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

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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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.

Translated from French
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi, During a blood test, they do a full blood count, which means they measure the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The important thing is where the cat sits between the lower and upper normal ranges, which can vary depending on the cat's overall health. A drop in white blood cells points towards a weakened immune system, among other things (like a blood disorder)... whereas a rise is found in cases of inflammation, infection... and also blood disorders! If there's an abscess, the body responds by producing more white blood cells. Lymphocytes and monocytes tell us about what the body is doing (lymphocytes for an immune response, monocytes for an inflammatory or infectious response...). Now, a drop in white blood cells could stem from the bone marrow... a blood disorder... To put your mind at rest, I think you should get in touch with a specialist haematology vet so they can find the cause of this abnormal drop in white blood cells... through more in-depth investigations (serology etc.). Best of luck and keep us posted, thanks! Thanks a lot for your reply, I'll ask my vet about the serology. I'm supposed to be going back for another blood count anyway following the bit of treatment they were given. They are never normally ill and they seem fine, so that's some comfort for now. I'll take the time to talk it through with the vet and we'll see. If the worst comes to the worst, I won't hesitate to go to another practice for a second opinion. (I'm not sure I'll actually find a specialist haematology vet to be honest, I couldn't find anything online in the local area). I'll keep you all updated!
    Translated from French
    Mamiecat
    Mamiecat Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, When they do blood work, they perform a full blood count (FBC), which basically means counting the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The main thing is to see where the cat sits between the upper and lower reference ranges, which can vary depending on the cat’s health. A low white blood cell count points towards a weakened immune system, among other things (like a blood disorder)... while a high count is found in cases of inflammation, infection... and also blood disorders! If there's an abscess, the body responds by producing more white blood cells. Lymphocytes and monocytes tell you about what the body is doing (lymphocytes for an immune response, monocytes for an inflammatory or infectious response). Now, a drop in white blood cells can sometimes originate in the bone marrow... a blood disorder... To put your mind at ease, I think you should get in touch with a specialist haematology vet so they can find the cause of this abnormal drop in white cells through more in-depth investigations (such as serology tests). Hang in there and keep us posted, thank you!
    Translated from French

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