Low platelet count

[Bonnie and Kona]

Owen and Kona have both been in the vet hospital for IV fluids twice this month for what appeared to be flu-like symptoms. This past week they both had a fever as well and had to get IV fluids for 24 hours. They came home with antibiotics. Kona seems just fine now. Owen showed a low blood platelet count. I don't know how low. (Kona did not have this symptom.)

The vet asked if he has had ticks. Neither has ever had a tick on them. 

They checked for pancreatitis in Owen but that wasn't it. I asked the vet why this would be and she said it was very strange for such a young dog to have low platelets (3 years old). He came home last night, and we are taking him back tonight for another blood draw. He has been lethargic all day but is keeping his food and water down. 

When I looked online for information it seemed the tick born disease and cancer were the most likely culprits. 

Anyone have any other ideas? Thank you. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sorry to hear this Bonnie. I hope they find a simple explanation for it.

I would not look up symptoms on-line, for your sanity. Almost any symptom could be that of a dreadful disease, or it could be something very minor. Let's choose to believe it's something very minor unless the vet tells you otherwise. I'll be sending positive thoughts for a good outcome. :)

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you, Karen. Owen belongs to my DD but lives with us. I haven't told her what I found on the internet. I will wait for more information from the vet. We will see her tonight. Owen just is not himself. 

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Bonnie. I know they have been playing in the ocean quite a bit now that you've moved. Could it possibly have anything to do with ingesting sea water, sand? Just a thought.....

[Bonnie and Kona]

I don't know but I will ask the vet tonight. Thanks, Carla. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree with Karen in all she said. Hoping for the best. Thrombocytopenia is caused by many things and I am sure your vet knows of the idiopathic kind that Mrcey mentioned.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I looked up the posts about Bob's Sophie and Owen does not have bleeding gums or spots on his skin. I imagine his platelets were not nearly so low as Sophie's. He is so lethargic and that is really surprising considering his very bouncy personality. 

[Marcey Peyser Friedman]

There is another doodle that had this same issue. Her name is sophie. If you go to the Bucks county doodle group and email Bob Johnson he can tell you what happened with Sophie. I know she is now fine..she had ITP..thrombocytopenia that was treated w steroids. But if you email him you will get more info.

good luck marcey

[Bonnie and Kona]

I will look for Bob Johnson. Thank you, Marcey. I looked up low platelet before posting and saw that some other doodle had this trouble and was put on steroids in 2010. They haven't put Owen on steroids…just two different antibiotics: Cephalexon and Metronidazole. 

[Phyllis & Duffy]

I haven't been on this site for quite a while and was looking for something else when I saw your posts.  My Duffy has thrombocytopenia.  That may have been us that you read about in 2010.  He literally bled out and was on all kinds of stuff.  He had several blood transfusions and was at deaths door.  He pulled through and is doing great.  We take him once a year for a complete blood count and I pretty much check him every day for any evidence.  He is still on prednisone every other day and will remain on it for the rest of his life.  I was logging on as now he has cysts so I was looking to see if anyone has dealt with that.  Hope Owen is doing well.  I have not read all the posts on here. 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you for your well wishes, Phyllis. I'm so sorry Duffy had such a frightening ordeal to go through. Owen seems significantly better today. I think his latest bout of vomiting was due to the antibiotics on an empty stomach. ugh. 

I hope Duffy continues to do well. I'm sorry he is having cysts. My older doodle, Kona, has lots of them and he is only 6. All of them are fatty tumors… the vet assures us they are nothing to worry about. Has your vet taken a needle biopsy?  :(

[Phyllis & Duffy]

I am probably taking  him today.  He had this scabby thing a couple weeks ago and I took him to the vet and was told it was a cyst that burst.  Now he has another one on his leg.  I noticed him licking and licking and then it was all bloody.  We cleaned it with water and Duffy let my husband really look at it. Seems better this morning.  I just want to be sure it is nothing to worry about as I freak out every time Duffy looks at me funny.  I'm sure you know that look.  I am glad Owen is better.   Did your vet recommend an antacid for his stomach?  Duffy was on that too.  Thanks for responding.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Oh, they are rupturing? Kona's are all intact. Our Golden Retriever had the kind that would burst. I hope Duffy heals quickly These sweet doodles can break your heart.