home Drugs What is the normal level of hemoglobin in dogs and what to do if it is high or low? Main symptoms and methods of treating anemia in dogs Reduced hemoglobin in dogs symptoms and treatment

What is the normal level of hemoglobin in dogs and what to do if it is high or low? Main symptoms and methods of treating anemia in dogs Reduced hemoglobin in dogs symptoms and treatment

Anemia is a disease that develops not only in humans, but also in animals. It occurs due to a decrease in the level of red blood cells - these cells are associated with the oxygen supply of the body. A lack of red blood cells can have a detrimental effect on the condition of the dog’s organs and systems and significantly worsen its condition. How to promptly recognize the presence of anemia in a dog, and how is this disease treated?

There are several types of this disease:

Posthemorrhagic anemia. It occurs due to blood loss, and it does not matter whether the bleeding is internal or external. It can appear as a result of injury that affects the vessels of the circulatory system and internal organs. Of course, it is extremely difficult to detect a disease if the bleeding is internal, especially if we are talking about a chronic process. But you can notice blanching of the mucous membranes, and subcutaneous hemorrhages of a pinpoint type often appear.
Hypoplastic anemia. This form of the disease is associated with a lack of any microelements, proteins or iron, copper, zinc, selenium, B vitamins or folic acid. If the pet receives a complete diet enriched with useful elements, hypoplastic anemia may develop due to damage to bone marrow cells by toxic substances. Toxins can accumulate in the body due to past infectious diseases or impaired metabolism.
Nutritional anemia. Belongs to the category of hypoplastic anemia. It develops in puppies from an early age if they receive improper, unbalanced nutrition. It may be associated with a lack of iron in the diet; the pathology of impaired absorption from the intestines is much less common.
Aplastic form of pathology. Develops as a result of severe disturbances in the activity of the hematopoietic system. Pathology concerns not only the formation of red blood cells, but also other blood cells. Complicated hypoplastic anemia can develop over time into aplastic anemia.

In addition, veterinarians can diagnose regenerative and non-regenerative forms of anemia in dogs. With the first type of pathology, the body is able to compensate for the loss of red blood cells by producing new ones quite quickly, but with the second form, rapid recovery does not occur.

The occurrence of the disease can be affected by the following conditions and processes:

Injuries that cause large blood loss.
Excessive internal bleeding formed in the gastrointestinal tract (occurs due to severe inflammatory processes or infectious diseases).
Infectious diseases (most often anemia develops against the background of tick-borne infestation); in most cases, small dogs suffer from anemia.
Immune-mediated (autoimmune) diseases that cause the body's systems to destroy its own red blood cells.
Taking medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which often cause bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
Aphanipterosis - infection. As with tick infestations, there is an increased danger for representatives of toy breeds and puppies.
Poisoning of a dog with toxic substances or heavy metals, causing severe intoxication of the body.
Ailments in a chronic form (dogs, especially older ones, often suffer from kidney failure and oncology), the treatment of which uses medications that reduce the production of red blood cells.

Symptoms of anemia can be different and depend directly on the causes of its development.

Symptoms and signs of anemia in dogs

The main function of red blood cells is to carry oxygen, which is extremely important for their functioning, to all tissues and organs. Therefore, a decrease in the level of red blood cells leads to lethargy in the dog, and it is difficult for the animal to endure physical activity. The pet is increasingly in a lying position, does not show activity, and gets up only when needed.

The pet's appetite decreases, or it may even lose its appetite. With anemia, paleness or blueness of the mucous membranes is observed; if you feel the dog’s gums, then with anemia they are cold.

If the disease does not appear due to bleeding, but against the background of severe intoxication or helminthic or tick infestation, then these symptoms develop at a slow pace. Most often, dog owners do not suspect that their pet is sick for a long time.

During autoimmune anemia, more severe symptoms may occur:

Dyspnea.
Malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract - vomiting, loose stools.
Polyuria is an increase in the amount of urine (does not always occur).
Polydipsia - increased thirst, the pet drinks a very large amount of water.
Feverish condition.

During the examination, tachycardia, systolic murmurs, rapid breathing, and jaundice may be detected. Urine may be brown due to staining with hemoglobin or bilirubin. Ultrasound and other research methods reveal enlargement of organs - liver, spleen, and lymph nodes.

Which dogs are at risk?

Anemia can develop in absolutely all dogs, purebreds, mixed breeds, adults or puppies. But a special risk group includes dogs with a history of stomach or duodenal ulcers, as well as animals with hereditary pathologies.

This also includes greyhounds, since these breeds are prone to diseases of infectious origin, and these, in turn, lead to the development of anemia.

