| Hi Tom Although it has been a couple of weeks since your post (only noticed it now), so the below may or may not be helpful. Initially from the - Stressful, weight loss and excessive drinking symptoms you would/may think - acidosis or water diabetes (Minirin can indeed assist here). I went through the blood results and made a few notes/points for you against those certain results that looked outside the "normal" or "preferred" levels, or were relatively high or low within the desired parameters.. Please bear in mind these are purely my observations and are certainly not designed to alarm or indeed try and "predict" (sight unseen) what may indeed be wrong with your dog, however, I've listed those (from your posted results), which fall under the above categories and have copied and pasted segments from Tom Meulman's - Guide to Interpreting Analytical Blood Profiles in order to get a slightly better, or some understanding. Was there a reason no "Iron" result was given? I ask simply because it could help regards establishing whether the dog is (or isn't) slightly anemic (Immune Mediated Anemia). Further, and certainly not a definite, but those readings that I foun all seem to relate to a common factor, apart from a possible low grade viral infection, those being- Kidney/Liver. --------------------------------------------------------------- Haemoglobin (Hb) - Preferred Range - 20.0 to 21.5 g/l
Haemoglobin is the is the iron-containing pigment of the red blood cells. Its function is to take up oxygen from the lungs and carry it throughout the body.
Haemoglobin and Red Blood Cells are manufactured in the bone marrow of the long bones. Because iron is the main component needed for haemoglobin production, a shortage of iron will cause the bone marrow to produce Red Blood Cells that are smaller and do not contain sufficient haemoglobin. The end result is a greyhound that is incapable of running its full race distance without causing stress to other body functions due to lack of oxygen. Racing greyhounds with Haemoglobin levels below 20.0 g/l will in most instances require iron injections to correct this deficiency. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Hct (Haematocrit) or PCV (Packed Cell Volume) - Preferred Range 58% to 62%
This measures the percentage of solids in the blood, namely the Red and White blood cells, as compared to the quantity of blood plasma. It is therefore extremely important to consider the state of hydration of the greyhound when considering whether or not a particular percentage is satisfactory. If this particular test is done without other blood perimeters being tested for, the hydration of the greyhound should be evaluated by carefully checking skin tone, as this gives some idea of the state of hydration.
If the skin is comfortable to lift and springs back fast both over the saddle and the coupling area, the true PCV is as per test result.
However if the skin springs back OK over the saddle but is slow to return over the coupling area, the PCV could be as much as 2% lower if the greyhound was fully hydrated. If the skin is also slow to return above the saddle area the PCV could be as much as 4% lower if the greyhound was fully hydrated. In other words a PCV test result of 58% in a severely dehydrated greyhound means that the true PCV is likely to be around 54% and indicates the greyhound is anaemic. At the same time a PCV test result of 66% in a severely dehydrated greyhound, indicates that the PCV would be within the preferred range once the dehydration has been corrected. If the Hct/PCV test result is part of a full analytical profile there are other results that will provide information on the state of hydration. Further to the above; if the skin of the greyhound is difficult to grab hold of and is tight to lift up, immediate Veterinary assistance should be sought as the greyhound is severely stressed and will most likely require intravenous fluids. ---------------------------------------------------------------- MCHC (Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration) - Preferred Range 34 to 37 g/dl
This is a calculation of the average haemoglobin concentration in a given volume of packed Red Blood Cells. Both these test results provide further information on the type and cause of anaemia. The MCH may be low in types of anaemia where the red blood cells are abnormally small, or high in other types of anaemia where the red blood cells are enlarged (for example, as a result of folic acid or vitamin B12 deficiency). The MCHC is low in iron deficiency, blood loss, and anaemias caused by infections in the liver or kidneys. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Neutrophils - Preferred Range 3.0 to 4.5
Lymphocytes - Preferred Range 0.8 to 1.9 As a general rule when Neutrophils increase in numbers it is due to a bacterial infection, and when Lymphocytes increase it is due to a viral infection. However it is also important to look at the quantitative relationship between the these two numbers instead of just looking at each individual level coming within the preferred range. In other words a situation can exist where for instance the Lymphocytes count is 0.8 and the Neutrophils is 4.5, and at 4.5 is within the preferred range, however with a Lymphocytes count of 0.8 the Neutrophils count should not be much higher than 3.0, and therefore a low grade bacterial infection should be suspected. The same applies if the situation was reversed between Neutrophils and Lymphocytes counts, and a low grade viral infection should be suspected. ---------------------------------------------------------------- ALT (Alanine Transaminase) - Preferred Range 5 to 60 u/l
ALT is an enzyme produced in the liver cells (hepatocytes). ALT level in the blood is increased when hepatocytes are damaged or die. The level of ALT in the blood provides to some degree a picture of current liver cell damage, but does not provide an accurate picture of remaining liver function. When ALT blood levels are high it is extremely important to find out why the liver is damaging, and to provide support for the liver such as Livatone tablets and L-Carnitine injections. --------------------------------------------------------------- What causes liver damage?
