Illness, genetic disorders, cancer and some drug therapies can contribute to low white blood count in dogs. Neutropenia is the medical term for low white blood cell count. The white blood cells (neutrophils) are part of the immune response system.
Blood cells are manufactured in the bone marrow. The white blood cells (WBC) quickly move through the bloodstream to sites of injury and infection. These cells also travel to sites of the body exposed to toxic substances.
Bacterial Infection and WBC
Bacterial infections are a common cause of low WBC counts. These infections are usually treated with antibiotics.
Severe bacterial infections can become so widespread that WBC production in the bone marrow cannot keep up. These infections can cause serious secondary problems and require aggressive forms of therapy.
Canine Ehrlichiosis
Ehrlichiosis is a particular type of bacterial infection. It is caused by bacteria that are present in the saliva of brown dog ticks. The bacteria enter the blood stream of the dog, where it spreads to other organs. This condition usually presents several symptoms, including low WBC count. The bacteria may attack the nervous system, if left untreated.
Histoplasmosis and WBC
Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. The fungus breeds in wet, humid regions. Although it found nationwide in the U.S., it is more prevalent in the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio River Valley areas.
Infection occurs when the dog is exposed to the infected soil. Healthy, older dogs may not be display any symptoms of infection; however, it can multiply and cause serious localized or systemic infection in young or immunosuppressed canines.
Parvovirus
Parvovirus is a deadly systemic virus that suppressed the immune system. Neutropenia can develop very quickly. The virus invades and destroys cells being produced in the bone marrow, which in turn decreases WBC count in the intestinal tract.
Immediate treatment is needed, as death may occur in as little as 48 hours after onset. Dehydration is another complication of the disease, which is caused by the profuse vomiting and bloody diarrhea.
Gray-Colored Collies Disorder
Gray-colored collie disorder is characterized by the color of the nose. Collies with the disorder do not have the black nose, typically in the breed. It is a genetic defect that appears shortly after birth.
There is a deficiency in the production of WBC, because the stem cells of the bone marrow are impaired. The disease is cyclical, as production of WBC ceases every 10 to 12 days. Unfortunately, there is little treatment.
Vitamin B12 and Giant Schnauzers
Some young giant schnauzers are genetically unable to absorb sufficient quantities of B12. This leads to anemia and neutropenia. Treatment consists of vitamin B12 therapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy treatment can reduce the WBC count. The therapy can suppress the development of cells in the bone marrow. Symptoms usually appear a few days after beginning treatment and may resolve several weeks after therapy.
Idiopathic Neutropenia
Idiopathic, means there is no apparent cause for the condition. Young dogs are more at risk of developing idiopathic neutropenia. Treatment is symptomatic.
Drug Induced Neutropenia
Many medications can cause neutropenia. Phenobarbital, used to treat seizure disorders is a medication known to cause neutropenia. The list of drugs that can reduce WBC count is long.
If you recently discovered that your dog has a low or high white blood cell count, you may be feeling scared or confused. What does this mean? Is your dog sick? What can you do to fix it?
The first thing to understand is that white blood cells are used to defend the body against infections and other germs. So if your dog is sick, a vet might order a blood test to measure their white blood cell levels. The results of that test will give more information about your dog’s health, which the vet can use to get a better picture of their condition and make sure they get the right treatment.
In this article, we’ll start by explaining what it means for a dog to have a low or high white blood cell count, then talk about what the most likely causes are, and finally dig into what treatments can help treat your dog’s low or high white blood cell count.
What are White Blood Cells (WBC)?
White blood cells (WBCs) are a type of blood cell that defends the body and fights against infections. Anytime your dog gets sick, has a virus, or gets an infection, their white blood cells come to the rescue.
Normally, a dog will have a WBC value that ranges from about 4.0 to 15.5. If your dog’s WBCs are lower than that, that’s called leukopenia, and it means they have too few white blood cells. If their levels are higher than that, it’s called leukocytosis, and that means your dog has too many.
Both of these conditions are a sign that something isn’t quite right with your dog’s health, so it’s important to follow up on an abnormal WBC. It’s also important to take your dog to the vet for a regular checkup, including a blood test, to make sure they’re staying in a healthy range.
