Low neutrophils?

[labstuff444]

I just recently had labs done on my 4 year old cat. She's also spayed.
They were all very normal aside from her neutrophil count. She was around 1800. She is FeLV and FIV negative. So the vet doesn't seem terribly concerned.

What can this mean? And is it semi common or likely to cause future issues? The vet seemed to just think it should be casually monitored.

 

[FeralHearts]

I just recently had labs done on my 4 year old cat. She's also spayed.
They were all very normal aside from her neutrophil count. She was around 1800. She is FeLV and FIV negative. So the vet doesn't seem terribly concerned.

What can this mean? And is it semi common or likely to cause future issues? The vet seemed to just think it should be casually monitored.

I'm not a vet - I'll start with that

What I've learned over the years is that the neutrophil count, like other things, is read along side of other results for it to have real meaning.

Three of my feral - all sisters - all have low Neutrophils. They always have. My vet says it's just what's normal for them. Like of like people, what's low for you, might be my normal. Though everytime I see that on their blood work - like you - I worry. No matter how many times they remind me that this might be their "normal".

They check them every year and casually watch. They are all 10 as of May of this year and also FeLV and FIV negative.

I hope that helps a bit :-)

 

[labstuff444]

I'm not a vet - I'll start with that

What I've learned over the years is that the neutrophil count, like other things, is read along side of other results for it to have real meaning.

Three of my feral - all sisters - all have low Neutrophils. They always have. My vet says it's just what's normal for them. Like of like people, what's low for you, might be my normal. Though everytime I see that on their blood work - like you - I worry. No matter how many times they remind me that this might be their "normal".

They check them every year and casually watch. They are all 10 as of May of this year and also FeLV and FIV negative.

I hope that helps a bit :-)

This does make me feel better. Especially to hear that they're 10 and thriving. I guess we all have our own normal! It's just a little scary. Especially after she tossed the FIV FeLV words out. But very thankfully not the case.
She is also a feral. But one I got as a kitten. So it's always hard to know their entire history. Even if they were just babies when we got them.
I love that you have THREE sisters. That's so cute.

 

[labstuff444]

Fun update if anyone sees this and is curious...

Saw another vet specialist (unrelated to the labs) who is very experienced in the field and he told me it's common and non concerning particularly in indoor cats. Less general exposure than outdoor kitties get to boost those levels.

 

[ellen m]

That's a perfectly safe neutrophil level for a cat. Some cats are just on the low side. Not to worry!

 

[FeralHearts]

This does make me feel better. Especially to hear that they're 10 and thriving. I guess we all have our own normal! It's just a little scary. Especially after she tossed the FIV FeLV words out. But very thankfully not the case.
She is also a feral. But one I got as a kitten. So it's always hard to know their entire history. Even if they were just babies when we got them.

I'm so glad that made you feel better.

It is very scary for us to read those and think "why is this low, why is that there, what's going on!" Sadly, I've been there too, done that, wrote the panic book 1 and 2. (and I think I've writing book 3 as well lol)

Over time I don't think that ever goes away - but we slowly start to learn a bit more here and there. Knowledge helps ease that a bit. We worry out of a deep love and thankfully the people here understand that and probably no one else in the world unless they know the love of a wee creature.

In other words, you are sane and perfectly normal to worry and care! :-) :-)

Edit: One of the nice things too is that when you share these things here, someone else some day will come searching as they might have those same worries... and now you've helped them to feel better about it too.

I love that you have THREE sisters. That's so cute.

Thank you. I call them Charlie's Angels. Charlie is the male original resident kitty, and the three girls are his angels.

Fun update if anyone sees this and is curious...

Saw another vet specialist (unrelated to the labs) who is very experienced in the field and he told me it's common and non concerning particularly in indoor cats. Less general exposure than outdoor kitties get to boost those levels.

Sharing like this above

That is cool to learn!

 

[labstuff444]

I'm so glad that made you feel better.

It is very scary for us to read those and think "why is this low, why is that there, what's going on!" Sadly, I've been there too, done that, wrote the panic book 1 and 2. (and I think I've writing book 3 as well lol)

Over time I don't think that ever goes away - but we slowly start to learn a bit more here and there. Knowledge helps ease that a bit. We worry out of a deep love and thankfully the people here understand that and probably no one else in the world unless they know the love of a wee creature.

In other words, you are sane and perfectly normal to worry and care! :-) :-)

Edit: One of the nice things too is that when you share these things here, someone else some day will come searching as they might have those same worries... and now you've helped them to feel better about it too.



Thank you. I call them Charlie's Angels. Charlie is the male original resident kitty, and the three girls are his angels.




Sharing like this above

That is cool to learn!

Thank you!

And yes! Thats why I updated. Because maybe someone will be searching on this thread and find it and feel some relief as well.

 

[TeaMatcha]

My cat have low Neutrophils too Her RBC is high but doc ruled it as dehydration as she's vomited. Everything seems normal, pancreas normal as well. Her low platelet that's shown on the attached blood test results is an error, the doc rechecked it yesterday and it's normal level. So, we ain't sure why she vomited partially undigested kibbles yesterday. Doc says as she is pooping, it shouldn't be a blockage. Doc gave her an anti nausea medication and says to come back in three months time to recheck on her neutrophils. She did a blood test on this year June and her neutrophils is normal. Her last year annual blood test shows that her neutrophils is mildly low but another doc ruled it out as normal since her other blood test seems normal.

Should I be concern about her low neutrophils? Doc says that it could be some inflammation in her guts that cause her to feel indigestion that caused the vomiting.

 

[labstuff444]

My cat have low Neutrophils too Her RBC is high but doc ruled it as dehydration as she's vomited. Everything seems normal, pancreas normal as well. Her low platelet that's shown on the attached blood test results is an error, the doc rechecked it yesterday and it's normal level. So, we ain't sure why she vomited partially undigested kibbles yesterday. Doc says as she is pooping, it shouldn't be a blockage. Doc gave her an anti nausea medication and says to come back in three months time to recheck on her neutrophils. She did a blood test on this year June and her neutrophils is normal. Her last year annual blood test shows that her neutrophils is mildly low but another doc ruled it out as normal since her other blood test seems normal.

Should I be concern about her low neutrophils? Doc says that it could be some inflammation in her guts that cause her to feel indigestion that caused the vomiting.

I don't know your entire situation, but those neutrophils are slightly higher than my cat's who the vet said not to worry about. So I don't think they are of concern unless they've dropped suddenly and this is your cat's "low"