The main causes of liver damage are a bacterial or viral infection, or anything that causes liver inflammation. Such as severe bruising due to race collisions, toxic substances in the food supply, indiscriminate use of flea killing chemicals, heat stroke and inflammation of the pancreas. The liver can also be damaged due to a reduced supply of oxygen killing liver cells. This can occur when a greyhound with anaemia is kept in hard work without repairing the anaemia, or a greyhound is consistently raced over a too long a distance than it is capable of running comfortably. AST (Aspartate Transaminase) - Preferred Range 10 to 40 u/l
AST is found in various tissue, such as the liver, kidneys, heart, brain, and muscle tissue. It is released into the blood when any of these tissues is damaged. It is therefore not a specific indicator of liver damage, the levels in the blood can also increase due to muscle, kidney, or heart damage. -------------------------------------------------------------- Globulin - Preferred Range 22 to 32 g/l
Globulins are proteins whos major portion are Gamma Globulins, these are antibodies essential to the immune system, other Globulins act as carrier/transport proteins. The Globulin level may be elevated due to chronic infections, both viral and bacterial, in some parasite infections, and in liver disease. The Globulin level may be reduced due to Nephritis (A condition where kidney function is so compromised that the kidneys no longer filter proteins from the blood and these leak into the urine), liver disease, and in acute Hemolytic Anaemia. (Hemolytic Anaemia is anaemia caused by the rapid destruction of Red Blood Cells.) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Calcium (Ca) - Preferred Range 2.4 to 3.0 mmol/l
Calcium is one of the most important minerals in the body as it is not only essential for bone strength and bone repair, 50% of the calcium is in the blood in the form of an electrolytic ion that is essential to muscle function and contraction. The level of calcium in the blood is regulated by the Parathyroid, small glands attached to the Thyroid. When blood calcium is low, within 1 to 2 hours calcium is leached from the bones to restore blood calcium levels, and when blood calcium is high, excess calcium is stored in the bones or passed out via the kidneys and faeces. It is also essential that calcium is provided in the daily diet as calcium is lost from the body each day, this loss is aggravated by Metabolic Acidosis as this increases loss of calcium via the kidneys. The most common reason for high or low calcium levels in the blood is due to malfunction of the Parathyroid glands. Care must be taken not to overdose when providing a Thyroid hormone supplement as this can affect the function of the Parathyroid. For a more detailed description of Calcium function see EXTERNAL LINK
---------------------------------------------------------------- Chloride (Cl) - Preferred Range 100 to 115 mmol/l
High or low levels of this electrolyte generally indicate a fluid or electrolyte imbalance, and because the kidneys control the level of Chloride in the blood, therefore a major variation in Chloride levels is often related to kidney function. Possible causes of high Chloride level are; reduced kidney function, dehydration, excessive salt intake (Sodium Chloride), or due to a distressed greyhound hyperventilating for several hours while waiting for a race (respiratory alkalosis). Possible causes of low Chloride level are; low blood sodium, or excessive use of diuretics. ---------------------------------------------------------------- CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) Preferred Level 24 to 28 mmol/l
Because most of the CO2 is in the form of bicarbonate (HCO3-). Therefore the CO2 blood test is really a measure of the blood bicarbonate blood level. Possible causes of low CO2 are; severe stress, metabolic acidosis, and kidney disease. Common cause of high CO2 is excessive dosing with bicarbonate of soda. --------------------------------------------------------------- Cholesterol - Preferred Level 3.2 to 6.2
Cholesterol is a steroid of fat that is produced by the liver, and is an essential component required to manufacture cell membranes, bile acids, steroid hormones and Vitamin D. Cholesterol is primarily manufactured using animal fats in the diet, and the addition of excessive amounts of plant oils to the diet can reduce the production of Cholesterol. ---------------------------------------------------------------- *Please keep in mind when assessing an Analytical Blood Profile
Analytical blood profiles should never be looked at in isolation, but should be used as a source of additional information to add to the information gained from a thorough examination of the greyhound whos health is being assessed. This examination should take note of:
The state of hydration in regard to skin tone.
The general condition of the greyhound in regard to an healthy weight and muscle condition.
The general condition of the greyhound in regard to vitality and general demeanour.
Recent levels of stress, such as a run behind the lure within the past five days.
The general recovery rate of the greyhound after stressful exercise.
A thorough examination for muscle injuries, and for general increased pain levels. And most important of all a re-examination of all that has occurred to the greyhound in the previous 4 to 6 weeks that may have led to, or contributed to the greyhounds current condition.
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Do you have questions regarding the health of your greyhound? Do you need tips what you should feed your dog?