There are actually five different kinds of white blood cells: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes. Each type of white blood cell has its own job, and normally, these five types exist in a balance. But if there’s an imbalance in the type of WBC in your dog’s blood, that could signal a problem too.
Most of the time, if your dog has a problem with their WBC levels, it will be regarding their neutrophil or eosinophil levels. These two types of cells are produced in the bone marrow and play a crucial role in fighting against bacteria.
Next, let’s dig in and explore some of the differences between a high white blood cell count in dogs (leukocytosis) and a low white blood cell count in dogs (leukopenia).
What Causes High White Blood Cell Count in Dogs?
As we said earlier, having a white blood cell count (anything over 15.5) is called leukocytosis. If your dog has leukocytosis, it most likely means that their body is fighting off some kind of infection, bacteria, toxin, or other conditions.
Knowing which type(s) of WBCs are elevated can help pinpoint the cause. For example…
- Viral, bacterial, or fungal infections can cause increased neutrophil levels.
- Parasites can cause increased eosinophil levels.
- Chronic diseases and inflammatory conditions can cause increased monocyte levels.
- Allergies can cause increased eosinophil levels.
- Cancers can cause increased lymphocyte or monocyte levels.
- Autoimmune disorders can cause increased neutrophil or lymphocyte levels.
Other potential causes of elevated white blood cell levels in dogs could include Cushing’s disease, certain medications such as corticosteroids, and even stress. These are all clues your vet can use to help narrow down the cause of your pup’s condition.
The bad news is that illnesses and symptoms associated with a high white blood cell count tend to be more severe. The good news is that catching these conditions early, and working with your vet to find and treat the cause, can go a long way in helping your dog to recover successfully.
What Causes Low White Blood Cell Count in Dogs?
We’ve covered the causes of high WBCs. Now, what could cause the opposite—a low white blood cell count in your dog, also known as leukopenia?
- Chronic conditions. It’s important to realize that your dog’s body has a finite ability to manufacture new white blood cells. Very often, when your dog has a chronic condition, their WBC count will initially spike as their body tries to fight off the illness. But over time, their system can get depleted from the constant effort of creating new WBCs—and that can lead to leukopenia.
- Viruses. Viruses—including coronavirus and parvovirus infections—are also known to decrease WBC levels.
- Autoimmune disorders. Some autoimmune conditions can cause your dog’s body to destroy their own white blood cells.
- Medications. Drugs such as trimethoprim, dipyrone, and methimazole have been known to decrease WBC levels.
- Tumors. If a tumor is growing near the marrow, it can interfere with the body’s ability to produce white blood cells.
Treatment Options
Now that you understand the differences between low and high white blood cell counts in dogs, the next thing you’re probably wondering is: how do you treat these conditions?
The best treatment will ultimately depend on your dog’s breed and the underlying illness causing the abnormal WBCs. Since this is not something you should try to figure out on your own, the first step is always to visit your vet, get a complete blood count test done, and work with your vet to identify and treat the underlying cause.
How to Treat High White Blood Cell Count in Dogs
So what should you do if your dog has a high white blood cell count?
Once again, there are many possible causes of this condition—and so there are also many different treatment options. The important thing to keep in mind is that your goal should always be to treat the underlying cause of the elevated WBC. If you do that, the blood count should eventually return to normal. Again, your vet is the best person to ask for advice on the best treatment plan.
How to Treat Low White Blood Cell Count in Dogs
The same idea applies to treating low blood cell count in dogs. Talk to your vet and narrow down the root cause, and follow your vet’s treatment advice to help solve the root issue causing your dog’s low WBC.
Conclusion
If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by all this information and the potential causes of your dog’s low or high WBC levels, don’t feel bad. Health issues like this can be complicated, which is why we have vets to help make sense of it all and choose a treatment option that makes the most sense for your dog’s situation.
Of course, at the end of the day, you should always go with your vet’s recommendation. But it’s also a good idea to make sure your dog gets adequate nutrition from high-quality food. We’ve heard from many Bully Max customers like Bumpy, whose dog’s health improved significantly when he switched to Bully Max:
If you want to help keep your dog feeling happy and healthy with a nutritious food that dogs love, check out our High Protein Dog Food. It’s an especially great option when your vet proposes switching to a higher protein diet.