An elevated count of white blood cells in a dog's CBC (complete blood count) blood work can be indicative of various health conditions. There are several types of white blood cells (WBCs) in a dog, therefore determining exactly which type is elevated may help veterinarians come to a more accurate diagnosis.
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Identification
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White blood cells are often referred to as leukocytes. Their normal value in a dog, according to Peteducation.com, range between 6,000 and 17,000 per microliter of the dog's blood.
Types
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There are several sub-types of white blood cells in a dog such as neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes. The blood test used to determine their numbers is called "differential white blood cell count."
Benefits
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A differential white blood cell count analysis will help the veterinarian determine exactly which white cells are elevated.
Causes
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The most common cause of elevated white blood cell count in dogs is infection. However, there may be other causes such as stress, allergies, auto-immune disorders, viral disease, parasitism, and some forms of cancer, such as lymphosarcoma or leukemia.
Considerations
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Sending blood work out to a lab may be helpful In some cases, sending blood work to a pathologist may provide more information in difficult cases where an exact diagnosis cannot be determined based solely on physical findings and in-house lab work.
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