What Are Monocyte Levels in Dogs?

A monocyte is a type of white blood cell, a part of the immune system. In canines, the monocyte levels are measured as part of the differential analysis, which assesses the levels of the various types of white blood cells. In addition to monocytes, there are four other types of white cells in canines including lymphocytes, segmental neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils.

  1. The Role of Monocytes

    • Monocytes, also known as monos, perform the task of keeping infections at bay. The level of monocytes is measured in conjunction with a complete blood count (CBC). A CBC measures the levels of white and red blood cells, the hematocrit and other values that assess the quality of the blood. When the white blood cell count (WBC) is elevated, this typically points to an infection, and a differential test is performed. The differential test involves the measurement of the monocyte levels.

    Normal Monocyte Levels

    • The monocyte levels are established as a percentage of the total of white blood cells. According to PetPlace.com, the normal level of monocytes is 6 percent. However, there may be differences between labs and testing techniques, so values between 1 and 9 percent are considered normal. Levels below 1 percent are not common, but if they appear in the results, they typically don't point to any medical problems. Some vets may repeat the tests if the number of monocytes is zero.

    High Monocyte Levels

    • High monocyte levels in canines typically indicate an infection. An infection stimulates the immune system, which produces an increased number of monocyte cells to fight the infection. The dog may display other symptoms that point to an infection, including swelling, puss accumulation or discharges, lethargy and lack of appetite. Other less common conditions that cause an excessive production of monocytes include immune-mediated conditions, Cushing's disease or stress.

    Reducing Monocyte Levels

    • If your pet has high monocyte levels, the vet performs additional tests to detect the condition causing monocytosis. Infections are easy to treat: once the source of the infection is detected, the vet prescribes a course of antibiotics for seven to 10 days, depending on the type of antibiotics prescribed. If the pet is affected by stress, the causes of stress should be identified and a suitable therapy recommended. Immune-mediated conditions are not typically curable, but may be managed with medication.