Diagnosing the disease in dogs

Anemia is detected through a blood test. The most commonly used method for determining the hemocrit value is carried out as part of a clinical blood test. If the indicator is 35% below normal, the pet will be diagnosed with anemia.

Among other tests to diagnose anemia, the following are taken:

A set of measures allows you to find out exactly what caused the dog’s anemia. Based on the results, timely effective treatment is prescribed.

Therapeutic treatment of anemia in dogs

Considering the above, we can agree that there is no single method of treating anemia. Therapy directly depends on what caused the disease. In addition, when prescribing treatment, the veterinarian evaluates the pet’s condition, taking into account its age and body characteristics.

For anemia, the following procedures can be used:

During the treatment process, monitoring the pet’s condition is extremely important, and regular monitoring after treatment.

With adequate treatment, the signs of the acute form of aplastic anemia disappear after 21-28 days. The chronic course of diseases of this type is more complex and requires a very serious approach. Even after a course of therapy, the animal cannot fully recover for a long time.

Naturally, a young animal recovers faster from any type of illness, and the disease is relatively easier. In a young body, the recovery period, including after surgery, takes less time.

Anemia in dogs on video

Prognosis for dogs with anemia

Of course, the prognosis for a pet with anemia depends on the type and form of the disease, the state of the body and other factors. With hemolytic anemia, dogs of any age, even older ones, recover fairly quickly. Naturally, if timely diagnosis and treatment were carried out.

If anemia is caused by intoxication with toxic substances or autoimmune diseases, then the prognosis is less favorable.

Anemia associated with cancer, in most cases, ends in the death of the animal, since the dog’s body reacts poorly to chemotherapy or surgery.

Anemia is a serious illness, so it is important to help your pet in time!

Anemia is a very serious disease that occurs not only in humans, but also in animals. Its insidiousness lies in the fact that due to the reduced nutritional value of the blood, various concomitant pathologies can develop, which very often lead to the slow and painful death of the animal. Therefore, every person should have an idea of how to timely diagnose this disease in their pet so that treatment can be started on time. In this article we will take a detailed look at what kind of disease anemia is, what clinical manifestations it is accompanied by, as well as what treatment methods exist.

General information about pathology

Anemia in dogs (symptoms and treatment will be described below) is a condition in which the normal composition of the blood changes and the number of red blood cells in it is significantly reduced. They are responsible for the transport of oxygen and nutrients, therefore, when they are deficient, the internal organs begin to experience oxygen starvation, as a result of which their normal functioning is disrupted, which, in turn, affects the condition of the entire body.

Unfortunately, modern medicine does not know any methods that would completely cure an animal of anemia. This is due to the fact that it can develop due to a huge number of factors that are fundamentally unrelated to each other. Moreover, there are no universal preventive measures that would reduce the likelihood of developing anemia. It all depends on the individual characteristics of each animal.

Main causes of the disease

Let's look at them in more detail. As already mentioned, there are many factors that can provoke the development of anemia. But qualified veterinarians say the most common causes of anemia in dogs are:

decreased circulating blood volume due to severe bleeding;
various pathologies in which red blood cells are damaged;
disruption of the functioning of the hematopoietic system.

It is worth noting that regardless of the reasons for which anemia developed in dogs, it can be regenerative in nature. Simply put, the animal’s body is independently able to restore the missing blood volume, as a result of which the disease will disappear. But most often, non-regenerative anemia occurs, in which the chances of a complete recovery are practically reduced to zero.

Classification

Depending on the cause of the pathology, veterinarians divide anemia into several types. The following types of anemia in dogs are currently known:

posthemorrhagic;
hemolytic;
hypoplastic;
aplastic.

Depending on the stage of the pathology, it can be primary or secondary. Forms of anemia differ from each other in the intensity and severity of clinical manifestations, as well as associated problems. In addition, hemolytic anemia in dogs can be acute or chronic. The first manifests itself due to a sharp decrease in the volume of circulating blood, and the second occurs slowly and leads to slow depletion of the animal’s body. In chronic anemia, red blood cells are characterized by a short life cycle, so they die quickly and do not have time to fully fulfill their purpose.

General methods for diagnosing the disease

What are they? Anemia in dogs often occurs secretly in the early stages, without noticeable symptoms, so it is very difficult to detect. Only a qualified veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis after examining the animal and undergoing certain laboratory tests. At the first appointment, the specialist prescribes a general urine and blood test. With their help, you can evaluate the structure of red blood cells. This is necessary not only to confirm the presence of the disease, but also to draw up the most effective treatment program.

