4/3 Sid question on his HCT

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Lydia & Sid & Jake(GA)

Lydia & Sid & Jake(GA)

Member Since 2010
First I'll start by saying that Sid seemed to be pretty predictable with his bg levels until about Saturday (the only difference is I started him on zeniquin). He is alert and playing!! but he doesn't want to eat very much at all. He does eat some but not as much as usual. Yesterday he dropped about 300 points in 2 hours ( with NO R!!!) and then spiked way up and stayed there all day. He has been testing negative for ketones though.

The other curious thing is that his HCT has unexpectedly risen to normal levels 36% when since January he has been dropping to a low of 22%. The vet didn't believe the number was accurate either so we redid his bloodwork but it turned out to be right. The vet said that the spike in HCT could happen because of dehydration, but Sid is not dehydrated because I have been giving fluids every day. His lymphocites and neutrophyls are low. I think that it is great that his HCT is in normal range, but why does he not want to eat now? Does anyone have any ideas?
 
I don't even know what HCT is so no help from me just sending scritches for Sid, and orders for him to eat his fuds!
 
I don't know about HCT either, but I guess normal is good?
I'm sending him good appetite and eating vines
smiley-eatdrink022.gif

and YaY for being ketone free!
 
HCT is the hematocrit value and is the percentage of blood volume accounted for by the red blood cells. It is related to the hemoglobin (HB or HGB), red blood cell (RBC) and mean cell volume (MCV) levels.

Were Sid's values coming in indicating he was anemic before?

The zenequin may be effecting his appetite.
 
It is true that giving fluids to a dehydrated cat can make the HCT drop, but a pretty fast rise from 22 to 36 seems unrelated to his hydration level. Did you ever know the reason for the anemia? Perhaps he had a bleed somewhere and it healed? He seems to have mounted a brisk regenerative response. In cats who have non regenerative anemia who are being treated with ESA's, we aim for no greater than 2% increase in HCT per week. Have you been giving B12 shots or iron? They may have helped. This certainly seems a good indicator that Sid's state of health has improved, and he must be feeling much more energetic with all of those red bood cells on board! You definitely want to keep tabs on the HCT.
 
@Sienne - yes he was considered anemic at 22%

@Linda - thanks for your information. it is very helpful and interesting. Do you think sid's rapid increase is a concern? I kind of do. I have been giving weekly b12 injections. He also gets pred daily (5mg). He keeps coming down with infections though. I'm concerned because he should be feeling better with the higher HCT but his appetite has diminished. The vet wants me to take him off of antibiotics for 2 days an then start back up with baytril. He never lost his appetite on baytril. I also have mirzapatine to stimulate him if necessary.
 
I don't know if it is a concern, but there isn't much you can do about it anyway. When I started Bear on Aranesp, his PCV went from .18 to .28 in two weeks. The concern with rapid development of red blood cells is high blood pressure or stroke. Since Sid's body is doing it naturally, not being artificially stimulated as Bear's was, you just have to assume that his body is healing, and it is a good thing. What you are doing now seems to be working.

Bear was also on high doses of Pred, and was vulnerable to infection. He did well on Baytril. After a long period of time, he started having neurological symptoms, and we don't know if it was long term Baytril use causing it. If you think Sid did better on Baytril, and if the vet wants to use it, then maybe that is the way to go. Pyelonephritis generally needs long term treatment. Just keep an eye on how Sid is tolerating it.
 
Hi Lydia & Sid,
I know nothing about this issue, but it sure sounds as if Linda and Sienne are on top of it. So Rusty and I just want to send Sid whatever kind of healing vines will work!!!

You are doing a wonderful job, Lydia.

Lots of :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG: s

Ella & Rusty
 
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