Guest LunaTygerCat Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Athena is going to the doctor again. This started last week, with her refusing to eat anything but peanut butter and drinking lots of water. Blood work showed low WBC's and sluggish blood. There some crystals in her urine, so she was treated for a UTI and got fluid by IV for 3 days. Wednesday she was back to herself, eating and playing. Yesterday she started again, less drinking this time, no eating except peanut butter. Last night she shivered and panted all night. Called the vet this morning and I am taking her again at 5 this afternoon. I am at a complete and total loss as to what is wrong with her. They want to re-run blood work and take xrays. I am starting to get upset because the vets cannot tell me what is wrong with. Can anyone help? Please I am very upset and I am recovering from surgery si this is not helping. Help!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stripeyfan Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I have no advice, sorry, but am sending lots of healing thoughts for your girl. I hope she is ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhead Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 (edited) IIRC, a TBD can cause sluggish blood. Shane used to have the same characteristic and had to be thoroughly fasted before any blood draw so that the sample wouldn't hemolyze. But that went away after he was treated for Babesia. And then I read somewhere that TBD's could cause that problem. Has Athena been TBD tested? She may have one that has been dormant, and it's flaring. ETA: And her UTI might have returned too. Edited April 28, 2011 by greyhead Quote Mary with Jumper Jack (2/17/11) and angels Shane (PA's Busta Rime, 12/10/02 - 10/14/16) and Spencer (Dutch Laser, 11/25/00 - 3/29/13). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LunaTygerCat Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 What is TBD? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Energy11 Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 What is TBD? Tickborne Diseases like Babesia ... diseases carried by ticks. Protatek Refrence Labs out of Arizona, do a wonderful Greyhound panel. A lot of vets will draw and spin the blood sample, and you can print out and mail the requisition form with the blood to Protatek. Good Luck ... hope it is nothing serious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhead Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Here's a link that has exhaustive info about TBD's, expected test results, who does testing, etc. Although it was put out on a samoyed page, it still applies! http://www.mirage-samoyeds.com/tick.htm And you can forward it to your vet, or copy it or whatever, for their info. Drinking a lot, not eating, and low WBC count are also suspicious for a TBD. I have a call in to a vet to check on the sludgy blood angle and will repost when she calls back. Quote Mary with Jumper Jack (2/17/11) and angels Shane (PA's Busta Rime, 12/10/02 - 10/14/16) and Spencer (Dutch Laser, 11/25/00 - 3/29/13). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 What is "sluggish blood"? Does that correspond to a lab value? How low were the WBC? Is she still on antibiotics? Which ones? Any pepcid or similar to go along with those? Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhead Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Just spoke to the internist who treats one of my dogs. She said, yes, a TBD can result in greater breakdown of red blood cells, resulting in sludgier blood. Hope this helps! Quote Mary with Jumper Jack (2/17/11) and angels Shane (PA's Busta Rime, 12/10/02 - 10/14/16) and Spencer (Dutch Laser, 11/25/00 - 3/29/13). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LunaTygerCat Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 So the vet i thinks it may be addisons.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I wouldn't assume that hemolysis and "sluggish" or "sludgy" are the same thing. I've never heard a clinician describe hemolysis in that fashion. I *have* heard people use terms similar to "sluggish" or "sludgy" to describe a high hematocrit, which is normal in greyhounds. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhead Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I wouldn't assume that hemolysis and "sluggish" or "sludgy" are the same thing. I've never heard a clinician describe hemolysis in that fashion. I *have* heard people use terms similar to "sluggish" or "sludgy" to describe a high hematocrit, which is normal in greyhounds. Didn't mean to say they're the same thing. They are not. It's that sludge leads to hemolysis of the blood sample. The sludge we're concerned about isn't the one that can maybe sometimes result from a greyhound's normally high hematocrit, it's the sludge that can result from an extra burden of broken red blood cells caused by something like a TBD. In any case, Athena sounds sick with something. Quote Mary with Jumper Jack (2/17/11) and angels Shane (PA's Busta Rime, 12/10/02 - 10/14/16) and Spencer (Dutch Laser, 11/25/00 - 3/29/13). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LunaTygerCat Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 the tbd tests came back neg. so the vet, whose greyhound is seeing a specialist because she has cancer, spoke with the specialist. they both think it may be an adrenal disease, so that's what they are treating her for now....keeping my fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 (edited) I've simply never heard a practitioner use the word "sludge." It isn't a technical term, so it's impossible to tell what it means. There's no type of "sludge" that causes hemolysis in blood samples, and hemolysis doesn't cause "sludge" in the tube. Hope the vets are well aware of greyhound bloodwork norms and can identify and treat what is troubling your girl. Edited April 29, 2011 by Batmom Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mychip1 Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Many prayers..... Quote Robin, EZ (Tribal Track), JJ (What a Story), Dustin (E's Full House) and our beautiful Jack (Mana Black Jack) and Lily (Chip's Little Miss Lily) both at the BridgeThe WFUBCC honors our beautiful friends at the bridge. Godspeed sweet angels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhead Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Batmom, it means "thick." The only technical terms I know come with the causes of the thickness, such as hypercoagulation. LunaTygerCat, prayers and best wishes for Athena. Please let us know how things go. Quote Mary with Jumper Jack (2/17/11) and angels Shane (PA's Busta Rime, 12/10/02 - 10/14/16) and Spencer (Dutch Laser, 11/25/00 - 3/29/13). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LunaTygerCat Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Well she got some shots, some fluids and is now home and resting. The gave some electrolytes and are treating this like an adrenal disease along with her hypothyroidism. So if this works, then she will get a shot of synthetic adrenal something, (sorry really tired and still recovering from my tonsillectomy) and stay on her thyroid meds. Please let this work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhead Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Thanks for the good update. Sounds like Athena's in good hands. Hope you both get some good rest tonight. You sound exhausted. Quote Mary with Jumper Jack (2/17/11) and angels Shane (PA's Busta Rime, 12/10/02 - 10/14/16) and Spencer (Dutch Laser, 11/25/00 - 3/29/13). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FullMetalFrank Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Hope your girl is feeling better and that your vet is on the right track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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