Special diagnostic methods

Let's look at this in more detail. If anemia in dogs (symptoms and treatment will be described in detail later in this article) has been confirmed, then a comprehensive examination is required to assess the condition of the sick animal. It is aimed at establishing the cause that led to the development of pathology. Advanced diagnostics includes the following types of laboratory tests:

At the same time, you must understand that the more modern and accurate the diagnostic procedure is, the more expensive it is. As for the effectiveness of laboratory tests, they do not always allow one to obtain the expected result.

Features of the development of anemia in animals

The course of anemia, the intensity of clinical manifestations and consequences depend on its cause, the individual characteristics of the animal, the severity and many other factors, for example, whether the dog had internal bleeding or whether there are genetic characteristics.

Red blood cells contain a protein responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients. They have a short life cycle, so red blood cells must constantly reproduce in the body of any living creature. The hematopoietic system is responsible for this. Dead cells are absorbed by macrophages, and hemoglobin is returned to the red bone marrow, from which it is produced.

If there are too few red blood cells, the dog’s body begins to experience oxygen starvation. If the pathology is regenerative in nature, then there will be no serious consequences from the disease, provided that complex therapy is carried out and the pathological process can be stopped.

Clinical manifestations

Anemia in dogs can occur in acute and chronic forms. In the latter case, there are practically no symptoms, so it is almost impossible to independently determine whether the animal has a problem. Acute anemia is almost always pronounced and is accompanied by the following clinical manifestations:

lethargy of the animal;
emotional depression, reminiscent of depression in people;
increased fatigue;
refusal to eat;
increased body temperature;
change in color of mucous membranes;
blood in stool and urine;
bloating;
slight bleeding from the nose and gums;
acute respiratory distress syndrome;
rapid breathing;
tachycardia;
decreased response to external stimuli;
uneven heart function;
loss of creation.

If you notice the symptoms listed above in your pet, do not rush to make a diagnosis. The thing is that anemia in dogs has a lot in common with various other diseases, so it would be best to show the animal to a qualified veterinarian.

Basic methods of animal therapy

This aspect deserves special attention. Treatment of anemia is a very long and complex process that requires an integrated approach. Typically, animal therapy involves the following:

maintaining the dog’s body;
restoration of normal functioning of the hematopoietic system;
eliminating bleeding, if any, as well as restoring normal blood volume and the level of red blood cells in it;
elimination of the main causes that led to the development of anemia.

Today, there are many methods for treating anemia, but the therapy program is selected individually for each animal depending on its clinical picture. Common activities are:

intravenous drips using saline and glucose;
if anemia is of infectious etiology, then a course of antibiotics is prescribed;
for autoimmune hemological anemia, medications aimed at suppressing the activity of the immune system are mandatory;
to improve blood clotting, vitamin K is added to food;
To normalize hematopoietic functions, the veterinarian prescribes medications that contain iron and potassium.

If the pathology is caused by severe bleeding, which cannot be stopped solely with the help of medications, then surgical intervention and blood transfusion in an anemic dog are required. As for the prevention of anemia, today you can find a huge number of drugs on sale that promise a magical effect. However, according to veterinarians, in practice they are not only useless, but can also cause harm to the health of the animal. Unfortunately, there are no therapeutic methods that would prevent or at least reduce the likelihood of developing this dangerous pathology.

Diet of sick animals

Medication alone is not enough. During therapy, special dietary nutrition is also required for anemia in dogs. The animal requires a balanced diet, which must include foods containing large amounts of iron and calcium. Veterinarians recommend including the following products in your daily diet:

Fatty meats, any fried, salted and canned foods, rye bread, white cabbage, spinach and sorrel are prohibited. It is worth noting that when feeding, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the scheme developed by the veterinarian.

Forecast

Even experts are hesitant to say for sure whether a sick animal will be able to recover and how long it will be able to live with anemia. This is due to the fact that this disease is very difficult to predict. If the animal receives proper treatment under the constant supervision of a veterinarian, then there is every chance that the disease will subside. As practice shows, in just 3-4 weeks of intensive complex therapy, the animal returns to normal and returns to its usual way of life. But there were also cases when even after several years of treatment it was not possible to achieve absolutely no result. In this case, the age of the dog plays an important role. Younger individuals have a much higher chance of recovery.

Conclusion

Anemia is called blood cancer for a reason. Like oncology, it never completely disappears, but remains with people and animals until the end of their lives. And the worst thing is that if no measures are taken, the sick person or dog will slowly wither and waste away, after which death will simply occur. Therefore, if you suspect that your pet has anemia, it is better not to hesitate, but to immediately show it to the veterinarian. If you start treatment on time, you can give him several years of life.

Anemia in dogs is a condition of their body in which there is not enough hemoglobin or red blood cells in the blood. Red blood cells have a special function - they carry oxygen from the lungs to other organs. Accordingly, the development of anemia leads to the fact that organs and tissues begin to suffer from a lack of oxygen. In particularly serious cases, this can cause the death of the animal.

