Help Interpreting Blood Test Results

[joyfulrose]

Hi all,
If there are any experts or anyone here who is good at understanding blood tests results I would really appreciate any thoughts or opinions you might have.
I had a cat pass away 3 months ago and I have been really struggling & feeling horrible about it because we were never able to figure out exactly what was wrong. I have seen many vets and was told many different things- CKD, Pancreatitis, Cancer, and FIP (3 out of the 6 vets highly suspected she had wet fip) I was told she was dying and there was nothing they could do to save her.
If anyone has had a cat with wet FIP or Cancer and is familiar with blood test results I would greatly appreciate any information you can give me. Thank you.

Blood Test Results (March 2018)-

Blood Test Results (November 2018)-

Urinalysis Results (December 2018)-

 

[joyfulrose]

please does anyone have any input

 

[PushPurrCatPaws]

Hi joyfulrose !

I think what's hard is that probably only qualified vets can interpret blood test results and also, come up with diagnosis with what might have been wrong with a kitty. As site members here, we are not supposed to "diagnose" other people's kitties (About Providing Medical Advice on this Board) and so that might make someone a bit hesitant to do so.

I or others might see similar things in another cat's bloodwork that we saw in our cat's blood work, so we can talk about our own cat's bloodwork or issues, but that might be the best we can do?

I know how difficult it is to not know for certain, in a 100% concrete way, what your cat may have been sick with but, unfortunately, it was probably the many vets who saw your kitty last who might have best known of her possible health situation and issues.

I know I myself have often tried going to some various web sites like
Your Dog Or Cat 's Blood Chemistry Panel
among others, to try to read up on the topic of interpreting blood tests... but vets and vet nurses and techs have a lot more experience and wisdom with this than I do.

My heart really goes out to you, I wish I could hug your pain away

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. I am so sorry about your kittie. I can read/understand some of the test results, but even so, to me, it does not confirm a specific diagnosis.

March 2018: The BUN/Creatinine levels would appear to be related to kidney issues. (March 2018) These were in the normal range in the latter report.

The Precision PSL being high would indicate some sort of inflammation/issue with the pancreas/liver/intestines. (March 2018)

Both test results show high white blood cell counts (WBC, neutrophils, euosinophils, etc.) which would indicate an infection somewhere in the body.

The latter report also showed low red blood cell counts (think anemia, but that is just one example of a cause).

The low T3 counts usually indicate a thyroid issue (e.g.; hypothyroidism)

So, as you can see there were many things going on. Were they all related to one illness or were several illnesses going on - I don't know. Any one of the possible causes the vet suggested seem like they could be valid as potential diseases.

I am sure I have been of no help. But, I just wanted to tell you what I could interpret about each abnormal reading - but, how they all interacted with each other and what exactly the real illness(es) were, is something that only a vet or medical expert could accurately speculate on.

 

[di and bob]

There are just too many things it could be, i'm sorry. Deciphering lab tests is not diagnosing, putting everything together and coming up with what is wrong, is. all lab test values individually usually point to the same thing. It takes aexpert to come up with the diagnosis from all of it together. High BUN and WBC can indicate heart failure and infection, and the low T3 means she may have had hypothyroidism. The low hematocrit and hemoglobin means her Red Blood Cells were not able to carry enough oxygen. Maybe heart failure again. She also had signs of extreme inflammation and pancreatis. What I would do is to bring it in to a feline specialist, mail a copy to them, or see another vet and have them decipher it. They all add up to tell a story. Just ask them to give their opinion, you are just trying to find answers. I pray you find answers that bring you peace. Please come back and tell us what you find. Continue to add a small post at times to bring this post back to the top, sometimes it takes a while for the RIGHT people to see it! all the luck!

 

[joyfulrose]

Hi joyfulrose !

I think what's hard is that probably only qualified vets can interpret blood test results and also, come up with diagnosis with what might have been wrong with a kitty. As site members here, we are not supposed to "diagnose" other people's kitties (About Providing Medical Advice on this Board) and so that might make someone a bit hesitant to do so.

I or others might see similar things in another cat's bloodwork that we saw in our cat's blood work, so we can talk about our own cat's bloodwork or issues, but that might be the best we can do?

I know how difficult it is to not know for certain, in a 100% concrete way, what your cat may have been sick with but, unfortunately, it was probably the many vets who saw your kitty last who might have best known of her possible health situation and issues.

I know I myself have often tried going to some various web sites like
Your Dog Or Cat 's Blood Chemistry Panel
among others, to try to read up on the topic of interpreting blood tests... but vets and vet nurses and techs have a lot more experience and wisdom with this than I do.

