White blood cells

Insert neutrophil pic

Neutrophil

- Granulocytes
- most common leukocyte of peripheral blood In dogs and cats
- much larger than red blood cells
- Nucleus: stains densely purple; elongated shape that is Iobed or segmented
- cytoplasm: pale blue, may contain pale dust-like pink granules

Insert eosinophil pic here

Eosinophil

- named for red staining granules
- slightly larger than the neutrophil
- Nucleus: stains dark purple, similar shape to neutrophil but less segmented
- Cytoplasm stains pale contains bright red- to pink- staining granules that vary in number, size, and shape
- looks greyish blue in greyhounds

Insert basophil pic here

Basophil

- rarely seen in healthy dogs and cats
- take up dark blue stain
- Approx. the same size as the eosinophils
- Nucleus: ribbon-like in dogs, purple, less dense, slightly segmented
- Cytoplasm contains granules that stain from light to dark purple to almost black, vary in number, size, and shape

Lymphocyte pic here

lymphocyte

- second most common leukocyte in dogs and cats
- greatest variation in size
- cells shrink as they get older, large ones cling to nearby cells with cytoplasm
- changes occur with antigenic stimulation due to viral infection
- Nucleus: stains a homogenous solid purple, rounded or slightly indented shape
- cytoplasm: Varying amounts, pale blue, may conform to the cells around it

monocyte picture

Monocyte

- largest of the leukocytes, big eaters
- Nucleus: stains less densely than all other leukocytes
- Pleomorphic: assumes various shapes from elongate to rounded
- Nuclear chromatin appears lacey and smooth with very little clumping
- cytoplasm: large amount, grey-blue, often has foamy appearance due to the presence of vacuoles