Is it immune-mediated neutropenia?  Is it immune-mediated
neutropenia?  Since no test definitively identifies an immune-
mediated neutropenia in dogs and cats, diagnosing this condition
and treating it appropriately rely on your excluding thecommon
causes of neutropenia, such as infections and drug reactions.
Neutrophils are a part of the granulocytic cell line and play an
essential role in initiating an immune response to invading
pathogens, such as bacteria, and releasing chemotactic
substances that attract other inflammatory cells, such as
monocytes.1 Neutropenia (< 3,000 neutrophils/μl in dogs, < 2,500
neutrophils/μl in cats) as a solitary laboratory finding is
often not associated with clinical signs and may be detected on
routine screening of otherwise apparently healthy patients.
Alternatively, neutropenic dogs may present with a fever or
lethargy or other signs associated with infection. Prompt
recognition and treatment are vital because if the neutropenia
is not resolved, infections may be persistent