Cocoa Had Blood Work Today

Cocoa Had Blood Work Today

by Elisa Black-Taylor
(USA)

No more THERMOMETERS!

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No more THERMOMETERS!

No more THERMOMETERS! Cocoa at the vet

Cocoa had blood work today at the vet. To catch up on my big guy, please see this article.

Cocoa went back to the Electric City Veterinary Clinic on May 2 and we received a more detailed report after the blood work was done. First of all I'd like to thank everyone who has contributed to his vet bills. They're not over yet but I'm very hopeful.

Cocoa has lost almost half a pound in the past week, which isn't surprising since he only started eating more with the syringe and on his paw on Thursday.

The vet did a thorough blood workup on Cocoa. The good news is he's not diabetic and most of his levels are good. The vet thinks he's about 7 years old.

The white blood cell count concerned his doctor the most. Here are the abnormalities on his blood work report. I'm not including the letters and numbers after each test because I don't know what they are. Feel free to study these on your own. I'll be looking them up individually later. WBC 27.06 (normal 5.5-19.5), NEU 22.54(normal 2.5-12.5), MONO 1.78(normal 0.15-1.7), TP 9.0(normal 5.7-8.9), GLOB 6.0 (normal 2.8-5.1), LIPA 43 (normal 100-1400 so that one is low)

Cocoa was switched to Clavamox and will go back for a recheck next Monday. If he's doing better he will go thru one more round of the Clavamox. If he does not improve the vet recommends an x-ray of his skull and a nasal flush. The vet and I are both beginning to believe Cocoa can't smell or taste food.

They also retested for FeLV/FIV and he was negative. His doctor had been concerned about that because of his high WBC count

He was a very good boy and also did well on the ride there and back. Lucy also had her staples removed on this visit while she was there. Her surgery was done in Greenville but since I'm limited in my driving since the wreck this was more convenient.

Cocoa's third eyelid is still showing. He does seem to be feeling better and wants to play with toys that dangle. I'm glad no one has suggested keeping him because he's come to trust me and is adjusting well here.

Last night he walked up the side of the bed until he came to rest in my arms.

We don't think he's in any pain but he's getting tired of being poked and prodded.

My greatest hope is he'll be fed enough to get hungry when he doesn't eat and he'll come to enjoy having a full belly.

Please keep him in your thoughts.

Elisa

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Cocoa Had Blood Work Today

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May 03, 2011
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poor kitty
by: brandy

is he on antibiotics?


May 03, 2011
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vet who sent him home
by: Elisa

The vet who sent him home wasn't an idiot. He's an asshole. There's a difference. He either chooses his patients or the owners and treats those he thinks deserving.....


May 03, 2011
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Poor cat
by: Ruth (Monty's Mom)

I can relate to poor Cocoa. I've got a head cold that seems to just want to lock up my sinuses and cause an infection. (Not if I can help it.) I've been doing a saline flush of my sinuses frequently. Have you tried bringing Cocoa in the bathroom with you when you bathe or shower? They had me do that for Monty when he had a URI. The steamy air is supposed to help. (Now Monty thinks he has to come in the bathroom with me, pushing the door wide open to admit his little self, and since the door doesn't latch properly I can't really stop him.)

Between the white blood cell counts and lack of appetite it sure does sound like he has a URI. But Michael has a point-- maybe the infection is related to all those teeth being pulled. Without pictures of Cocoa's head we're just assuming URI, but maybe it's in his gums. Things could look o.k. externally, but there could be a deeper infection, causing pain and reluctance to eat. Any infection can go systemic, so you are doing the right thing to aggressively treat this. That vet that said to take him home and wait until he gets hungry was an idiot.


May 03, 2011
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Relaxed at vet
by: Elisa

Everyone talks about how relaxed he is at the vet. He just lays around. There's a hidey shelf he gets on every now and then. He seems to be OK as long as he can see me. He looks to me for protection now. I just got up to feed him and he's been sleeping beside me or on my side.


May 03, 2011
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Handsome
by: Michael

I think he looks handsome and relaxed. I wish him the best and hope that he doesn't have anything seriously wrong. I wonder whether the loss of his teeth and his lack of smell and taste are linked?


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