Anemia In Dogs
Types Of Anemia In Dogs And Their Treatment
Anemia in dogs is generally not as common as is anemia in humans, and the types of anemia, as well as their causes, are often different. Like in humans, anemia in dogs is the result of a decrease in the number of red blood cells, iron in the blood, or both. As most dog foods are well balanced nutritionally, diet is seldom a cause of the anemia. The anemia is more often than not a symptom of something else that is wrong, rather than a lack of iron in the diet, as is often the case with humans.
Blood loss is among the most common causes of canine anemia, and of course is accompanied by a loss of iron in the system. It's important that puppies be given shots or medicines to control worms, and adult dogs be given heart worm medication routinely, usually consisting of a good tasting pill or treat every three months. Hookworm or heart worm can cause significant blood loss, resulting in anemia, and nothing in the area of dietary changes can treat the condition. The worms themselves must be dealt with. Blood loss from injury or trauma can also result in an anemic condition. This is no different than is the case with humans.
Anemia in dogs can also be the result of diseases that either break down the red blood cells, or prevent their production. Such cases can often be traced to immune system disorders, where the dog's immune system is attacking the dog's own red blood cells. A condition known as canine autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is one of the more common autoimmune disorders experienced by canines. AIHA can be either the root cause of the anemic condition, or may result from some other disorder, either from within the immune system itself, or from the presence of a malignancy elsewhere. In either case, antibodies which attack and destroy the red blood cells are being produced.
AIHA can result from genetic factors, or from such incidents as bee stings, or the presence of certain viruses or parasites. Even certain medications, including analgesics, or the ingestion of zinc, toxic to canines in larger amounts, can bring on autoimmune system disorders and resulting anemia. Female dogs appear to have a higher susceptibility to the disease than do males, and the disease, while not being breed-specific, does appear to affect some breeds more than others.
When the cause of the anemia is determined to be a result of blood loss, the cause of the blood loss obviously must be dealt with, before anything can be done to cure the anemia. On occasion, simply stopping the blood loss may suffice, and the dog will recover on its own. Otherwise, addition treatment may be called for. A dietary cure, including foods rich in iron, protein, and vitamins may be sufficient. As is the case with humans, when attempting to build up iron in the body, a diet rich in vitamin C is advisable, as vitamin C helps in the absorption of iron.
More severe cases may call for blood transfusions. There have been occasions when a dog has been diagnosed with AIHA, that the underlying cause cannot be determined, and special medications must be prescribed to slow or stop the immune system's attack in the red blood cells. In very extreme cases, the animal’s spleen may have to be removed. If the dog responds positively to this treatment the outlook is good, but a third of the dogs undergoing the procedure do not survive it.
Periodic checkups by your veterinarian will usually nip problems with anemia in the bud. For your part, you can always look for marked changes in a dog's behavior, such as periods of weakness, fatigue, or depression. Seizures are often a symptom of anemia, or of a problem with the autoimmune system in general. Anemia in dogs can vary from mild, to the point of not even being noticeable, to severe and even fatal. The best thing always is just to keep an eye on your pet. Watch out for things out of the ordinary. Doing that is often good enough.