Ruby's blood work results

[xp29]

The vet sent over the results from Ruby's blood tests. It seems overly simplified to me, but I admittedly don't know much about stuff like this. I see some stuff that is high and individually I know what they are but as a whole I just don't know what it implies.
If anyone has insight it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Claudiusx]

Nothing in that bloodwork is overly worrying to me besides the glucose and Uric Acid.

The high glucose level could be from GNT, which could have been the cause of death but a stomach tissue biopsy would be needed to confirm. The GNT would also explain some of the other blood levels that are a little bit off. Do you have previous blood test results with Ruby to compare?

I haven't been on the site as much lately due to work, but I have been popping in every so often and heard about Ruby. Very sorry for your loss Scott. If it was GNT, there is nothing you could have done anyways besides show her the love you always have.

-Brandon

 

[NickAVD]

I also understood little from these results. Maybe @Drache613 will have some ideas about blood tests.

 

[xp29]

Nothing in that bloodwork is overly worrying to me besides the glucose and Uric Acid.

The high glucose level could be from GNT, which could have been the cause of death but a stomach tissue biopsy would be needed to confirm. The GNT would also explain some of the other blood levels that are a little bit off. Do you have previous blood test results with Ruby to compare?

I haven't been on the site as much lately due to work, but I have been popping in every so often and heard about Ruby. Very sorry for your loss Scott. If it was GNT, there is nothing you could have done anyways besides show her the love you always have.

-Brandon

Her normal vet absolutely refused to do blood work. I had to argue with him to get the x-rays. I had tried to get her into another vet but they schedule 6 to 8 weeks out. So thats the only blood work she had
Thank you for the kind words. The support here is absolutely amazing. It means a lot.

 

[xp29]

One thing I was glad to see was that her calcium looked to be very good. I stayed on top of that with her religiously. With the mbd I knew I had to.

 

[xp29]

Nothing in that bloodwork is overly worrying to me besides the glucose and Uric Acid.

The high glucose level could be from GNT, which could have been the cause of death but a stomach tissue biopsy would be needed to confirm. The GNT would also explain some of the other blood levels that are a little bit off. Do you have previous blood test results with Ruby to compare?

I haven't been on the site as much lately due to work, but I have been popping in every so often and heard about Ruby. Very sorry for your loss Scott. If it was GNT, there is nothing you could have done anyways besides show her the love you always have.

-Brandon

@Claudiusx
I went and was reading up on gnt. Ruby indeed had most of those symptoms over the last couple months. That's what prompted me to take her to the vet in the first place.
Thank you for the insight it will give Christina and I both some closure.

 

[Rocky2022]

I didn't read it as I wouldn't be helpful - I am just here showing love.
Ruby is/was special and had a wonderful life. #amazingparents

 

[xp29]

I didn't read it as I wouldn't be helpful - I am just here showing love.
Ruby is/was special and had a wonderful life. #amazingparents

Yeah I didn't understand it either, but I knew folks hete would. @Claudiusx I think pretty much has the right of it. I went and looked up gnt and Ruby had all the symptoms listed.
Thank you for the support, it really helps knowing others understand and care

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I looked over the blood work also. Did the vet address the high uric acid readings? That is extremely
high & concerning. The Potassium was too high also which can indicate renal issues, as well.
The Glucose is elevated too.
The WBC counts appear normal so there didn't seem to be any type of infection going on at the time of
the test. It is unfortunate that GNT has become such a terrible health issue right now.
I hope you are doing a little better.

Tracie

 

[CooperDragon]

I wonder if the high uric acid levels are a side effect/symptom of GNT. Gout was detected and being treated for Cooper several months before he died from GNT. I always kind of wondered if there was a link between the two and if we were just seeing a symptom. I wish there was more that could be done to treat GNT, but perhaps the high uric acid levels are another indicator to look out for in addition to the elevated glucose.

 

[xp29]

Hello,

I looked over the blood work also. Did the vet address the high uric acid readings? That is extremely
high & concerning. The Potassium was too high also which can indicate renal issues, as well.
The Glucose is elevated too.
The WBC counts appear normal so there didn't seem to be any type of infection going on at the time of
the test. It is unfortunate that GNT has become such a terrible health issue right now.
I hope you are doing a little better.

Tracie

Thank you Tracie
We are bith still really sad and miss her beyond belief. But knowing the why of it helps.
I haven't heard anything back from the vet, the test results came back after she had passed. Honestly I trust you and @Claudiusx more than them anyway, so I doubt I'll bother to call her back.
The only reason I might call is just to Guage her response, if she arrives at the same conclusion she'll probably become my go to vet. If she doesn't the search for a good vet continues.

 

[xp29]

I wonder if the high uric acid levels are a side effect/symptom of GNT. Gout was detected and being treated for Cooper several months before he died from GNT. I always kind of wondered if there was a link between the two and if we were just seeing a symptom. I wish there was more that could be done to treat GNT, but perhaps the high uric acid levels are another indicator to look out for in addition to the elevated glucose.

I'm of the same mind. It was pretty rare for Ruby to eat dubias on a large scale. She would sometimes take one or maybe two with superworms or hornworms. She was a very hard beardie to feed. I don't think she ate enough of them to pose a problem let alone levels that high. Also I never feed my dubias protein so they shouldn't be carrying high levels themselves. Hopefully others will post blood work results as they have them (when gnt is the problem) and we can begin to track it.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I agree, when one of the blood counts is off, it usually affects another one of
the levels. Stress from having a health condition can also cause the organs
to work harder which would affect the levels too.
I'm so sorry Ruby had to go through all of that. I hope that vets are starting to
learn & take notes on these cases to help more dragons going forward.

Tracie

 

[xp29]

Hello,

I agree, when one of the blood counts is off, it usually affects another one of
the levels. Stress from having a health condition can also cause the organs
to work harder which would affect the levels too.
I'm so sorry Ruby had to go through all of that. I hope that vets are starting to
learn & take notes on these cases to help more dragons going forward.

Tracie

I hope so to.
As for Ruby she never seemed to be in pain. No black beard, no lethargy or lack of energy. She ate really good until a couple days before she passed. The only day she seemed to be stressed was the last day. If there is any silver lining it's that. It would have be unbearable to have seen her suffer.