Well, first of all, that platelet count is not that worrisome (or worriesome at all, actually). Most platelet counts result from a machine doing automated tests and do not alert a path review unless that platelet count is indeed what I would call low (less than 50,000)... or dangerously low (less than 25,000). I have even gotten platelet counts back at 15,000 with a comment about clumping platelets that did not warrant an alert. Platelets like to clump and that makes their numbers impossbile to count in automated systems. So those counts wouldn't even be worth mentioning normally and I would not lose sleep over them. You can always have a CBC with platelet count along with a specific path review done if you are still unconvinced. You certainly would not ever see symptoms of bleeding with platelet counts that high... even with counts as low as 20,000 the incidence of bleeding is probably rare, though it could occur more easily with trauma than it would with a normal count. Below that you would probably see problems. If his true count (non-automated) consistently registered below 50,000 to 75,000, then I would persue other diagnostics to see if there is some other disease causing a problem (poisoning, blood parasites, drug reaction, cancer etc.). Lower numbers would be more worrisome and associated with immune diseases, overwhelming infection, inflammation etc. But your dog's counts are no where near these levels. If you still want to follow up on your dog's lab work, an internal medicine specialist is where you would want to go (very commonly available around here, but rare in some areas of the country). Secondly, bladder infections are NOT common in laboradors (or any dogs for that matter at a young age, though they do occur). As a veterianrian for over 26 years now, I think I have seen 2 bladder infections in male lab puppies... one with a ton of bladder stones, too. Female puppies get bladder infections a lot more often (less distance to bladder from the outside world) but still, I would not say it is common, and certainly not more common in labs than other breeds. I asked the vets I worked with (I work at a large hospital in California) and few can think of any lab puppies they have seen with bladder infections (most had never seen a male lab puppy with a bladder infection). But it does happen sometimes (obviously). The diarrhea problems (not spelled diharrhea by the way) have many potential causes, but it sounds like you are on the right tract to having them worked out. They can be very frustrating as there are so many reasons for diarrhea and many require different treatments and not all treatments work. As they mature, most dogs eventually settle down and get over it as long as there is not some glaring problem that has been missed.

Hello Lynn, I guess first thing to ask and I'm sorry I have to do this- can your cat still get to the dracaena? If he still is eating the plant, well there ya go. But I'm sure you've already removed the source of the problem... A routine panel can rule out many metabolic diseases. Did the bloodwork include T4 to rule out hypertyroidism? If not, I'd definately have that included with any additional lab work. There are several other things that can make a cat vomit, feel fine, and have normal bloodwork. Foreign body with partial GI obstruction; he has a history of eating a plant, which isn't entirely digestible. Other obstructions- masses, intussusception (folding of intestines over itself); probably the reason for the radiograph Pancreatitis- cats don't always have routine bloodwork changes with this condition; can do additional blood tests (PLI, TLI) that are more sensitive Food sensitivity/allergy/intolerance GI cancer- usually hard to see with radiographs and sometimes ultrasound doesn't pick it up either, because it tends to be diffuse infiltrative disease, not discrete masses Famotidine causes some people to vomit; it doesn't have much documentation for use in veterinary med, so it's possible the meds are making him vomit Toxins- probably not in an indoor only cat, unless there are other plants within reach Parasites- also unlikely but possible in an adult indoor cat That's just a start. Some things are hard to diagnose. My own Aleksander (husky) had GI cancer, but it wasn't diagnosed until after 3 sets of routine labwork, one test for Addisons, 2 ultrasounds by boarded radiologists, with attempts to aspirate a thickened pyloris, and finally got it diagnosed on endoscopy. All he was doing for the first month was vomiting once a day. Unfortunately vomiting is a very non-specific problem and almost anything can cause a cat to vomit. Sounds like the vet is progressing in a logical manner to me- has history of eating non-food items so look for evidence of that, and continue ruling out other common metabolic diseases just based on his age. I hope he does OK. What's his name?

This is an old thread but I guess I will reply to it. I'm having the same issue with my male ragdoll cat, 11yrs old. All of a sudden he stopped eating and drinking but also kept licking his lips occasionally. I also noticed him being sick quite a bit (yellow liquid with froth) He usually loves lic e lix treats which is yogurt consistency and usually licks it up within seconds but would not have that either. Took him to the vet yesterday, I said I thought it might be a hairball stuck or something but the Nurse felt around the tummy slowly going along and said she can't feel a blockage. Temperature was ok and told me might have picked up a bug although he never gets outside. She gave him an injection and told me if he didn't eat or drink by the morning then to ring up may need bloods doing. Next morning (today) still not eaten or drank water so they told me to bring him in for blood tests. They phoned me about an hour ago saying the tests were pretty boring really, they all came back ok. He has been on a drip for today and told me he can go home today with the canula in his leg and if he eats nothing today again he goes back on drip for another day tomorrow. So this is where I am at with my cat right now, have to pick him up in an hour. I am hoping he eats and he won't have to go back in to stay tomorrow. I just thought I'd write this because others seem to have the same issues. It doesn't help you feel better though when you search the web thinking it could be the worst.

"when the order has come from a specialist, that’s a different story." That has not been my experience at all. A report to an electronic system is a report, without regard to who ordered it or why. Just as the most recent example, I had two special tests ordered "by a specialist" last month and the results went into my regular accessible record, along with the doc's comments, when the analyses were concluded. Last week, I had occasion to see a doc in an area away from where I live. I went to a large group practice. They were able to access my home area medical records, including lab histories, prescriptions, and doc visits, and use these to address my specific complaint. I thought that was really cool and most useful, though I'd printed some of it out and had it with me. The lab reports at this new practice I'd never been to before were similarly available to me when completed through their patient portal. You'd think from these comments I'm either a hypochondriac or in poor health. Neither is the case, I've just had a couple of one-off situations recently. All is well, back to running marathons and climbing Mt Everest (just kidding).