Anemia in a dog: symptoms and treatment

This condition occurs when there are not enough red blood cells circulating in the blood to maintain normal bodily functions. A sign of anemia in dogs can be fatigue associated with lack of oxygen and low blood pressure. How to recognize the condition and how to treat it?

How does anemia develop in dogs?

Normally, red blood cells are formed in the bone marrow and circulate in the bloodstream for three to four months. When cells become damaged or age, they are removed from the bloodstream. Anemia in dogs occurs when the bone marrow fails to produce enough red blood cells, red blood cells are destroyed due to immune-mediated or infectious causes, or the body loses red blood cells faster than it can produce new ones. This happens in conditions that cause severe bleeding.

Distinguish between regenerative and non-regenerative anemia in dogs.

Regenerative anemia in dogs. In this type of disease, the dog loses enough blood to force the bone marrow to produce new red blood cells, but the red blood cell count is still too low. Regenerative anemia is caused by rapid blood loss, immune-mediated destruction of red blood cells, or severe parasite infestation. All of these causes cause the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells.

Non-regenerative anemia occurs when a dog has few red blood cells, but its body does not produce new ones, because the bone marrow is either damaged or has lost the normal function of the hormones that stimulate the production of red blood cells. Non-regenerative anemia occurs with chronic diseases, such as chronic kidney or liver disease. It can also develop due to infections such as parvovirus or ehrlichiosis that damage the bone marrow, as well as due to nutritional or mineral deficiencies, including iron or vitamin B12, drug reactions, or cancer.

Symptoms of Anemia in Dogs

Clinical signs of anemia in dogs may include the following:

• increased heart rate;
• pale pink or white gums;
• exhaustion, general weakness or lethargy;
• loss of appetite;
• dyspnea;
• heart murmurs.

In addition to signs of blood anemia in dogs, the pet may show symptoms associated with the underlying disease that caused the anemia. For example, she may experience weight loss or mouth ulcers if the cause is kidney disease, yellowing of the skin liver disease, bloating in spleen cancer or signs external parasites such as fleaswith parasitic infections.

Diagnosing Anemia in Dogs

To make a diagnosis and determine the causes of the disease, the veterinarian will conduct a physical examination and laboratory tests. Anemia is diagnosed when the volume of precipitated cells, or hematocrit, which is an indicator of the number of red blood cells, is low.

From a blood sample examined under a microscope, a veterinarian or laboratory pathologist can draw many conclusions. In particular, what is the exact number of all types of blood cells, has the dog been exposed to toxins or heavy metals, are there parasites in the blood, etc. If the veterinarian determines that the dog has anemia, but its causes are not entirely obvious, he will conduct additional diagnostic tests, which may include laboratory tests of body fluids, evaluation of a bone marrow sample, x-rays and/or ultrasound of the abdomen.

How to Treat Anemia in Dogs

Treatment for anemia in dogs involves replenishing the blood cell count and addressing the underlying cause. Traumatic blood loss can lead to shock, and in severe cases, a dog may need a transfusion to treat life-threatening blood loss.

Otherwise, treatment for anemia will depend on the underlying cause. For example, parasitic worms are treated with deworming, iron deficiency with iron supplements, immune-mediated anemia with immunosuppressants, and bacterial infections with antibiotics.

Prevention of Anemia in Dogs

Owners are unlikely to be able to predict all the causes of anemia and protect their pet from them. But you can take some measures to reduce the risk of its development. Here are some tips for protecting your pet from conditions that can cause anemia:

• take your dog to the veterinarian for examination at least once a year;
• hand over dog feces for analysis at least once a year to eliminate parasites, and use a broad-spectrum dewormer monthly to prevent worms;
• use effective means to tick control and fleas in the appropriate season (before using them, you should consult your veterinarian);
• feed your dog with high quality, complete and balanced food

Fortunately, in many cases, if the underlying cause of the anemia is treatable and the dog is generally doing well, the prognosis can be very good. If the pet is in poor health, has severe anemia, or is caused by cancer, toxins, or immune-mediated causes, the prognosis is less favorable.

See also:

• Common Skin Problems in Dogs
• Cancer in Dogs: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment
• How to treat an upset stomach in a dog
• Causes of digestive problems in dogs