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PLATELETS

First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk


This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only.

You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Platelets (also called thrombocytes) are very small cell-like structures which are found in the blood stream but they are very important in normal blood clotting.

There are normally 200-500 x 109 platelets/litre of blood in dogs, and 300-700 x 109 platelets/litre of blood in cats. Circulating platelets literally plug any gaps which appear in the wall of blood vessels and they stimulate blood clotting, so their main function is to stop blood loss. If platelet counts are low (called thrombocytopenia) blood clotting may not be normal and multiple haemorrhages can occur. An animal with low platelet count may seem normal until such time as it suffers and injury, or is subject to surgery  when blood clotting and wound healing might not proceed as one would normally expect. If haemorrhage occurs into a cavity in tissue it can form a haematoma.

There are many reasons why the platelet count may be low - including :

  • Reduced production of platelets - occurs in various disorders eg iron deficiency, toxins, infections
  • Increased destruction or use of platelets - associated with many diseases eg infection, immune diseases.
  • Excessive losses - massive haemorrhage

Examination of a blood sample by your veterniarian will confirm the problem, and further laboratory tests may be needed to help to determine the underlying cause of the problem.

 

Updated October 2013