From:
zodanga1@yahoo.com
Date: 2003-11-29 18:38:34 UTC
Subject: Enlarged spleen advice please
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3474448.1070131114107.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
My sweet boy, Chunk (who is about 2 yrs old), has an enlarged speen...aroun=
d 4x normal size. We took him for check up because he is somewhat (about 1/=
4??) more lethargic and less playful then usual. He also seems to make a lo=
t of trips to the poopy box yet not always actually going (yes he does go a=
t times and goes very well thank you..so not to worried about blockage). I =
guess having an enlarged spleen gives up a full/gotta go feeling..like in h=
uman males with enlarged prostrates. I know enlarged spleens are fairly com=
mon (but enlarged by how much I don't know??)...and helobractor/lingering i=
nfection is sometimes the cause (but would it make it 4x??). So went to vet=
and she diagnosed enlarged spleen via palpation and x-ray (x-ray showed sp=
leen to look pretty normal..just large..but filing up most of abdominal cav=
itiy and folding over/around organs). Also got lot of blood test (results b=
elow). Next step she wants to do ultrasound and biopsy..depending on those =
finding "perhaps" a spleen removal at later date. =
Blood work has some readings off but only thing vet concerned of was he a b=
it enemic (yes, I now got him on vitamins-B and iron-supplementation. He ar=
e the readings:
Glucose: 123 (high)
Ulrea Nitrogen 27
Creatinine 0.4
Total Protein 6.3
Albumin 3.1
Total Bilirubin 0.2
Alkaline Phosphatase 82 (high)
ALT 117
AST 78
Calcium 8.8
Phosphorus 4.8
Sodium 154
Potassium 4.7
Chloride 124 (high)
Albumim/Globulin ratio 1.0
Globulin 3.2 =
Lipase 286
Amylase 18
CPK 207
Uric Acid 1.5
Pre meal bile acid 25.1
Occult Heartworm antigen - negative
Microfilaria - negative
Hemoglobin 13.6
Hematocrit 38.7 (low)
WBC 4.7
RBC 8.64
MCV 45 (low)
MCH 15.7
MCHC 35.1
Platelet count 309
Platelet esitmate - adequate
Neutrophils 1692 / 36%
Bands 0 / 0%
Lymphocytes 2632 / 56%
Monocytes 235 / 5%
Eosinophils 94 / 2%
Basophils 47 / 1%
Any suggestions/personal experiences/recomendations? Wait and see? Treat fo=
r infection and anemia and hope it shrinks? Remove the spleen? I want whate=
ver is best for him...keeping his quality of life, activity level and life =
expectancy. I can't bear to lose him or see him hurt/uncomfy. :-(
Thank you very much!!! :-)
=
=