Brandy II
hutchdvm6
1. Degree and Pattern of Hyperglobulinemia
Brandy’s globulin: 9.1 g/dL
That number alone is a major clue.
Typical ranges seen clinically
| Globulin Level | Most Likely Cause |
|---|---|
| 4–6 g/dL | mild chronic inflammation |
| 6–8 g/dL | significant infection/inflammation |
| >8 g/dL | neoplasia becomes very suspicious |
When globulins exceed ~8 g/dL, veterinarians start thinking about:
-
lymphoma
-
plasma cell tumors
-
severe chronic immune stimulation
Brandy’s value (9.1) is very much in the “rule out neoplasia” zone.
Serum protein electrophoresis would help distinguish:
-
Polyclonal gammopathy → chronic infection
-
Monoclonal gammopathy → neoplasia
2. Pattern of Weight Loss
The type of weight loss often gives clues.
Lymphoma pattern
Typical signs:
-
progressive weight loss
-
hyporexia
-
muscle wasting despite adequate feed availability
-
intermittent mild colic or vague GI signs
This fits especially well with alimentary lymphoma.
Chronic infection pattern
Usually includes additional signs:
-
persistent fever
-
depression
-
obvious infection source (lung, wound, dental)
-
draining tracts
-
respiratory signs
Your history of weight loss + hyporexia without clear infection signs is more consistent with neoplastic disease.
3. Fibrinogen vs Globulin Relationship
This is a subtle but very helpful equine clue.
| Parameter | Brandy |
|---|---|
| Globulin | 9.1 (extremely high) |
| Fibrinogen | 276 (mildly high) |
Interpretation
If this were severe infection, we would usually see:
-
marked fibrinogen elevation
-
sometimes >400–600 mg/dL
But here we see:
-
extreme globulin increase
-
only mild fibrinogen increase
This pattern often occurs with chronic antigenic stimulation or neoplasia rather than active infection.
Other Subtle Clues in Brandy’s Panel
These also support chronic systemic disease:
Hypoalbuminemia
Albumin 1.7
Often due to:
-
inflammatory suppression
-
GI infiltration
-
neoplasia
Hypoglycemia
Glucose 38
Possible causes include:
-
severe malnutrition
-
chronic inflammatory disease
-
tumor metabolic consumption
Mild anemia of chronic disease
RBC slightly low with normal indices.
Very typical with:
-
lymphoma
-
chronic inflammatory disease
My Overall Clinical Suspicion (Based on Labs + Age)
Most likely causes in order:
1️⃣ Alimentary lymphoma (very common in geriatric horses)
2️⃣ Multicentric lymphoma
3️⃣ Chronic internal abscessation
4️⃣ Multiple myeloma (rare but possible)
Given:
-
age 31
-
globulin 9.1
-
weight loss
-
hyporexia
👉 Lymphoma would be my leading rule-out.
If This Were My Case
I would prioritize only two diagnostics to avoid unnecessary cost in a 31-year-old horse:
1. Serum Protein Electrophoresis
Best test for this case.
Tells you immediately:
-
monoclonal spike → neoplasia
-
polyclonal increase → inflammation
2. Abdominal Ultrasound
Looking for:
-
intestinal thickening
-
enlarged lymph nodes
-
masses
This often confirms alimentary lymphoma.
One More Practical Clinical Tip
A quick rectal palpation can sometimes detect:
-
enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes
-
abdominal masses
This can provide a surprisingly fast diagnosis in lymphoma cases.
✅ Bottom line:
Brandy’s bloodwork shows severe hyperglobulinemia with inflammatory changes, and in a 31-year-old horse with weight loss, lymphoma is a major concern.
Michael D. Hutchison, DVM, CVA
(520) 296-0480
Robin Rutherfoord
On Mar 5, 2026, at 10:10 AM, hutchdvm6 <hutc...@gmail.com> wrote:
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Vanessa Sargent
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