Low white blood cell count - what are the causes? What should I do?

Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French

14/04/2018, 21:08

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Hi everyone!

I’m looking for some advice today, hoping that someone might have dealt with a similar situation before.

I have two cats, aged 13 and 14.

Four years ago, they had a full check-up at the vet after I moved house (which is when they finally got to experience the joy of having a garden).

Basically, a dental scale and polish, blood tests, and vaccinations.

Everything was fine except their white blood cell counts were ‘a bit low’, but still within the normal range back then. I was told, "Maybe just a bit of stress, nothing to worry about".

We’ve just had another full check-up this year, but this time, their white blood cell counts are below the normal range for both of them (which really surprised the vet nurse).

One specific type of white blood cell was particularly low. She mentioned leukocytes, but at the time I didn’t realise that leukocytes and white blood cells are the same thing. I’m not sure if she worded it strangely, but I just remember the results showing 'LC'.

They’re vaccinated against FeLV (feline leukaemia), but a test was done anyway just to be sure they hadn't caught it. The results came back negative.

Other than that, they’re both doing perfectly fine. They don't act their age and have no health issues, but this whole thing has given me a bit of a fright.

I was given some Echinacea purpurea to boost their immune systems, and I also asked for a tube of vitamin paste as well.

They're on a complete diet though, and they get treats several times a day that also contain vitamins and so on. Not to mention whatever they manage to nick off my plate!

One of my two cats also had an abscess at the base of his tail after a bit of a run-in while out and about. No fever or loss of appetite, though—he just needed a bit more rest.

Surely an animal with a weak immune system would have a much stronger reaction, right? Because where there’s pus, there’s a buildup of white blood cells...

Anyway, I don't know what to think. They seem fine, but looking at the charts on the vet's results, it does look quite worrying.

I’m baffled.

Thanks for your help, and sorry for the long post.

I wouldn't have been able to settle if I hadn't explained everything 😊

Looking forward to hearing from you.

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22 answers

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Bogey

02/02/2020, 10:55

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Thank you regardless.

I’m so sad, and the latest results show another drop (it’s relative, but a drop nonetheless) in white blood cells, neutrophils and eosinophils. The monocyte count, which was too high, has gone down slightly but still isn't within the normal range.

On the other hand, the platelets are going back up, although they're still too low.

So it's not a virus, and there’s a strong chance it could be leukaemia or something similar (that's my optimistic side talking after my recent setbacks), unless—as the vet suggested as a possibility—his white blood cell count has always been below average, since December was the first time we'd ever done blood work...

I’ve got an appointment in a month for another blood test (without any treatment, so as not to skew the next results and because he doesn't look or feel weak or ill in any way). Even so, I’m worried about the time passing and the potential impact on his life expectancy if it turns out to be bad news...

I’d really like to hear from the members who are experts at reading blood results, who commented on this topic a year ago. Please let me know what you think of these results and share your experiences.

Thanks.

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Schtroumphy Icon representing the flag French

12/01/2020, 23:01

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Sad that I haven't had a reply yet... 😞

Hi there,

I would have loved to help, but this is way out of my depth, I'm afraid. :( Sorry about that, I really hope someone else can get back to you soon.

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Bogey

12/01/2020, 22:12

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A bit sad that I haven't had any replies yet... 😞

