Help Needed! Mila is sick again, REALLY high white blood cell count

[Twice]

Mila is sick again. She keeps getting sick, this is the third time in a few months. Her left eye starts to roll back into Her head (may just be the covering moving up). This is followed by her losing her energy just laying on the couch with her eyes open. We have to feed her crushed ice to keep her hydrated. She is normally our crazy little white dog (AKA flying squirrel). She just spent 3 weeks on high doses of steroids and 5 weeks on a heavy dose of antibiotics. Her white blood cell count is currently 24,000. 15,000 is considered really high. Has anyone else come across these symptoms? She has already spent time in the hospital. And went through over $2,000 worth of testing. Blood tests, X-rays, ultrasounds, tests for tick born diseases and autoimmune diseases. Everything the vet could think of. Any ideas?

I've been trying to get to this post all day!! Sorry

The CBC all comes in normal except for the high WBC? Normally that signifies some kind of infection but after 5 weeks of antibiotics that is doubtful. I assume the blood was taken AFTER the 3 weeks of steroids? The steroids alone can cause the body to create more white blood cells. If the test was taken immediately after or during the steroid treatment, wait a week and request a mini panel. (the mini panel is cheaper and only tests a couple of things)

There are other things that can cause this high of a value. Inflammation. Adrenal glands. Stress. You said that is he dehydrated and that is a definite cause of his high WBC. Ask your vet about subQ fluids for a few days to rehydrate him.

You don't say why the doctor put him on steroids in the first place?
Do you have copies of his test results?

 

[ddnene]

I'm praying for you guys... Hopefully you will figure out what's going on soon!!!

 

[Sherry]

I hate to say, the last time I had a dog with really high WBC had serious case of cancer. Praying for good news on Mila's recovery soon

 

[Twice]

Something in the original post hasnt sat right with me all day. I couldnt put my finger on it until just a few minutes ago. @gobronco you said that her doctor told you that 15000 is "really high"? That's not true. The normal range (depending on your lab) can be anywhere from 6000 to 17000. 24,000 is high no doubt but not nearly high enough to panic over just yet. Not if that is the ONLY abnormal thing in the blood panel. An increase of 5k could absolutely be caused by dehydration alone.

I went into what I call "the Abby Archives" and dug up an article for you...

The long-term pattern of prednisone-induced leukocytosis was examined in 80 patients. Our results disclosed an extremely variable leukocytic responses, in which the white blood cell count surpassed 20,000/mm3 as early as the first day of treatment, an increase that persisted for the duration of therapy. Although the degree of leukocytosis was related to the dosage administered, it did appear sooner with higher doses. Leukocytosis reached maximal values within two weeks in most cases, after which the white blood cell count decreased, albeit not to pretreatment levels. The leukocytosis was attributed predominantly to a rise in the polymorphonuclear white blood cells, a phenomenon that coincided with monocytosis, eosinopenia and a variable degree of lymphopenia. It can be concluded that even small doses of prednisone, administered over a prolonged period of time, can induce extreme and persistent leukocytosis.


stop the steroids and retest

 

[Texas Carol]

Something in the original post hasnt sat right with me all day. I couldnt put my finger on it until just a few minutes ago. @gobronco you said that her doctor told you that 15000 is "really high"? That's not true. The normal range (depending on your lab) can be anywhere from 6000 to 17000. 24,000 is high no doubt but not nearly high enough to panic over just yet. Not if that is the ONLY abnormal thing in the blood panel. An increase of 5k could absolutely be caused by dehydration alone.

I went into what I call "the Abby Archives" and dug up an article for you...

The long-term pattern of prednisone-induced leukocytosis was examined in 80 patients. Our results disclosed an extremely variable leukocytic responses, in which the white blood cell count surpassed 20,000/mm3 as early as the first day of treatment, an increase that persisted for the duration of therapy. Although the degree of leukocytosis was related to the dosage administered, it did appear sooner with higher doses. Leukocytosis reached maximal values within two weeks in most cases, after which the white blood cell count decreased, albeit not to pretreatment levels. The leukocytosis was attributed predominantly to a rise in the polymorphonuclear white blood cells, a phenomenon that coincided with monocytosis, eosinopenia and a variable degree of lymphopenia. It can be concluded that even small doses of prednisone, administered over a prolonged period of time, can induce extreme and persistent leukocytosis. stop the steroids and retest

I hope you know what a blessing you are~how lucky we are you're with us.

Much admiration for your hard work & effort to go back to school and learn
so much in order to help us help our bullies and your selfless work for rescuing.

All this and more, going thru personal hardship, Bev, you are a inspiration to me
and all you meet. Praying for the Heavens to open and flood you with all you need
& your dreams to come true. Sending much love, dear one. GOD always bless you!