My heart really goes out to you, I wish I could hug your pain away

I completely understand that. I was never asking anyone to diagnose my kitty, sorry if my post wasn't clear. I know that only a vet can properly diagnose my cat. All I was asking was if someone here has had a cat who had one of these illnesses and showed similar blood work results, that's all. I guess I'm just looking to find some closure that we made the right decision. I'm sorry if my post was confusing.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Your post was not confusing. It was that of a distraught, confused parent - and, who wouldn't be??? Just as happens with humans, sometimes the actual cause(s) are never determined. It just leaves us wondering, and makes the grief harder.

You have to focus on what you had with your kitty and remember even if they are no longer physically by your side, they are always near you in your heart.

Did you post about your kitty (name and pics) in the Crossing The Bridge section? If so, let us know you did and tell us the Thread Title so we can see it. If you did not, and you want to, please do so. That is where so many members post to give homage to their babies who are no longer with us. They all deserve it, including yours.

 

[joyfulrose]

Hi. I am so sorry about your kittie. I can read/understand some of the test results, but even so, to me, it does not confirm a specific diagnosis.

March 2018: The BUN/Creatinine levels would appear to be related to kidney issues. (March 2018) These were in the normal range in the latter report.

The Precision PSL being high would indicate some sort of inflammation/issue with the pancreas/liver/intestines. (March 2018)

Both test results show high white blood cell counts (WBC, neutrophils, euosinophils, etc.) which would indicate an infection somewhere in the body.

The latter report also showed low red blood cell counts (think anemia, but that is just one example of a cause).

The low T3 counts usually indicate a thyroid issue (e.g.; hypothyroidism)

So, as you can see there were many things going on. Were they all related to one illness or were several illnesses going on - I don't know. Any one of the possible causes the vet suggested seem like they could be valid as potential diseases.

I am sure I have been of no help. But, I just wanted to tell you what I could interpret about each abnormal reading - but, how they all interacted with each other and what exactly the real illness(es) were, is something that only a vet or medical expert could accurately speculate on.

Thank you. Everything you said was what I already knew and was told by the previous vets we had seen except for the low T3 being a possibility she could have hyperthyroidism. I was actually told that she didn't have hyperthyroidism by two of the vets we saw.. I had asked them specifically if she could have that because I always worried that she did with how much water she was drinking but they told me she didn't. I guess I see now how difficult it was for the vets to give me a clear and proper diagnosis without doing further testing. As you said, it could have all been related to one illness or several that were going on at the same time.
I'm sorry to ask, but i remember you said you had a cat pass away from FIP. Tawny, I believe? Did you see any similarities in Tawny's bloodwork? In the end the ER vets said they highly suspected FIP or cancer, I guess I just wish I knew if they were right. But I know I will probably never find the answers I'm looking for.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Tawny's bloodwork was a mess. That is all I remember. Everything was failing. And, I am sure it didn't help that we had his belly drained 3 times before we could deal with the 'inevitable'. I no longer have the results - disposed of them shortly after he was cremated and given back to me. Just so you know, it was a long time ago - Tawny passed away in 1991. It was a horrific time, and I still look at his pics frequently, but with much more glad memories now.

 

[joyfulrose]

There are just too many things it could be, i'm sorry. Deciphering lab tests is not diagnosing, putting everything together and coming up with what is wrong, is. all lab test values individually usually point to the same thing. It takes aexpert to come up with the diagnosis from all of it together. High BUN and WBC can indicate heart failure and infection, and the low T3 means she may have had hypothyroidism. The low hematocrit and hemoglobin means her Red Blood Cells were not able to carry enough oxygen. Maybe heart failure again. She also had signs of extreme inflammation and pancreatis. What I would do is to bring it in to a feline specialist, mail a copy to them, or see another vet and have them decipher it. They all add up to tell a story. Just ask them to give their opinion, you are just trying to find answers. I pray you find answers that bring you peace. Please come back and tell us what you find. Continue to add a small post at times to bring this post back to the top, sometimes it takes a while for the RIGHT people to see it! all the luck!

Thank you. It's just been really difficult to come to terms with it, especially when there were so many things it could have been. That really scares me even more because then I wonder if there was a possibility it could have been treated. But i was told there was nothing they could do and that she was dying, I hope they were right.
I think I will do as you said, try to find a feline specialist and see what their opinion might be. I will let you guys know what they say. Thank you again, i appreciate everyone sharing their thoughts and opinions.

