need help training my first grey hound

Hi Darren,

First of all we need to divide the situation into separate items to make it easier to try and find either solutions or other avenues of finding out exactly why the blood count is what it is.

I for one do not believe for one moment that the blood count is low because the dog is not chasing hard enough. This type of mistaken belief by some people comes about because as greyhounds work extremely hard they tend to stress, and this causes varying degrees of dehydration which unfortunately is not noted, and then the blood count (htc / pcv) is higher when next checked. So instead of treating the greyhound for dehydration it is declared spot on with the assumption being made that the hard work has improved the blood count.

There has to be a medical reason for the lower blood count, and unfortunately the limited blood profile you had done does not provide enough information about the greyhounds true health. For instance there is no info about liver or kidney function, nor is there any information about enzymes that are released as a result of muscle function.

So to get a better look at the state of the greyhounds health you need a full racing blood profile done, but unfortunately they do not come cheap.

The next item is the statement that the greyhounds has no injuries of any sort. Again I find it hard to comprehend that any greyhound running behind a drag lure twice a week for a couple of months would not sustain any injuries at all. Then coupled with the fact that the greyhound has had at least 4 trails behind a lure on a race style track, has lost speed during this time and still has no injuries.

My advice at this stage with the information you have provided is to go and see another specialist greyhound Vet, have a full blood profile done, and the greyhound rechecked for injuries.

Cheers,
Tom

Tom can you recommend any person to check the dog for injuries as I am only new to the sport I don't know to many people in the industry thank you.

Hi tom  took my bitch to the vet and had her checked,i was told apart for tightness in the hamstrings she was fine.I also got a full blood test done and these are the results.          
HAEMATOLOGY
RED CELL COUNT              7.55
HAEMOGLOBIN                 192
HCT                                 0.56
MCV                                74
MCH                                26.0
MCHC                              346

W.C.C.        %                 6.7
NEUTRO      76                5.1
LYMPH        16                1.1
MONO         8                 0.5
EOSIN         0                 0.0
BASO          0                 0.0

BIOCHEMISTRY
ALK.PHOSPH                   46
ALT                                49
AST (SGOT)                    47
CK                                 272
TOTOL PROTEIN              53
ALBUMIN                        32
GLOBULINS                    21
PHOSPHATE                   1.14
SODIUM                        147
POTASSIUM                   4.8
CHLORIDE                     114
BICARBONATE               30
ANION   GAP                 8
CALCIUM                       2.24
GLUCOSE                      4.5
CHOLESTEROL               2.6
UREA                            7.3
MAGNESIUM                 0.8
CREATININE                  119
BILI.TOTAL                    2
TOTAL  T4                     6.6

SERUM INDICES (CLEAR/+/++/+++/++++)
ICTERUS    INDEX          CLEAR
LIPAEMIA   INDEX         CLEAR
HAEMOLYSIS INDEX +

Tom i was told apart from a slight infection she was fine. Can you please tell me what to do to get her completely healthy again.THANK YOU

Thanks Tom and I will look at Blood Profile Interpretation and compare.Tom can I please have your contact number to talk over the phone.

Hi Darren,

Red Cell Count ........ 7.55 - too low - indicates low level anaemia
Haemoglobin ........... 192 - too low - indicates low level anaemia
HCT ................... 0.56 - too low - indicates low level anaemia

Keep in mind when looking at a blood profile that indicates a problem with anaemia, and the greyhound is on a good diet with a sufficient iron intake, that it is the EPO produced by the kidneys that is the primary stimulant for new red blood cel production. If for some reason the kidneys are under stress, such as a low grade infection, this does affect red blood cell count.

MCV .................... 74 - on the high side of the preferred level - indicates Folic Acid/B12 deficiency
MCH .................... 26.0 - fraction high - indicates that iron intake is good but low in Folic Acid/B12.
MCHC ................... 34.6 - on the low end of the scale and because MCH is a fraction high it may indicate a low grade infection in the liver or kidneys.

