s food as he was starting to lose weight. Strangely, his skin has gone black again. I have read that steroids continue their effects over a YEAR after taking them. He still gets new little hard spotty lumps (like stones) which must be calcinosis, I suppose.

Patrice has given great advice – don’t you dare worry – if Bingo is feeling fine, he IS fine. Our vet scared me last time about Worzel’s creatinine being high, but them I remembered greyhounds have a naturally high level (up to 1.6 times more than “normal”), so the vets are not always “right”!

Wishing you loads of luck
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie

[Vally]

Thanks Sheena – I won’t worry (whispers “much”).

Good luck on Worzel’s test tomorrow too. The darkening of the skin, not thyroid related is it??? I remember Bingo definitely had darker patches on his skin before he started on thyroxine.

Love Vally & Bingo.

[Linda]

Dearest Vally and Bingo – We ALWAYS think of you, but especially today. This is such a scary time when you are getting down to the nitty-gritty (that is a scientific term….) weaning of the prednisone. I will do a full panel again with liver functions next go around (they missed it last time – da) with Sadie too, but that will be next month. But I (we all do) understand and can empathize with your angst. Hang in there.

I too – am crossing everything for you. Let us know ASAP okay?

Love and huge go-get-em hugs!!!

Linda & Sadie

[admin]

Mmmm, I’m not worried either & my pants are burning as we speak!!!! Good call on the thyroid. I will get it checked. It is EXACTLY like when he was on the pred though – very strange. Will let you know what the vet says – I am seeing my favourite one tomorrow – he is really interested in Worzel & IMHA as he used to work with our specialist in Bordeaux …. and he’s very nice to look at too!

[Vally]

I survived the vet visit – I mean Bingo did really great!!! Thank you so much my dear friends for waiting this time out with me.

Okay the magic numbers are – they only repeated the liver profile tests:

ALB 30 (22-39) – previously 37
ALKP 112 (23-212) – previously 121
ALT 187 (10-100 HIGH) – previously HIGHER!!! at 229 – so we (he!) went the right way.
GLOB 37 (25-45) – previously 38
TBIL 7 (0-15) – previously HIGH at 18 – Patrice perhaps you were right and they mishandled the blood – I don’t care I’m just doing the happy dance right now.
TP 67 (52-82) – previously 75.
New one this time of ALB/GLOB of 0.8

His PCV is a nice happy 46%

He has lost 600 grams from 6 weeks ago – I was a bit worried about this too as it seemed a lot although I have had him on a diet, but his Vet is happy with his weight and physical exam.

We are reducing his pred down to quarter tablet (1.25mg) every second day (down from quarter tablet one day and one-eighth the next), however because I’m a member of the paranoid club, we will wait at least another week to do this, maybe 2 weeks as all his other reductions were done after 2 months on the current dosage.

Still dancing.

Lots of happy smiles and stupid grins from me.
Bingo ignoring me and is still p’d off from being dragged to the vets.