Cough and thrombocytopaenia

RE: Cough and thrombocytopaenia

Stephanie Wellings — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 16:19:09 GMT

Yes - confirmed by external lab and blood smear.

Sadly the owner felt the cat had deteriorated a lot clinically despite the steroids, and opted for PTS.

RE: Cough and thrombocytopaenia

Jenny Harris — Sat, 17 Feb 2018 15:10:16 GMT

yep just thinking would be sensible to double check the thrombocytopenia was real

RE: Cough and thrombocytopaenia

Richard Carter — Sat, 17 Feb 2018 11:38:40 GMT

[quote user="Jenny Boyd"]You checked a blood smear as well though?[/quote] the dreaded clot in the bottom of the haematology sample!! Done that before...

RE: Cough and thrombocytopaenia

Jenny Harris — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 23:42:21 GMT

You checked a blood smear as well though?

RE: Cough and thrombocytopaenia

Stephanie Wellings — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 15:10:12 GMT

Sorry - I tried to summarise and it ended up too compact! Oral prednisolone was started after the x-rays. Been on them for one week when was seen back due to deterioration, and bloods were run and thrombocytopaenia was found.

RE: Cough and thrombocytopaenia

Julie Innes — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 14:35:30 GMT

I don't think I'd bother with a biopsy. If referral isn't an option is it really going to change your treatment plan (I'm assuming the reluctance to refer is due to finances on the owners part). I'd be another one reaching for the steroids, even just to see how the cat responds. I don't think it's got a lot to lose, to be honest!

RE: Cough and thrombocytopaenia

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 13:56:14 GMT

Unfortunately I can't enlarge the images so it is difficult to tell. There could be a heart base tumour or it may be an area of haemorrhage into a lung lobe due a clotting defect. I would suspect angiostrongylus if it was a dog, albeit that is not typical of lungworm lesions, and I don't recall aelustrongylus causing clotting defects.

Given your limitations I think this is a case of "never let anything die without the benefit of the 'roids"!

RE: Cough and thrombocytopaenia

Richard Carter — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 13:54:05 GMT

you have a diagnosis - precardiac intra-thorasic masses. On the basis of elderly cats frequently having lymphoma type masses, the thymus is in this area, your nsaid didn't work I would trial 1mg/kg preds for 7-10 d and re-evaluate. If no response, what does your client want to do long term and what other options to help the cat do you have left if referral, removal, directed chemo not going to be an option?