WCC .................... 6.7 - on the high side and may indicate an infection.
Neutrophils ............ 5.1 - too high and indicates a bacterial infection.
Lymphocytes ............ 1.1 - out of balance with Neutrophils and confirms a bacterial infection.
Monocytes .............. 0.5 - on the high side of the preferred level and confirms an infection.
Eosinophils ............ 0.0 - good - indicates that there are no allergic reactions or worm problems.
Basophils .............. 0.0 - OK

Alk Phos ............... 46 - OK
ALT .................... 49 - while within acceptable levels I would have preferred this at the lower end of the range and may indicate ongoing low level liver damage.
Keep in mind that low level liver damage may occur as a result of a greyhound with anaemia undergoing strenuous exercise.
AST .................... 47 - too high and found in various organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart, and muscle tissue, and is released into the blood if damage occurs in any of those areas.
CK ..................... 227 - within the preferred range but at the higher end, and therefore does indicate that there is some muscle damage.

Total Protein .......... 53 - OK
Albumin ................ 32 - on the high end of the scale and my indicate slight dehydration.
Globulins .............. 21 - lower than preferred and may indicate the immune system is not as robust as it should be and may require a treatment to boost immune function.

Phosphate .............. 1.14 - OK
Sodium ................. 147 - OK
Potassium .............. 4.8 - OK
Chloride ............... 114 - fraction high - but not enough to cause concerns.
Bicarbonate ............ 30 - fraction high - but not enough to cause concerns.
Anion Gap .............. 8 -
Calcium ................ 2.24 - fraction low and indicates an increase in dietary calcium is required.

Glucose ................ 4.5 - on the low end of the scale and may indicate that an increase in carbohydrate/fat in the diet is required.
Cholesterol ............ 2.6 - too low and indicates not enough animal fat in the diet.

Urea ................... 7.3 - OK
Magnesium .............. 0.8 - at the low end of the range and a slight increase in dietary magnesium is indicated.
Creatinine ............. 119 - OK
Bilirubin .............. 2 - OK
Total T4 ............... 6.6 - OK

Basic conclusions are that the greyhound would benefit from a 7 day course of broad spectrum antibiotics.
Requires a course of Folic/B12 and B complex injections.
Requires an increase of animal fat in the diet as it would appear that the current meat portion of the diet is too lean.
Would benefit from a treatment to stimulate immune system function, and an increase of magnesium in the diet.

Cheers,
Tom

Hi. Darren,

Have a thorough read of the Guide to Interpreting Analytical Blood Profiles I posted, as it lists a treatment for a depressed immune system.

Cheers,
Tom

Sorry mate but I am at a loss as to what to suggest.
I find it difficult to understand just how a greyhound can get so severely anaemic without some severe cause. There may not be an infection but something has caused such severe anaemia and the reason for this happening should be found and sorted.
The treatment will help by providing the ingredient necessary to build the blood back up but I would not be racing this greyhound until the blood was back to at least 58%, and it takes 21 days for a red blood cell to mature so be prepared to give the dog possibly as long as a four week spell after completing the blood boosting treatment before the anaemia is likely to come good.

Cheers,
Tom

Hi George,

Mate we both know that there is no way a greyhound can lose time from breaking-in to getting ready to race unless it either has an undiagnosed injury, or an illness.

Now when a greyhound looks well and healthy it is unlikely that it is suffering an illness severe enough to lose lengths, but unfortunately having a blood profile done is the only way you can be absolutely certain.
If however the blood test shows no anaemia or infection you will have to accept that there is an undiagnosed injury.
Let me know how you go as I am interested to find out as to what is causing the loss of speed.

Cheers,
Tom

Hi Rob,

While it is unlikely, first of all check and make sure the dogs belly isn't blown up as in bloat. If it is get him to a Vet as a matter of extreme urgency as this is an indication of a twisted bowl, and unfortunately if this is not relieved immediately there is every chance of losing the dog.

This can occur for a number of reasons mostly due to falling or suddenly twisting and loosing balance, but it may on a rare occasion be due to a greyhound scoffing it's food, particularly if it is a large quantity, and dry instead of moist.

As far as other reasons for a greyhound to yelp during or after eating this is still generally associated with a the way they tend to inhale their food instead of eating it slowly, as this can cause a painful spasm in the muscles surrounding the stomach.

If there are no further after effects don't worry about it just ensure that the dogs food is moist or even sloppy from here on in as the extra fluid does no harm and it does force them to eat a little slower rather than just taking large mouthfuls and chucking it down.

Cheers,
Tom