Has the vet diagnosed your dog with anemia? You should know that there are three different types of anemia that affect dogs: hemorrhagic anemia, hemolytic anemia and aplastic anemia. All three usually have an effective treatment if detected and treated early, so it is important to see a specialist as soon as possible.
In this article on our site you will find information on each of these diseases, we will explain what are the symptoms that can help you detect it and how it is treated. In addition, we will give you some tricks so that you know how to care for and feed your dog with anemia for a better supply of iron. Keep reading and discover everything you need to know about anemia in dogs, causes, symptoms and treatment
What is canine anemia?
In dog's blood there are different cells such as white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. We also find minerals, protein nutrients… These elements are found in a certain proportion and an excess or lack of them can be a symptom of a disease.
The red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen to the different tissues of the body. A normal proportion is between 39 and 60%. Values below 39% is a clear deficiency that indicates the presence of anemia in the dog It is a serious he alth problem as it translates into a direct lack of oxygen in the different organs and tissues of the body.
Types of anemia in dogs and their causes
There are four types of anemia directly related to the different causes that cause it. Below we will detail in a general way what these types are and why they occur:
Hemorrhagic anemia
This anemia is directly related to blood loss and there are different reasons why it can develop: wounds, external parasites or ulcers. When the dog loses blood, it is weak and unstable. Blood in the urine or blood in the dog's stool is one of the symptoms that can help detect hemorrhagic anemia if it occurs internally.
Hemolytic anemia
This type of anemia is related to the dog's immune system which modifies the natural cycle of red blood cells destroying them and preventing them from being reproduce to reach the proper ratio in the blood. It can also be a consequence of internal parasites and hereditary diseases. It can cause the appearance of jaundice. There are two types of hemolytic anemia:
- Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia: This is usually the most common anemia and the destruction of red blood cells is forced by the appearance of antibodies that directly attack these cells.
- Congenital hemolytic anemia: In this case the destruction of red blood cells is caused by hereditary causes common in cocker spaniels or springers english spaniel.
Aplastic anemia
In this case the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow is not enough to compensate for the natural loss of these cells. It can be caused by tumors, toxins, infections (parvovirus and ehrlichia), radiation, and chronic kidney failure.
Symptoms of anemia in dogs
The symptoms of anemia in dogs can vary depending on the type of anemia suffered by the animal or the time it has latent in its interior. These symptoms, apart from helping to diagnose anemia in dogs, can also be symptoms of other diseases The most common are:
- Pale gums and mucous membranes
- Weakness
- Depression
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
- Blood in the stool
- Exercise intolerance
- Tachycardia
- Fainting
- Tachycardia
- Difficulty breathing
Diagnosis of anemia in dogs
In addition to the symptoms and the general physical examination, the diagnosis through a complete blood count (blood test) is essential to make sure that It's really about anemia. A urine or stool test may also be done for this purpose.
However, this diagnosis does not exactly indicate the causes that have caused it, so extra tests should be done if it is not determined exactly what causes it by these two analyses. Some of the tests to perform can be:
- Bone marrow scraping
- Bone marrow biopsy
- Abdominocentesis
- Bone scan
- Ultrasound
- Endoscopy
- Specific analyzes for different parasites
- Test for toxins
Depending on the result, one treatment or another will be applied. Do not forget that the veterinarian is the only person qualified to diagnose this disease, for this reason you should never treat a dog without a diagnosis made by a professional.
Treatment of canine anemia
The treatment will depend on each specific case and will be recommended depending on the causes of the anemia Only the veterinarian should decide the right treatment for each dog, but some common treatments for canine anemia include:
- Blood transfusions
- Bone marrow transplant
- Administration of immunosuppressants
- Iron supplementation
- Gastrointestinal Protectors
- Use of antibiotics
- Use of antiparasitics
The prognosis is also highly variable and depends on each case. Dogs with mild anemia and simple to eliminate causes have a very good prognosis. In contrast, dogs that have anemia caused by tumors, cancer, or other serious problems have a more guarded prognosis.
Prevention of anemia in dogs
The different causes of anemia in dogs make it impossible to propose a single prevention systemHowever, and except for cases of anemia associated with genetic causes, we can ensure that a good feeding, quality care and a regular veterinary checkup can help us avoid some causes that cause this disease. In addition, early detection of anemia can make treatment more effective.
