Postby Rococoms » Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:09 pm
The first colt that HCT isn't bad- I wouldn't worry. In vet med, a 35% PCV is on the high end of normal, just fine. Any higher, and I'd worry about him staying a dehydrated. As long as he's on a good quality vitamin supplement, it won't hurt to put him on Red Cell, but you don't want to over do it. But yes, Red Cell is a great supplement.
On the second, that is worrisome with the HCT below 10%... below 15% is usually very scary, below 12% is grounds for a transfusion. Obviously, this baby has some sort of chronic problem that either interferes with his ability to develop red cells, or a chronic bleed that leeks his red cells all the time that keeps him low. Obviously, he's learned to live with this, but I would be scared because if this baby lacerated himself in the pasture, bled at all from anything, he would be at high risk for a fatal bleed out and brain damage. Not to mention, unless this corrects itself, he won't be able to be a athletic animal.
If he has had recent bloodwork (CBC, chemistry, UA etc) and it was all within normal limits, I would reccomend a consulation with an internal medicine specialist, to ultrasound his kidneys, liver, abdomen, lungs etc, maybe even take a trans-tracheal wash sample, possible kidney biopsy, liver biopsy. If all those come back negative, I'd feel a little better about the watch and wait approach, with a lot of supplements (I would add Red Cell to him) and seeing how things progress. But I would do it all now, while he is healthy, rather then when he gets sick, because when he does get ill, even something not hard could easily kill him. Good luck- sounds like a tough situation!
