Hi there.
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about your boy! Please accept my condolences.
I think in your case, that if thrombocytopenia or another condition where blood clotting is involved was suspected from the onset, she may have been hesitant to get a blood sample for fear of putting your dog in a situation where the bleeding could not have been controlled.
Forgive me if I'm telling you something you already know, but from what I know of this condition, it can result in the body producing faulty blood cells that impede clotting. ITP, as I'm sure you know, is an immune-system illness that involves insufficient platelets (a component of blood), which contribute to proper blood clotting. Without the clotting function, trying to get a blood sample from a vein or even from a prick could have resulted in uncontrolled bleeding and if the dog was not under anesthesia, this collection process would have likely been made more difficult. It's difficult to know exactly what her reasoning was, as I don't know what was known at the time in terms of the dog's true condition, but I think that in maintaining a conservative stance, your vet opted to collect the sample under anesthesia. As for whether she could have gotten a sufficient sample for testing from the saliva, probably not. It depends on exactly what she was testing for and her method of testing. If she simply needed a sample to make up a smear on a slide for examination under the microscope, she may have obtained some information - it's a more basic, preliminary exam though, looking at the general appearance of the cells. She may have learned some information on the general appearance, but as for their relative percentages, this would have likely been very off kilter due to dilution, so much of the important information would have been skewed or missing.
From what you describe, I think the error may have been in the assessment of the seriousness of the dog's condition. Maybe had everything been known that is known now, he could have received immediate testing at your vet's, or maybe your vet would have sent him to a referral hospital that was open 24 hours if she had realized the situation was as urgent as it ended up to be. But again, hindsight is always 20-20.
Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help you. And again, please accept my condolences - I know how difficult it can be to loose an animal so abruptly, and you're always left wondering and second guessing. But as long as you did what you believed was right, it's all you can ask for.
****Please ACCEPT if my answer was helpful!****
-Mia Carter
Pet Expert
Edited by Mia Carter on January 18 2008 at 9:58 AM
• A timely visit to your vet is the best way to get a correct diagnosis! • Please "ACCEPT" if my answer was helpful! •