White blood cell help please!

K

kirkton

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 November 2008
Messages
694
Visit site
My horse was off form last eventing season, I coud not put my finger on it. He was good in the DR, then SJ well but felt a bit like hard work, then XC he would run out of steam. If he was a long way off a fence he would stop instead of giving it a go. Not like him at all

Eventually we took blood and the vet said he had a virus. He's had 2 months off and the blood tests are exactly the same. What can I do to speed recovery. Can anyone shed any light on these results?
Thanks

Blood count are as follows.

October sample.
HCT = 34%
HGB= 12.5
MCHC = 36.8
WBC = 5.6
Grans = 3.4
% Grans = 61%
L/M = 2.2
% L/M = 39%

The August sample was
HCT = 32.7%
HGB= 12.0
MCHC = 36.7
WBC = 5.7
Grans = 3.5
% Grans = 61%
L/M = 2.2
% L/M = 39%
 
HCT is the packed cell volume ie the % of red blood cells in the blood. 34% is within the normal range (31-43%) so he shouldn't be anaemic.
HGB = haemoglobin concentration in the blood, also normal (range 11.1-15.9)
MCHC = another measurment of red blood cells and haemoglobin. This is normal too.
WBC is low, but not massively (range is 6-10, average is 7.5)
I think Grans means number of neutrophils - neuts are raised when there is bacterial infection, but they are normal in your horse.
LM = lymphocytes, and these are also normal.

So basically, all seems to be normal except the total WBC count, which you already knew. Can't really help any more than that. As highlandponylass says, viruses can take ages to shift, and it could be that your horse is still a bit run down from the virus and a bit immunosuppressed. Can't really offer any advice on speeding recovery, other than keep giving him time off and lots of TLC. What has the vet said?
 
Vet said give him another 2 months and then test again.

If there was a little improvment in the WBC I would at least see light at the end of the tunnel but they have actually got a tiny bit worse.

I feel so helpless that I can't give him something to help.
 
dont know if it helps but my thoroughbred had a virus and gave him propell plus and it helped to pick him up. it also has echinacea in it i think?
 
my last mare had a virus (Rhinovirus)known as Influenza along with anenmia she was a poorly girl
i was told by vet to use Echinacea to boost her immunity
she got over it lucky enough
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top