Our family mutt is part dachshund and part anything. She is 10 years old and was diagnosed with ehrlichia less than two months ago and was treated with an antibiotic called doxycycline for 21 days. Apparently this blood parasite that is tick-borne caused her platelets to drop but they started coming back only then to plummet to 0!
We then started her on 14 days of prednisone and the platelets had only come up to 10. They then raised the dosage again and we have still not seen much response. She started looking weaker and we had to rush her in for an infected molar for which she was given Clindamycin, another antibiotic. She is anemic and all of her blood counts are low.
Now she is scheduled next week for a bone marrow aspirate with a specialist. I am writing to ask for your thoughts as to what kind of chances our dog has for recovery. Are we wasting our time and energy? She has been a trouper through it all but would you consider transfusions or more, if at all possible?
By definition, it sounds as if your dog has something called thrombocytopenia, a low platelet count. Platelets are produced in the bone marrow and are necessary to aid in the blood clotting process. Red and white blood cells are also produced there. Dogs or any patient with low platelets runs the risk of easy bleeding or hemorrhaging.
This condition can be brought on by various factors, or multiple factors, such as an autoimmune situation or ehrlichia, which is what your dog is experiencing. A non-regenerative anemia can also result, which can be problematic. It sounds as if the medical advice and care that your dog has received until now has been appropriate. Doxycycline is the antibiotic of choice to treat the ehrlichia and the prednisone was given to try and stimulate the bone marrow. It sounds as if that has not happened yet for your dog. Keep an eye out for signs of bruising or other bleeding.
Unfortunately, your dog’s platelet count is so low that it can be life threatening and the chances for a full recovery may be slight. I am also concerned that all of her other blood values are low.
However, one never knows so stay positive and hope for the best. I would not be surprised if a transfusion may be given before and after the bone marrow aspirate. That procedure should determine a more diagnostic prognosis. Complex bone marrow transplant is possibly considered in cases of lymphoma but not to my knowledge in this type of case. Good luck!
