So what is Thrombocytopenia?

Thrombocytopenia strictly means a low level (paucity = penia) of blood clotting cells called thrombocytes or platelets. This can occur for a number of reasons but very severe thrombocytopenia which leads to bleeding is usually either due to the immune system attacking and destroying the platelets or the bone marrow which produces them not working or secondary to severe inflammatory disease or certain blood parasites we don’t usually see in the UK. 

It often occurs on its own but, as you have seen, can sometimes occur together with other diseases such as pancreatitis. Our research is hoping to improve understanding of the body’s immune response particularly in spaniels which predisposes to both pancreatitis and thrombocytopenia. We really do hope this will lead to improved treatment in the future. 

Berrie had Severe Thrombocytopenia, her blood platelet count was near to nothing and she had started to bleed from the small blood vessels internally, hence the reason for her being so violently sick, of blood.  It is thought there is a link between having Pancreatitis and developing Immune-mediated Thrombocytopenia (Immune mediated means the body attacked itself for no known reason).

With thrombocytopenia, there really is no time to waste, minutes really do matter and can be the difference with life or death.