 

[joyfulrose]

Tawny's bloodwork was a mess. That is all I remember. Everything was failing. And, I am sure it didn't help that we had his belly drained 3 times before we could deal with the 'inevitable'. I no longer have the results - disposed of them shortly after he was cremated and given back to me. Just so you know, it was a long time ago - Tawny passed away in 1991. It was a horrific time, and I still look at his pics frequently, but with much more glad memories now.

Oh.. I'm really sorry about Tawny <3

 

[FeebysOwner]

Thanks. It is what it is, you know? He was a sweetheart and even sat with me on the couch at night to watch TV with me, and eat popcorn. OK, he probably was there for the popcorn not the TV, but who cares! The only one of my cats who have yet to eat popcorn. When time passes, these types of things are what you will want to remember and cherish.

 

[joyfulrose]

Your post was not confusing. It was that of a distraught, confused parent - and, who wouldn't be??? Just as happens with humans, sometimes the actual cause(s) are never determined. It just leaves us wondering, and makes the grief harder.

You have to focus on what you had with your kitty and remember even if they are no longer physically by your side, they are always near you in your heart.

Did you post about your kitty (name and pics) in the Crossing The Bridge section? If so, let us know you did and tell us the Thread Title so we can see it. If you did not, and you want to, please do so. That is where so many members post to give homage to their babies who are no longer with us. They all deserve it, including yours.

Yes, I did post about my baby in the Crossing The Bridge section. You can find my thread here if you're interested (I do apologize though, I have been a mess since losing her)

 

[FeebysOwner]

Thanks for that. I will definitely visit your Crossing The Bridge post.

 

[di and bob]

Don't apologize for trying to get some closure. I remember those first dark weeks and how painful they were. The only sad thing is it doesn't change anything, no matter what you find out it still hurts so much. Whatever she had was bad enough to take her life, I really think it was just too much for her all at once. My heart breaks for that sweet little girl and for you, who is left behind .....

 

[joyfulrose]

Don't apologize for trying to get some closure. I remember those first dark weeks and how painful they were. The only sad thing is it doesn't change anything, no matter what you find out it still hurts so much. Whatever she had was bad enough to take her life, I really think it was just too much for her all at once. My heart breaks for that sweet little girl and for you, who is left behind .....

 

[joyfulrose]

It's been a few months now and I still wonder and still have questions that I realize I will probably never find the answers to. I really just wish I knew for sure. Or at least wish I knew that this was truly something that could not have been cured as the Er vets told me. Every vet I have asked after my baby passed always told me "cancer or fip" if they had to guess.

I still wonder though, did any of you who had cats with these illnesses show similarities in the blood work results? I feel like maybe it would help me feel a little bit better if anyone here could share their thoughts or similar results they have received.

 

[MissClouseau]

It's been a few months now and I still wonder and still have questions that I realize I will probably never find the answers to. I really just wish I knew for sure. Or at least wish I knew that this was truly something that could not have been cured as the Er vets told me. Every vet I have asked after my baby passed always told me "cancer or fip" if they had to guess.

I still wonder though, did any of you who had cats with these illnesses show similarities in the blood work results? I feel like maybe it would help me feel a little bit better if anyone here could share their thoughts or similar results they have received.

I'm not a professional but I read a lot when the vet suspected of (dry) FIP for my cat. You know FIP has no particular test but is diagnosed with multiple different findings in tests + clinical signs. With wet FIP there is fluid in the body and they test a sample of this fluid. Apparently a certain result makes it pretty clear it's wet FIP but I am not able to read that in the tests and what exactly the result would be.

However, I noticed the antibodies test for coronavirus is 1:1,600. If they used ImmunoComb antibodies test you might ask them what 1:1,600 means on the scale. This is the brand Biogal's chart to read the results. You can find it and more details in PDF form on their website.

You can also call the vet office and ask what test they use to test coronavirus antibodies and if they hold the records what they used for your cat. Sometimes they just test with stool and not with kits like that. (My cat's antibodies for example is 1:1400something. One vet isn't concerned but the other two don't even want to vaccinate her or get dental operation in fear of her corona turning into FIP.)

Finally, you know FIP, kind of like cancer, is a kind of disease that doesn't really kill itself but it's the complications from it that kills so to speak. That also makes sense to me if vets guess "cancer or FIP". They can attack different parts of the body, causing totally different symptoms and different blood test results.

So it might cause different diseases by affecting other organs so all the vets might be kind of correct. A relative of mine passed from liver issues but he also had gallbladder problems (they didn't know if gallbladder damaged liver or the other way around), and he actually died of heart attack from liver failure related toxicity. So in the wording saying "he died from heart attack", "he died from liver failure", "he died from gallbladder infection" would all be true in a way.