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Bogey

03/01/2020, 14:44

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Hi everyone, I’m following up on this thread after a visit to the vet with a 10-year-old feral girl who lives outdoors. I’m still quite traumatised after losing my boy to high-grade lymphoma that was caught too late, so I asked for a full blood panel. Unfortunately, some of the results didn't look very good: - Platelet count: 79 g/l (normal range: 200 to 500) - Leukocyte count: 5 g/l (normal range: 5.5 to 19.5) - Neutrophil count: 2.4 g/l (normal range: 2.8 to 13) - Eosinophil ratio: 0.6% (normal range: 2 to 12) - Monocyte ratio: 7.5% (normal range: 1 to 4) I have to take her back in a month for a follow-up blood test to see if the results improve—which would be a sign that she’s just fighting off a virus or bacteria—or if the issue is persistent. I didn’t dare ask for more in-depth tests right then and there, and I really regret it now. Even though she's a wild little thing, I’m very attached to her. The vet hasn't put her on any treatment yet because they don't want to skew the next set of results. After a very painful few months, I’m trying my best not to worry myself sick for nothing. Could anyone give me their opinion on these results? I’ve been searching online and I can’t find any correlation between a high monocyte count and everything else being low. Does waiting a month make a big difference when it comes to catching a serious condition, especially since she seems perfectly fine otherwise and isn’t anaemic? Has anyone had a positive outcome after getting haematology results like these? I could really use a bit of a morale boost. Also, does anyone have any tips on food or what I should be looking out for day-to-day over the next month, keeping in mind that she lives outside? Thanks!

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Mamiecat

26/04/2018, 12:16

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Hi there,

Thanks for the update, it's sounding much more reassuring... phew! That’s brilliant!

Big cuddles to your fur babies!

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French

20/04/2018, 03:03

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Glad you're feeling more at ease :) We really do have a tendency to over-treat everything automatically, as if their bodies didn't know how to heal themselves.

Making people worry is just a way to push medication and hike up the vet bill.

All the best to you, and give your furry ones a good scratch from me :)

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French

17/04/2018, 12:10

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Leukocytes are white blood cells, and there are different types depending on the body's immune response. If the body is fighting a virus, it responds by producing more lymphocytes; if it’s an allergy, it produces more eosinophils; and if it's a bacterial infection, it increases the number of neutrophils. 'Polynuclear' simply means they have multiple nuclei. There are also monocytes, which are white blood cells that act as a cleanup crew. When the body is under significant strain, it releases immature blood cells called blasts into the bloodstream—much like a commander sending undertrained soldiers into battle against enemy troops.

Red blood cells are also important, as is the platelet count. When reading blood work, you have to look at all these elements together rather than focusing on just one.

It is the vet's job to explain blood results to you, certainly not the vet nurse's. Before starting any major interventions, it might be wise to do a second blood test to confirm the initial results, but that is ultimately for the vet to decide.

I have a background in immunology, so this isn't new to me; it’s just that the explanations I was given were incorrect.

Besides, the vet in question also explained that the drop in neutrophils wasn't worrying, as they are the only leukocytes that can be low without it necessarily being critical.

The rest of the blood chemistry and the full blood count, aside from the neutrophils, are perfect. I was made to panic over nothing, and frankly, I thought it was a bit daft that the nurse described leukocytes as if they were a specific type of white blood cell in their own right... She wasn't exactly on the ball. Mind you, it didn't click with me straight away either; I had to dig out my old textbooks to double-check.

So, to answer your question, the vet thinks there was a lot of worry over very little and that there's no need to redo the blood test unless I feel it's necessary.

Everything else is fine, the results are good, and the pets are doing well, so case closed! 😊

I’ll just get their boosters done by the summer.

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French

17/04/2018, 09:03

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Leukocytes are simply white blood cells, and there are different types depending on the body’s immune response. If the body is fighting a virus, it reacts by producing more lymphocytes; if it’s an allergy, it creates more eosinophils; and if it’s a bacterial infection, it increases the number of neutrophils. "Polynuclear" just means they have multiple nuclei. There are also monocytes, which are white blood cells that act as a sort of clean-up crew. When the system is under a lot of strain, it releases immature blood cells known as "blasts" into the bloodstream—it’s a bit like a general sending raw recruits into battle because they're running out of trained soldiers. Red blood cells and the platelet count are also really important. To interpret blood results properly, you need to look at the whole picture, not just one specific value. It’s up to your vet to explain the blood work to you, definitely not the vet nurse. Before rushing into any major treatment, it might be wise to have a second blood test to confirm the initial results, but that’s a decision for the vet to make.

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French

17/04/2018, 08:15

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You can say that again! I’m so happy! 😊😊😊

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Baabo

17/04/2018, 06:15

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Brilliant! It’s such a relief to find a good vet who explains everything clearly and really puts your mind at ease.