Can too much testing lead to anemia?

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Adrian and Chino

Adrian and Chino

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On 12/21 (almost 3 weeks after starting insulin), Chino's Hgb and Hct were 13.1 and 37.4. On 3/25, they were 11.5 and 33. On 6/23, they were 10.3 and 32. He's now at the low end of the normal range.

I asked the vet if this could be a side effect of the methimazole (started in February) but she didn't think so since it was gradual... she also wasn't concerned that it was lower. But I don't want to wait another 3 months to find him anemic. Is it possible for too much testing to cause this?
 
First thing going I thought of is how are the kidneys? And make sure to give b12 methylcobalamin
 
BUN and creatinine improved since the last check, from 30/1.8 to 26/1.6, though his UAs always show proteinuria. I don't think his B12 level has ever been tested.
 
Adrian and Chino said:
Is it possible for too much testing to cause this?
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That's what IM vet told me... Look at my SS - I tested insanely in March and used Relion Prime - big time blood sucker and also axe style gauge 26 lancets:eek:. What was I thinking?!:oops:

However, there are at least 3 types of anemia and if related to the blood loss then it's the easiest one to resolve. ECID, but here is what helped me get Ducia RBC back up to normal - read meat canned food - lamb & liver mostly as beef is known allergen, but that works too. She ate 1.5 can of 5.5 oz pates and gained over 2.5 pound in 6-8 weeks. Next test confirmed she was no longer anemic. I observe some weakness in her sometimes in May/June and started to worry about anemia getting back. Action taken: gauge 33 lancets+ Relion Micro meter - operates on a fraction of blood if compared to Prime. It takes about 100 days for new erythrocytes to become mature and totally functional - given that you reduce blood loss (whatever the cause of it), feed well and give it time.

Is there any reason to suspect blood loss @other parts of his body? How is his poo? What is MCV like?

I hope this is helpful. But as I said ECID and that's how it went with Ducia. Her LABS are at the bottom of the SS, but the latest one is dated Apr 1st. She gained some more since.

I agree with above posts - there are several things that can cause anemia. If yo have to wait until next scheduled vet visit - modify food and change lancets. At least it is something you can do right away for cheap.
 
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Thanks! I use 30g lancets with the Relion Confirm. I haven't observed any blood or black tarry stools in the litterbox. Occasional emesis is always clear/saliva or hairball. MCV was 43 in March, 42 last week. Red meat, that's a good idea - I usually feed chicken or turkey, but his morning meals are lamb 3x/wk and I recently picked up a few cans of beef to feed on lower-BG nights (it's 7% CHO).
 
Tanya and Ducia said:
ction taken: gauge 33 lancets+ Relion Micro meter - operates on a fraction of blood if compared to Prime.
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Correction: I use Micro now, not Prime as I posted originally by mistake.
Adrian and Chino said:
MCV was 43 in March, 42 last week
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It is low but most likely indicative of a blood loss related anemia, the microcitic one - due to blood loss. Feed, indulge with red meats and maybe try gauge 33 lancets- it's wonderful little thing, I enjoy using it. Watch out for the caloric value - some beef and lamb in particular tend to be on the lower side. Best of luck to Chino.
 
Addition: I forget to mention that daily sunbathing is very helpful as the vit D - production of which is stimulated by the sunlight- participates in the production of the kidney hormone called erythropoetin (misspelled, obviously) which is essential in telling the body how much RBC is enough/not enough. If Chino is exposed daily to the sun - great, if not - find a spot for him to rest daily to assist the RBC production. I know it's too much info. We have sun on our side only in the afternoons and I noticed how much better Ducia was doing by simply napping in the spot of sunlight. We have sun mid April thru October only in this new place of ours.
 
JanetNJ said:
When my kidney disease cat was borderline anemic the b12 methylcobalamin resolved it in a few weeks.
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Amazon Prime is amazing! I ordered a bottle of it last night and it's already here. Though the caps contain rice flour, it's less than a gram.

I also spoke with the vet again today. She said hyperthyroid cats generally have higher Hgb/Hct and it tends to drop after treatment. She also said that hydration status can have an effect on the reading, which makes me wonder if the values from December were falsely elevated since he was living in reds and blacks and leaving giant rocks of urine in the litterbox.

At any rate, I'm still going to try to increase the iron in his diet and give B12 with his first AM and PM meal. I appreciate everyone's advice and input!
 
Adrian and Chino said:
Amazon Prime is amazing! I ordered a bottle of it last night and it's already here. Though the caps contain rice flour, it's less than a gram.

I also spoke with the vet again today. She said hyperthyroid cats generally have higher Hgb/Hct and it tends to drop after treatment. She also said that hydration status can have an effect on the reading, which makes me wonder if the values from December were falsely elevated since he was living in reds and blacks and leaving giant rocks of urine in the litterbox.

At any rate, I'm still going to try to increase the iron in his diet and give B12 with his first AM and PM meal. I appreciate everyone's advice and input!
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It can't hurt.... Cats just pee out whatever b12 they don't need.
 
Adrian and Chino said:
Amazon Prime is amazing! I ordered a bottle of it last night and it's already here. Though the caps contain rice flour, it's less than a gram.

I also spoke with the vet again today. She said hyperthyroid cats generally have higher Hgb/Hct and it tends to drop after treatment. She also said that hydration status can have an effect on the reading, which makes me wonder if the values from December were falsely elevated since he was living in reds and blacks and leaving giant rocks of urine in the litterbox.

At any rate, I'm still going to try to increase the iron in his diet and give B12 with his first AM and PM meal. I appreciate everyone's advice and input!
Click to expand...
And I agree on the amazon prime thing.... My hose nozzle broke yesterday.... I just got the new one at my door. Lol
 
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