Seizuring Greyhound - Erythrocytosis

RE: Seizuring Greyhound - Erythrocytosis

Catherine Welsh — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 10:08:05 GMT

Thank you everyone.

The repeat PCV was 70% so I have been less concerned about this being pathological.

Imaging was all normal also, so went for a phenobarb trial.

Coming back in today for a recheck!

RE: Seizuring Greyhound - Erythrocytosis

Lindsey Edwards — Sat, 10 Oct 2015 20:40:03 GMT

Any progress on this case? Have you tried vivtonin?

RE: Seizuring Greyhound - Erythrocytosis

ruths — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 11:12:55 GMT

I initially thought it would be a blood viscosity issue but yes, it's a greyhound and if it seems normal between times, I'd consider it to be less likely.

Hope you find something !

RE: Seizuring Greyhound - Erythrocytosis

Kirsten Simpson — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 10:48:47 GMT

They only polycythaemia case I have had was a poor wee Border Terrier who had Tetralogy of Fallot (yeah, I know right? I was SO astounded). He would get dull with a PCV of 65%. I have seen greyhounds with a PCV of 75% before and no other clinical signs so I would feel that is high end normal for them.

RE: Seizuring Greyhound - Erythrocytosis

Catriona MacIntyre — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 19:38:25 GMT

Hi Catherine

I have in the past had non racing Greyhounds with PCV's that must have been similar to that (before I had PCV equipment so it was just guesstimation). Several of them had blood so thick I had to centrifuge it and use the plasma instead of whole blood for our biochemistry machine.

While I wouldn't rule Polycythaemia out just on that, the high PCV in a Greyhound wouldn't necessarily have me jumping at that. We have a Polycythaemia case on the go at the moment - the local referral centre were very excited! She is a neutered female Tibetan Terrier, 5yo and presented as a little off colour in the morning, progressing to circling, dullness and partial seizures by lunchtime. Her PCV at presentation was 84. We phoned our local neurologist, Jacques Penderis, for advice and the phrase he used was "the blood is basically sludging in her brain"

In our case, the neuro signs were rapid in onset and progressive. They did not wax and wane. She was referred to VetsNow in Glasgow for management initially The rapid progression of her signs was really pretty alarming.

RE: Seizuring Greyhound - Erythrocytosis

Anthony Todd — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 19:09:49 GMT

[quote user="Catherine Welsh"] primary polycythaemia. [/quote]

Does this ever cause fitting; Dr Google doesn't mention it in humans?

Couldn't it just be a fitting greyhound with, incidentally, a high but normal for breed] PCV?

RE: Seizuring Greyhound - Erythrocytosis

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 16:19:10 GMT

This is a common discussion on here and the general consensus is that a PCV of this magnitude is not unusual in greyhounds especially if other physiological factors are in play like fear/excitement when sampling. You should be able to distinguish between a naturally high PCV and polycythaemia vera by measuring endogenous EPO which should be low in the latter. Also look for dilated retinal blood vessels. I agree renal or cardiac secondary polycythaemia sounds unlikely in this case