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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Docline

16/04/2018, 20:15

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Phew, what a joy, eh?

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French

16/04/2018, 17:30

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I’m back with some good news. I spoke to one of the vets at the practice about those results, which had been described as worrying since they were outside the normal range; I'd even been given a course of treatment and told to come back for another blood test. The vet went through the tests with me, and it turns out it’s the neutrophil count that is low. Since I was terrified it might be the lymphocytes, that’s the first bit of "good news". She then told me that, in her opinion, there is no cause for concern—it could simply be down to their age, and the most important thing is to focus on the cat’s actual behaviour. I got a whole talk on "what is actually worrying and what isn't", which made my own anxieties feel a bit unfounded. She also explained that you have to take average ranges with a pinch of salt and look at them logically, based on age, breed, weight, etc. (which I completely agree with). She seemed surprised that any treatment had been prescribed for it in the first place. Last time, I’d been seen by a vet nurse who thought the results were strange and did a FeLV test to rule out the biggest concern. Anyway, the way the results were presented was completely different this time. I can carry on giving them vitamins if I want to, and if I really felt it was necessary, I could redo the blood test in June, but she said it would be of little use. So, that’s put my mind at ease quite a bit—it wasn't FeLV, and it’s definitely not FIV ^^ It just goes to show how much things can vary depending on who is interpreting the results!

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Baabo

16/04/2018, 12:00

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Oh, that's great news that you're seeing the vet this evening. Don't hesitate to ask them all your questions if you're having so many doubts; I'm sure they'll be able to put your mind at rest. I'd imagine that if they had the slightest concern about a serious condition, they would have already run further tests ;)

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French

16/04/2018, 11:49

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Whenever I’m feeling a bit run down, I take a course of magnesium chloride (it’s meant to boost your white blood cells). I have a glass in the morning—it’s absolutely revolting—and when it’s for my dog, I pour a dose based on his weight over his wet food (about a quarter of a glass for 33 lbs, or just over 2 stone). The dog isn’t bothered by the vile taste; he actually seems to quite enjoy it! I’ve never tried it with a cat, though.

I’ll keep that in mind for the future once I know a bit more! Thanks :)

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French

16/04/2018, 11:47

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Hi Tindomiel ;)

My cat also had a low white blood cell count recently. Did they do a blood film as well as the full blood count (where they put a drop of blood on a slide to study the different types of white blood cells)?

Have they had a bit of a cold (runny eyes, sore throat)? A minor viral infection often causes the white blood cell count to drop.

Then again, since they already had low levels 4 years ago, maybe that’s just their normal? I mean, maybe they’ve always just had a naturally lower-than-average count?

I don't want to second-guess your vet or their lab, but if both cats have low levels, is it possible their machine was on the blink that day?

Do you happen to have the total white blood cell count by any chance?

I'm from Switzerland too ;) They also speak French at the Tierspital (at least in my experience ;)

Hi there! :)

Thanks for your message!

The difference between four years ago and now is that they were low back then, but still within the "normal" range. At the bottom end, basically. Now they’re actually below it, but that’s exactly why I’m a bit skeptical because it doesn't reflect how they are at all. They’re full of life—running around, playing, they've got lovely coats, they’re eating well, and they’ve still got their usual feisty attitude. They’re a world away from the lethargic state you’d expect from a weak cat.

I did wonder if they might just have a low count naturally, but that doesn't explain the drop from the results 4 years ago. Unless it’s just down to age 🤔

They’re never ill; the only times they’ve ever had problems was an abscess for one of them after a scrap, and some sneezing for the other after sleeping in a draught at the end of summer (that happens nearly every other year). No runny eyes, no loss of appetite, or anything weird or alarming.

And thanks for the tip about the Tierspital :) I’ll look into it!!

I’m seeing my vet again this evening, so I’ll bring it up and ask for a print-out of the latest results so I can figure out what to do next!

I’ll be back with an update soon 😊

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Baabo

16/04/2018, 08:58

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Hi Tindomiel ;) My cat also had a low white blood cell count recently. Did they do a blood smear in addition to the blood count? (That’s where they put a drop of blood on a slide to look at the white cell differential.) Have they had a bit of a cold or cat flu lately (runny eyes, sore throat)? A minor viral infection often causes the white blood cell count to drop. Mind you, since they already had low levels four years ago, maybe it’s just normal for them?! I mean, perhaps their levels are always naturally a bit below the average? I don’t want to question your vet or their lab, but if both cats have low counts, is it possible their machine was playing up that day? Do you happen to have the total white blood cell figures by any chance? I’m from Switzerland too ;) They speak French at the veterinary teaching hospital as well (at least in my experience ;)

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Docline

16/04/2018, 00:10

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Whenever I’m feeling a bit run down, I have a quick course of magnesium chloride (which is meant to stimulate white blood cells). I drink a glass in the morning—it’s absolutely foul—and for my dog, I pour the right dose for his weight over his wet food (about a quarter of a glass for roughly 33 lbs, or 2 stone 5). He isn’t bothered by the vile taste at all; he actually seems to quite enjoy it. I’ve never tried it with a cat, though.

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French

15/04/2018, 22:31

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You can contact the veterinary council in your area to find a specialist vet!

I live in Switzerland, so the vet system isn't the same unfortunately, and you also have to factor in the German language if you want to go to an animal hospital (like the Tierspital in Bern) and so on. I’ll have to do some research first to see if there’s a solution!

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