Message Number: SG7075 | New FHL Archives Search
From: zodanga1@yahoo.com
Date: 2003-12-13 19:56:44 UTC
Subject: Folow-up tests - enlarged spleen advice
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7251501.1071345404849.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>

Hi all..sorry for the long post. I'm including my original msg. with the la=
test test results included. Any additional input is apprecaited.. Thank you=
. =

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 to 1/2??) more lethargic and less playful then usual. He also seems to ma=
ke a lot of trips to the poopy box yet not always actually going (yes he do=
es go at times and goes very well thank you..so not to worried about blocka=
ge). I guess having an enlarged spleen gives him a full/gotta go feeling..l=
ike in human males with enlarged prostrates. I know enlarged spleens are fa=
irly common (but enlarged by how much I don't know??)...and helobractor/lin=
gering infection is sometimes the cause (but would it make it 4x??). So wen=
t to vet and she diagnosed enlarged spleen via palpation and x-ray (x-ray s=
howed spleen to look pretty normal..just large..but filing up most of abdom=
inal cavitiy and folding over/around organs). Also got lot of blood test (r=
esults below). He has also had a ultrasound and 3 needle biopsys - all of w=
hich came back normal. Lastly, no helobactor was found on the bacterilogica=
l test.

Blood work has some readings off but only thing vet concerned of was he a b=
it enemic (yes, I now have him on vitamins-B and iron-supplementation (but =
again, how much to give?? - he is getting about 18-20 mg a day atm and is s=
tarting to seem more active). Here are 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!!! :-)

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