I'm really sorry for your loss. I hope you feel better.

 

[di and bob]

You will always have this nagging feeling, it is a part of losing someone you love so much. Eventually, you will have it less often, and in the years to come, it will haunt you less and less as you make a new life's order for yourself. But it will always be there in the back of your mind.
Nothing you find out now will ever change the awful outcome. It may put your heart to rest a little easier. But whatever it was it was bad enough for this to happen and you could not let your precious girl suffer. I pray you find the answers you are looking for. I pray even harder we find a cure for this terrible disease.......

 

[joyfulrose]

I'm not a professional but I read a lot when the vet suspected of (dry) FIP for my cat. You know FIP has no particular test but is diagnosed with multiple different findings in tests + clinical signs. With wet FIP there is fluid in the body and they test a sample of this fluid. Apparently a certain result makes it pretty clear it's wet FIP but I am not able to read that in the tests and what exactly the result would be.

However, I noticed the antibodies test for coronavirus is 1:1,600. If they used ImmunoComb antibodies test you might ask them what 1:1,600 means on the scale. This is the brand Biogal's chart to read the results. You can find it and more details in PDF form on their website.

You can also call the vet office and ask what test they use to test coronavirus antibodies and if they hold the records what they used for your cat. Sometimes they just test with stool and not with kits like that. (My cat's antibodies for example is 1:1400something. One vet isn't concerned but the other two don't even want to vaccinate her or get dental operation in fear of her corona turning into FIP.)

Finally, you know FIP, kind of like cancer, is a kind of disease that doesn't really kill itself but it's the complications from it that kills so to speak. That also makes sense to me if vets guess "cancer or FIP". They can attack different parts of the body, causing totally different symptoms and different blood test results.

So it might cause different diseases by affecting other organs so all the vets might be kind of correct. A relative of mine passed from liver issues but he also had gallbladder problems (they didn't know if gallbladder damaged liver or the other way around), and he actually died of heart attack from liver failure related toxicity. So in the wording saying "he died from heart attack", "he died from liver failure", "he died from gallbladder infection" would all be true in a way.

I'm really sorry for your loss. I hope you feel better.

Thank you for all of that information. I tried getting a hold of the vet who tested her to ask about the immunocomb but I was unable to. I did notice though that on her blood test results it says "coronavirus antibody by IFA - POSITIVE @ 1:1600"
I'm not sure if there is some sort of scale or way of determining what that result could mean. I do understand that there is no test that 100% could determine whether or not she had FIP, they come to that diagnosis with different findings from various tests and signs or symptoms she might be showing.
Many of the vets we saw towards the end all suspect wet FIP because she had developed swelling in her belly and it was very distended they all said that it was very likely fluid and that was part of the reason they all believed she had wet FIP. She developed it suddenly within a week after finishing antibiotics she was taking for an infection of some sort a vet believed she had. After she developed the fluid in her belly she began having trouble urinating and trouble defecating. And she began to look weaker and weaker as the days went on. The last 2 days she couldn't really jump up on the bed with out me helping her up and when she walked she was wobbly. The very last night she urinated on my bed twice (she had never ever done that before in her life) at the time I thought she had a UTI and I worried it would kill her if it wasn't treated so I rushed her to the ER that nIght thinking they would just give her some antibiotics for the infection and we would be on our way home. What I was told was something I never expected to hear. The vet came in and told me my cat was dying and he can't help her and that He didn't even want to run any blood work or tests and told me that even if we did that he still can't save her. He told me when he was examining her in the back she couldn't even stand. He said he highly suspects she has cancer or wet FIP and she was suffering a lot and that the best and wisest thing we could do was have her put to sleep.

So I guess because I never got to find out for sure it's been killing me all these months. Theres always a part of me that wonders what if it could have been somehow treated. What If the vet was wrong? He never ran any tests to make sure. I know nothing can be done but I will always wonder.

here is a photo of her swollen belly

She also had lots of muscle loss/muscle wasting. I used to think that it was related to her aging (she was 17) but it seemed to get worse and worse especially those last two weeks. On the last day she felt light as a feather and I could feel every bone even on her head and her face looked sucken in. It was so heart shattering. I wish so much things could have been different. I wish we could have been able to help her. I wasn't ready to lose her. Even after all these months it's been extremely difficult.

I'm very sorry about your relative. ♡
How is your cat doing now? I hope things are getting better.