Low White Blood Count

[Guest needlenosemom]

My 5 year old just had some pre-anesthesia bloodwork for her dental. Her white blood count was "low" 3000. During the dental, they did a bone marrow biopsy while under anesthesia. Any thoughts????

[Guest Energy11]

Greyhound's WBCs (white blood cells) usually run lower than other breeds. Here is a link you might want to give you vet about greyhound blood values. I had to give it to mine, as she is not greyhound savvy, but getting there. http://greythealth.com/blood.htm

 

Here is some other information from the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine's Website (Dr. Couto and his staff).

 

 

A WBC of 3000 is normal for greyhounds. I'd get all this info to your vet asap. I was told that my Greyhound has a low white blood count and needed extensive testing. Is this something that you recommend?

Greyhounds normally have lower white blood cell (WBC) counts than non-Greyhounds. A WBC count as low as 3,000 can be completely normal in a healthy Greyhound. A complete physical examination and additional lab work recommended by your family veterinarian should yield additional information on whether your dog had a disease that causes low WBC counts. For more information, please read the following articles:

 

Another website to show the vet: http://www.vet.ohio-state.edu/2376.htm.

 

Good Luck! Personally, I don't think this biopsy was warrented.

Edited February 6, 2010 by Energy11

[Batmom]

See question 9 here: http://www.vet.osu.edu/2376.htm

Greyhounds normally run low white counts. Unless there were some other indicators / health issues, likely perfectly normal. If your vets weren't aware of that, I'd be expecting them to foot all or most of the bill for that.

 

Hope it *is* normal and your pup is 100% A-OK!

[Guest Energy11]

" If your vets weren't aware of that, I'd be expecting them to foot all or most of the bill for that."

 

EXACTLY what I was thinking, Batmom!