 

[gobronco]

When she got sick, in July, (second time) they put her on steroids and antibiotics because she was going down quick. They ran all of the tests before they started her on steroids and antibiotics. Her white blood cell counts were high but i don't know what they were. It took her 2-3 weeks to get back to normal (flying squirrel). She got sick again about 3 weeks after stopping the steroids and 1-1/2 weeks after stopping the antibotics. The high latest white blood cell counts were after 1-1/2 days of steroids. By that time she was all amped up and starting to feel better. We finally got her in to see her normal vet, same clinic. He says no more steroids if she gets sick again he wants to see her sick. He has always been a very good vet. At about 70 years old he has the experience. The way he sits on the floor and feels the dogs is always reassuring. Btw the local bulldog breeders all know him but don't care for him much because he says their dogs are fat. At the moment she is feeling better and back to her crazy little white dog self. Much quicker recovery than last time she got sick.

 

[Twice]

I hope you know what a blessing you are~how lucky we are you're with us.

Much admiration for your hard work & effort to go back to school and learn
so much in order to help us help our bullies and your selfless work for rescuing.

All this and more, going thru personal hardship, Bev, you are a inspiration to me
and all you meet. Praying for the Heavens to open and flood you with all you need
& your dreams to come true. Sending much love, dear one. GOD always bless you!

I'm not a saint lol I learned all that I know now because of Abby and my mission to "save her". Silly I know since there was no way possible to save her. Sometimes I think the only reason I keep going, keep studying is to find the one thing that I didn't do that would have saved her. She is gone 10 months and she still motivates me and every day I apologize to her for failing her.

When she got sick, in July, (second time) they put her on steroids and antibiotics because she was going down quick. They ran all of the tests before they started her on steroids and antibiotics. Her white blood cell counts were high but i don't know what they were. It took her 2-3 weeks to get back to normal (flying squirrel). She got sick again about 3 weeks after stopping the steroids and 1-1/2 weeks after stopping the antibotics. The high latest white blood cell counts were after 1-1/2 days of steroids. By that time she was all amped up and starting to feel better. We finally got her in to see her normal vet, same clinic. He says no more steroids if she gets sick again he wants to see her sick. He has always been a very good vet. At about 70 years old he has the experience. The way he sits on the floor and feels the dogs is always reassuring. Btw the local bulldog breeders all know him but don't care for him much because he says their dogs are fat. At the moment she is feeling better and back to her crazy little white dog self. Much quicker recovery than last time she got sick.

I'm glad she is feeling better. I pray it's a forever condition

Have you gotten a second opinion? Maybe it's time to speak to some of those breeders to find out what vet they use. Or, better yet, find a veterinary internist. There is a Dr Hamilton about 20 minutes from San Jose who gets great reviews on Yelp. If (God forbid) she gets sick again, ask your current vet for copies of all her test results and bring those with you so that you don't have to retest.

 

[Ftse 100]

I am sending prayers for you and Mila that you find an answer real soon and she recovers

 

[gobronco]

She has now seen two different doctors. The first one seemed like he knew what he was doing. They tested her for everything. Our main vet hasn't seen her when she was really showing symptoms. He did mention seeing a specialist (internist) if she gets sick again and he can't figure it out. Crossing our fingers that she doesn't get sick again. Hopefully if she gets sick again it will be when he is on call. He has been able to figure out tough issues, in the past, that other vets were not sure what to do or just wanted to do unneeded surgeries Etc.

 

[2BullyMama]

She has now seen two different doctors. The first one seemed like he knew what he was doing. They tested her for everything. Our main vet hasn't seen her when she was really showing symptoms. He did mention seeing a specialist (internist) if she gets sick again and he can't figure it out. Crossing our fingers that she doesn't get sick again. Hopefully if she gets sick again it will be when he is on call. He has been able to figure out tough issues, in the past, that other vets were not sure what to do or just wanted to do unneeded surgeries Etc.

hugs and prayers to your sweet girl.... get better soon!!

 

[gobronco]

Update, Mila is still her normal flying squirrel self. We were wondering if maybe it was stress induced since 2 of the 3 times she got sick were during or right after we had a large gathering. We had a party last nigh with over 30 people. She made it through just fine. I guess it might be the antibiotics that helped her through it. Guess it is wait and see.

 

[Baxter Tiberius]

Strange that they put her on Steroids when her white blood cell count was high.

High white blood cell count means infection. Steroids will just kill her immune system and render her unable to fight the infection (or cancer).

I suppose its possible an autoimmune condition could cause high white blood cell count but I would definitely assume infection before that, and avoid steroids like the plague. Will only make it worse.

 

[gobronco]

The steroids seem to bring her back to life when she is going down fast. We start them only when she is to the point she is just laying there with her eyes open and only getting water from crushed ice we hand feed her. Hopefully we will Get this figured out. At the moment she is wrestling with Rudy, who would probably prefer to be sleeping.

 

[Texas Carol]

Will continue to pray over your sweet girl...sending hugs of comfort to you.

 

[gobronco]

Update, she was tested a few days ago. White blood cell count 8500. Much better but she still has a few more days on antibiotics. Crazy little white dog has way too Much energy. We are starting to think she is really a Jack Russell terrier in bulldogs clothing.