Last night, on my way home, I encountered a little white dog. He was so skinny, and something about him caught my eye. I stopped to feed him, but he was extremely scared and hesitant to come close. As I observed him, I noticed something hanging from his mouth. At first, I thought it might be something he had caught and wanted to eat, but I soon realized it could be part of his mouth that was injured.
He tried to eat the dry food I offered, but it was clear that he was struggling and in pain. As he began to walk away, I was worried I might lose him, but I decided to follow him, hoping to gain his trust. He kept moving further and further away, and I was afraid I wouldn’t catch up. But I didn’t give up. I went back to my bike, drove after him, and found him a few streets later. Thankfully, I had a leash with me and managed to get it around him.
He was completely exhausted by the time I got him home, and I quickly arranged for a driver to take him to the clinic.
Currently, he is in the clinic, receiving the care he desperately needs. What I initially thought was food stuck in his mouth turned out to be part of his tongue, which had been severely injured and become necrotic. It’s hard to say how long he’s been suffering like this, but his frail body tells the story of prolonged pain and hunger.
Hope is also battling anemia, low platelets, and an infection that has caused elevated white blood cells. His kidneys aren’t in the best condition, likely due to severe dehydration, but we’re hoping that with the right care, he can recover. His liver enzymes are slightly elevated too, adding to the list of concerns.
For now, the clinic has put Hope on IV fluids to rehydrate him and started him on antibiotics and painkillers to help him feel more comfortable. In the coming days, more tests will be done to understand the extent of his injuries and illnesses. We’re taking it one step at a time, focusing on stabilizing him before moving forward with any further procedures.
Blood Test Results
Red Blood Cells (RBC) and Hemoglobin:
Hematocrit (35.3%) and Hemoglobin (12.2 g/dL): These levels indicate a mild anemia. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, and lower levels suggest that Hope’s body isn’t getting as much oxygen as it should.
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) (61.3 fL): This value shows the average size of Hope’s red blood cells. The value is slightly lower, indicating that the red blood cells are smaller than normal, which can be linked to the anemia.
White Blood Cells (WBC):
Total WBC (36.18 K/µL): This value is significantly elevated, indicating a strong response to an infection or inflammation.
Neutrophils (26.41 K/µL, 73.0%): These are a type of white blood cell that fights off infection. The elevated count means Hope’s body is actively fighting an infection.
Lymphocytes (12.8%): These cells are usually lower when there’s a significant bacterial infection.
Monocytes (4.68 K/µL, 12.9%): Also slightly elevated, which could indicate inflammation or an ongoing infection.
Platelets (58 K/µL): This value is low, which might suggest that Hope’s body is having difficulty in forming clots, a condition often associated with infections or other severe conditions.
Biochemistry Results
Kidney Function:
Creatinine (2.8 mg/dL) and Urea (> 130 mg/dL): These values are much higher than normal, which is concerning. They indicate that Hope’s kidneys are not functioning well, possibly due to dehydration or a more severe underlying condition.
Liver Function:
ALT (129 U/L): This enzyme is slightly elevated, which might indicate some liver stress, possibly due to the infection or inflammation Hope is dealing with.
ALP (128 U/L): This is within the normal range, suggesting that there is no significant bile duct or bone disease.
Protein Levels:
Total Protein (9.8 g/dL): This is slightly elevated, which could be a response to chronic inflammation.
Albumin (3.2 g/dL): Normal levels of this protein suggest that, despite everything, Hope’s body is still able to produce necessary proteins, which is a good sign.
Globulin (6.6 g/dL): Elevated, which again points to an inflammatory or infectious process.
Summary:
Anemia: Hope is mildly anemic, meaning his red blood cell count is low, likely due to his ongoing struggle with infection and malnutrition.
Infection/Inflammation: There is a significant infection or inflammation in Hope’s body, as indicated by the very high white blood cell count and the specific types of cells involved.
Kidney Strain: His kidneys are not working well right now, which could be a temporary issue due to dehydration or could indicate a more severe condition.
Liver Stress: There’s a slight elevation in liver enzymes, which could be due to the overall stress on his body.
Dehydration: The kidney values and overall condition suggest that Hope is severely dehydrated, which is consistent with what you observed.
Analysis of the PCR Test Report
The PCR test results show that Hope has tested positive for the blood parasite Babesia Canis. This is a serious infection that is transmitted by ticks and can lead to Babesiosis, a disease that affects red blood cells, causing anemia and other complications.
Key Findings:
Babesia Canis:
Ct Value: 30.86 – The PCR test detected the presence of Babesia Canis with a Ct value of 30.86, confirming the infection. The Ct value (Cycle threshold) represents the point at which the virus or parasite’s genetic material is detectable in the test. A positive result at this level indicates that the parasite is actively present in Hope’s bloodstream.
Other Tests:
Babesia gibsoni, Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia spp., and Feline Coronavirus: All these tests returned negative results, meaning these other infections were not detected in Hope’s blood sample.
Implications and Treatment Plan:
Babesiosis: The positive result for Babesia Canis explains Hope’s anemia, weakness, and possibly some of the kidney issues. This parasite destroys red blood cells, leading to anemia, which is consistent with the earlier blood test results showing low red blood cell count and anemia.
Treatment Plan:
Imidocarb Injection: The vet has planned to administer an Imidocarb injection on August 18th. Imidocarb is a drug used to treat Babesiosis, and it’s essential to first stabilize Hope’s condition before administering this treatment.
Stabilization: Over the next few days, the focus will be on stabilizing Hope with fluids, nutrition, and monitoring his kidney function. Once stabilized, the injection will be given, and the kidney function will be rechecked to ensure it is safe to proceed with treatment.