Cat tests negative, but I'm skeptical. Should I get a second opinion?

Poor Newt! Ultrasounds are wonderful tests that are non-invasive that can give you a ton of information as to what is going on internally. It may be that that is the best next step for her to figure out what is going on. I would also make sure that you have tested her for feline leukemia as well as FIV to rule those out as causes for her anemia. Transfused blood doesn't last as long in the body as the cats normal blood, so it is not uncommon to have the red cell count drop a little. Depending on how her numbers were before and where she is now, it may or may not be a significant drop in her numbers. I am more concerned that she is not feeling well again. I think more tests are warranted to figure out what is going on. However, if you are unable to afford the tests or do not want to pursue the next recommended step, I would talk to your vet about doing a trial of treatments to see if Newt improves based on what your vet thinks is going on. There are risks with this as we often are guessing as to what is going on, but sometimes it is what we have to do. Occasionally we don't get to the bottom of what the underlying cause is exactly, but supportive care can help significantly and these animals will improve. Good luck! I hope Newt starts improving soon!

Much more information would be required in order to make any sense or use of blood results, a summary of what has been concerning you, her signs and symptoms and response to any previous treatment i would be required at a minimum. It is unusual to have a high RBC/HCT (more than normal red blood cells )and low MCH/MCHC (usually found when recovering from anaemia). This may indicate the red blood cell production process is gone wrong and an examination of the cells under a microscope by a specialist pathologist and possible bone marrow biopsy may be required. Occasionally accidental exposure to human medications used to promote blood production can produce similar results

He needs more testing. Just because the blood work is normal does not mean there is nothing underlying. Something is wrong. I suggest x-rays as the next step and maybe an ultrasound of the abdomen.

I know it can be frustrating when the test we run do not always tell us an answer. In the picture her mammary glands are enlarged but this could be due to her being pregnant, having a false pregnancy or even infection in her uterus/ mammary glands. According to her blood work her white blood cells are elevated and she is anemic. I would make sure her uterus is healthy and she does not have any Gastrointestinal parasites. If she truly is 11 months old it is rare for a pyometra (pus filled uterus) to occur but she might of become pregnant/false pregnancy. I would recommend maybe taking her to another vet to get another opinion if she is feeling worse and seems to still be in pain.

It sounds like your vet is suspicious that something may be wrong with Snoopy's spinal cord. Intervertebral disc disease, infections or inflammation around the spinal cord, or cancer would all be possibilities. If a test for FeLV has not been performed and if Snoopy goes outdoors or has never had this test in his life you may want to ask your vet about this - FeLV can cause cancer of the spinal cord that can lead to paralysis. Otherwise it sounds like all diagnostics have probably already been performed and without further testing there may not be much to do other than supportive care. You could ask about referral to a specialist, but that might not be available in your area either.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If blood work was not performed then I would definitely recommend this. If the blood test comes back normal or did come back normal and she is still having issues, I would recommend further diagnostics such as x-rays and / or an abdominal ultrasound. I hope Martha gets better soon! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Kissy. I'm sorry she isn't feeling well! Yes, bloodwork is a logical step if she isn't feeling better. I would take her back into the vet to get it done. I hope this helps!