“TVT Girl” has had quite a journey. Diagnosed with a transmissible venereal tumor (TVT), she’s already been through four rounds of chemotherapy. We initially planned to proceed with her sterilization, but her condition was not as stable as we’d hoped, so we opted to do a blood test first to assess her overall health.
The blood test results gave us a clearer picture of her current state:
Biochemistry Markers (Liver and Kidney Function)
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ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase): 57 U/L
ALP is an enzyme mostly found in the liver, bones, and bile ducts. Her level is within the normal range (20-150 U/L), suggesting that she doesn’t have any active liver or bone issues. -
ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase): 23 U/L
ALT is an enzyme primarily in the liver, and high levels can indicate liver damage. With her ALT in the normal range (10-118 U/L), there’s no indication of liver inflammation or injury. -
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen): 16 mg/dL
BUN is a measure of nitrogen in the blood from urea, a waste product processed by the kidneys. Her level falls within the normal range (7-25 mg/dL), suggesting her kidneys are functioning properly. -
CRE (Creatinine): 1.1 mg/dL
Creatinine is another indicator of kidney health, as it’s a waste product from muscle breakdown. Her creatinine is in the normal range (0.3-1.4 mg/dL), further supporting healthy kidney function. -
GLU (Glucose): 96 mg/dL
This measures her blood sugar. With her glucose level in the normal range (60-110 mg/dL), she doesn’t have any issues with blood sugar, which is reassuring. -
TP (Total Protein): 7.5 g/dL
Total protein reflects the levels of proteins like albumin and globulin in the blood. Her TP level is within the normal range (5.4-8.2 g/dL), indicating a balanced protein level, which suggests adequate nutrition and no liver issues.
Hematology Markers (Blood Cell Count and Anemia)
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WBC (White Blood Cells): Normal
WBCs are part of the immune system and help fight infections. Her WBC count is within the normal range, indicating no bacterial or viral infection. -
RBC (Red Blood Cells): 5.40 x 10^12/L
RBCs carry oxygen throughout the body. Her count is low, which suggests anemia—a condition where the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells, potentially causing fatigue and weakness. -
HCT (Hematocrit): 33.45%
HCT measures the proportion of blood made up of red blood cells. Her HCT is lower than the normal range (37-55%), reinforcing the diagnosis of anemia. -
HGB (Hemoglobin): 9.0 g/dL
Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Her level is also below normal (12-18 g/dL), which supports the anemia diagnosis, as there’s less protein to transport oxygen. -
PLT (Platelets): 570 x 10^9/L
Platelets help with blood clotting. Her platelet count is within the normal range (165-500 x 10^9/L), so there are no issues with her blood’s ability to clot.
Additional Findings and Treatment Plan
The veterinarian believes that her anemia may be caused by a blood parasite—an infection that can damage red blood cells, resulting in low RBC, HCT, and HGB levels. Common blood parasites that cause this condition in dogs include:
- Ehrlichia: A bacterial infection transmitted by ticks, often causing anemia.
- Anaplasma: Another tick-borne bacterial infection affecting blood cells.
- Babesia: A protozoan parasite, also transmitted by ticks, which infects red blood cells and requires specific treatment.
We’ve decided to start her on antibiotics immediately, aiming to treat common blood parasites such as Ehrlichia or Anaplasma. Over the next week or so, we’ll monitor her response to the treatment and see if her energy levels, weight, and overall health begin to improve. With this treatment approach, we hope to give her the best chance at a full recovery and prepare her for any future procedures when she’s stronger.