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  Discussion on Anemic mule with elevated GGT, high sodium, low chloride
Author Message
New Member:
jlewis

Posted on Saturday, Jul 3, 2010 - 12:04 pm:

My question is what next steps of diagnostics on blood are most appropriate. I have a mule who is terrified of vets and virtually impossible to medicate. I can get him herbal or pelletized supplements, but anything smacking of medication will cause him to withdraw even from me, and this is not an animal you can fool -- Very smart boy. So my next steps need to consider what they will tell me, what the alternatives are for treatment that might be possible. My vet has made heroic efforts to work with him, but we both agree there are limits to what we can do for him, and we are unlikely to even be able to get another blood sample. So based on the results below, I would like a second opinion on where to go. Thank you so much -- the blood is in the fridge awaiting my decision....

I have a 20+ year old mule, never sick a day in his life, now has spondylosis and the expected symptoms from that only recently appearing to cause him some discomfort. He has always been terrified of vets, but through heroic efforts we did manage to get a blood panel on him yesterday. In addition to the expected inflammation from his spine and expected increase in WBCs, he also is anemic with elevated GGT and sodium, low chloride. Blood abnormalities were
RBCs - 3.4 (L)
HCT - 18.8% (L) (20% on manual recheck)
HGB - 7.5 (L)
MCH - 22.2 (H)
MCHC - out of reportable range
WBC - 15.18 (H)
neu - 13.15 (H)
baso - 0.07 (H)
lym - 1.30 (L)
GGT - 127 (H)
TP - 8.3 (H), but normal on 2nd check at 7.4
GLOB - 6.0 (H)
Na - 170 (h)
Cl - 93 (l)
Member:
cheryl

Posted on Sunday, Jul 4, 2010 - 9:18 am:

Have you ever thought about using Clicker Training to get his past his fears? IME CT is the quickest and easiest way to deal with fears - works super fast and is totally stress free. Just a thought.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 5, 2010 - 9:44 am:

Welcome ancheta,
Like Cheryl above, I think your next step is to train this mule so a proper exam and if a diagnosis is found appropriate treatment can be instituted. Until this is done it seems this is an exercise in futility. For rapid training I recommend: HorseAdvice.com » Training & Conditioning Horses » Behavior and Training » Modifying a Horses Behavior: Conditioned Responses.

Your tests so far indicate a moderately severe anemia and insult to the liver. Just from the information in your post it is hard to know if they are part of the same disease process or one secondary to the other. As for further testing there are many, many possibilities. If you would like to look at lists of diagnostic possibilities, many of which can be tested for, see these two articles:
  • HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Mouth, Esophagus, and Liver » Liver Disease and Failure
  • HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Cardiovascular, Blood, and Immune System » The Diagnosis of Anemia

Perhaps more helpful that the lab findings would be a complete history including what physical findings the veterinarian has been able to get. Did this disease process started with a febrile episode?
DrO
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