Frustrating cat case

Re: Frustrating cat case

Utlendigur — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:03:40 GMT

[quote user="Simon Neuhoff"]What is a TTGH?[/quote]

Time The Great Healer

Re: Frustrating cat case

Simon Neuhoff — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:24:39 GMT

Had a very similar case last year which ultimately turned out to be a migrating grass seed - after much workup and examiantion at a referral centre did not find a diagnosis!

What is a TTGH?

Re: Frustrating cat case

Mark Hedberg — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:58:24 GMT

No bet. :)

Re: Frustrating cat case

Utlendigur — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:47:15 GMT

After all that ....repeat haematology (3rd time lucky) showed neutrophils pretty much back to normal, cat is back to normal weight, eating normally, and no pyrexia. Another success for TTGH over veterinary science. What's the betting it relapses on Christmas Eve?

Re: Frustrating cat case

Kate Richardson — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:45:23 GMT

I think the neutropaenia is significant, and could suggest an inflammatory focus somewhere. Do you have access to ultrasound to scan his abdomen? In the abscence of biochem changes, I always think about GIT pathology, particularly if inappetant and weight loss. He may have unnoted vomiting or diarrhoea if he toilets outside, so may be worth hospitalising to collect a faecal sample. I would also check a urine sample including a culture. How lond did you give metacam for? If only for a couple of days, but it did resolve the pyrexia, might be worth a longer course.

Otherwise, I think your plan to repeat haematology is a good one, and also to check FIV/FeLV status, also consider toxoplasmosis.

Re: Frustrating cat case

Laurence Webb — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:56:09 GMT

If the neutropaenia persists and no bands appear then I'd probably looking at a bone marrow aspirate.

EDIT - beaten to it by Amanda!

Re: Frustrating cat case

Amanda Nicholls — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:53:37 GMT

[quote user="Laurence Webb"]

I don't know if you can get immune mediated neutrophil destruction in the cat - you can in dogs although it's pretty rare.

[/quote]

You can also get this in cats but like dogs it is rare.

If you can rule out tumour and infection resulting in consumption, I would look at bone marrow next, aspirate and core samples.

Re: Frustrating cat case

Zita Okarina — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:08:03 GMT

same case I've got here

but I ruled out blood parasite and toxoplasma. And credit to all vets to suggest take FIP test, which I still waiting to get owner's concern.

Re: Frustrating cat case

Utlendigur — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:14:59 GMT

Thanks for the replies. The full blood count and smear exam were done at external lab - no mention of parasites, no abnormal cells, no band neutrophils. That, the long timecourse with no specific symptoms and the neutropenia getting worse despite the cat clinically showing some (mild) improvement are what is giving me a gut feeling that something odd is going on.

Re: Frustrating cat case

Laurence Webb — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:49:50 GMT

Have you checked/sent away the blood to check if you've got band neutrophils or not? If there's ongoing consumption of neutrophils you should be seeing bands by now.

If you're not then there may be a production problem in which case you may need to look at the bone marrow. I don't know if you can get immune mediated neutrophil destruction in the cat - you can in dogs although it's pretty rare. Otherwise the tick bourne disease suggestion seems sensible.

Re: Frustrating cat case

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:37:30 GMT

I would do a blood smear; check for blood parasites. Tick borne diseases aren't hugely common in the UK, but ruling out Hemobartonella, Ehrlichia, Babesia would be a good idea.

Doxy works well against ehrlichia and hemobart; Azithromycin has been used to treat babesiosis in other species but not sure about in the cat or not.

Good luck!