Elevated Lymphocytes- Start Baytril as a "just in case"?

[Jessandsprinkes]

Hi guys! My chameleon Sprinkles has been slightly weaker, falling a lot more often, has poor grip strength. He has been eating and drinking like normal, but his urates are more orange. He is a big boy and is weighing at 280 grams. It progressed over the past few months and he stopped using his tail to move around and stopped curling it at night.

I took him to see Dr. Stein on Saturday at the vet. His X-rays are normal. His blood results showed very elevated Lymphocytes and white blood cells. He is testing for leukemia as well, when he said this I got really freaked out. Do I need to prepare for the worst?

The vet wants to start him on 10 days of Baytril antibiotics. He is showing no signs of RI infection (no head tilted up, no sunken eyes, labored breathing, etc). I have gone over my husbandry a million times and I can't find anything super wrong with it. Any ideas on what could be going on?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Jessandsprinkes]

@Beman Hi Beman any thoughts? You have helped us so much in the past.

 

[Jessandsprinkes]

@MissSkittles

 

[JacksJill]

He could have an infection anywhere in his body. Antibiotics could help him. If he is going to get Baytril keeping him hydrated is going to be very important during the treatment. Make an effort to feed him soft bodied worms (horn & silk) or give more dripper sessions per day.

 

[Jessandsprinkes]

He could have an infection anywhere in his body. Antibiotics could help him. If he is going to get Baytril keeping him hydrated is going to be very important during the treatment. Make an effort to feed him soft bodied worms (horn & silk) or give more dripper sessions per day.

I just gave him his baytril, .05 ml with a bunch of horn worms. Thank you for your insight.

 

[MissSkittles]

My veiled Grumpy had very elevated white blood cell count and was very anemic too - leukemia was mentioned. After antibiotics, all of her lab values were great. Not that I could have afforded to do the work up for leukemia, but it didn’t seem necessary. However, within the following year she started showing some strange behaviors/symptoms, like sleeping upside down with her belly hanging. Her belly became huge and beneath the bloat, she became extremely thin, even though she was still eating the same. When labs were done, they were strongly suggestive of cancer somewhere. I modified her enclosure for her declining mobility and as the bloat finally made it impossible for her to eat, I took her for euthanasia. I don’t know if the initial infection was in any way related to whatever cancer she may have had. I had considered a necropsy, but it was an unimaginably horrific time for me and I was drained in every way possible. I had six months straight of my chameleons one by one getting sick and then passing - 1st my male veiled from presumed cancer and with no break in time, my male panther from renal failure and then Grumpy.
All I can tell you is to continue doing what you’re doing and stay vigilant. I pray your beautiful guy will make a full and complete recovery and be with you for many more years.