Erythrocytes - red blood cells containing hemoglobin - are formed in the bone marrow. They are based on a specific chemical element – iron. And this is true for both dogs and humans. The lifespan of these cells is about 2 months, after which the liver filters them from the blood, the main components are processed in the spleen, and the hemoglobin is sent back to the bone marrow to find itself in new red blood cells. This is the life cycle of a red blood cell.

At any stage of this process, various disorders are possible, which lead to the development of anemia. Thus, a deficiency of iron, as well as B vitamins and folic acid, leads to a lack of hemoglobin in blood cells. There are also diseases that block the restoration of blood cells. Others provoke premature breakdown of red blood cells - hemolysis.

As a rule, dogs do not have primary anemia associated with iron deficiency, although, for example, people suffer from it quite often. However, dogs have a slightly different metabolism, and for them anemia is not an independent disease, but a symptom of other diseases.

In this case, often the amount of blood in the dog’s body does not change, only the qualitative composition is disrupted. Moreover, intuitively the animal will try to improve blood quality by increasing water intake. And this, in turn, can even lead to an increase in the amount of blood in the vessels.

It is not possible to single out any breeds or age categories that are most predisposed to the development of anemia. It can only be said that animals that at birth had diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or a tendency to serious infectious diseases fall into the risk zone.

Causes of anemia in dogs

Anemia in dogs is classified according to a variety of characteristics. For example, there are regenerative and non-regenerative anemias in dogs.

Regenerative anemia in dogs is a condition in which the body is able to independently replace blood loss. Non-regenerative is a condition in which the body copes with the situation on its own.

Anemia can also be divided into primary and secondary. But, as already mentioned, primary anemia in dogs is extremely rare.

Symptoms of Anemia in Dogs

If anemia is associated with a sudden loss of a large amount of blood, then determining it will not be difficult, even if we are talking about internal bleeding. The animal's condition will deteriorate sharply, even to the point of loss of consciousness. The situation is complicated by the fact that in this case you need to act very quickly, otherwise you may not have time to save the animal.

In other cases, diagnosing anemia can be quite difficult. The most striking symptoms may be pallor of the mucous membranes. Their color becomes pale pink or even almost white. In addition, the animal becomes more lethargic, quickly gets tired, and weakens.

Hemolytic anemia can manifest as jaundice and be accompanied by an increase in the amount of bilirubin in the blood and urine.

Much more vivid and pronounced signs appear in the case of autoimmune anemia:

dyspnea,
vomiting, diarrhea,
increased amount of urine
increased thirst,
fever.

Diagnostics

If the owner suspects anemia in his pet, then, first of all, veterinarians will do a blood test, checking the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. It is this indicator that allows us to accurately say whether the dog really has problems with anemia.

However, this is unlikely to be the end of the diagnosis, since for dogs it is very important to determine the cause of anemia. Without this, it will be impossible to choose the appropriate treatment. Iron supplements in most cases can only be maintenance therapy. It is the cause that needs to be treated, not the effect.

Treatment

In case of acute anemia from blood loss, a blood transfusion is performed - blood transfusion for anemia in dogs. This allows you to quickly replenish the lack of blood. For some hereditary diseases, transfusions are also used, but not of pure blood, but of its products: plasma, red blood cells, and so on. A bone marrow transplant is also possible.

In parallel with eliminating the cause of the disease, it is also necessary to stimulate the production of new red blood cells and hemoglobin. To do this, dogs are given supplements of iron, potassium, phosphorus and other minerals, vitamin K1, folic acid, and so on.

Prognosis for sick dogs

Like treatment, prognosis depends entirely on the cause of the disease and the general condition of the dog’s body. So, if the cause of anemia is a cancerous tumor, then this most often leads to the death of the animal. This happens both because the body is weakened by a serious illness and because of aggressive chemotherapy.

Severe chemical poisoning also leaves the dog with little chance of being shown. However, this does not mean that there is no point in fighting for the life and health of an animal.

But if the cause of anemia is an external injury, and help was provided to the animal on time, then most likely the prognosis will be favorable.

It must be understood that many conditions leading to anemia are almost impossible to completely cure. Especially when it comes to hereditary diseases. While others, for example, helminthic infestation, although they require long-term treatment, make it possible to get rid of anemia completely.

Prevention

It is no secret to anyone what an important role blood plays in the body of all mammals. The quality and quantity of this invaluable liquid directly affects the general condition of a person or animal and its life expectancy.

In our article we will look at what happens if anemia occurs in dogs, as well as how and how it is treated. Possession of such information gives owners the opportunity to track pathology in their pets in the early stages and promptly seek help from doctors.

Types of anemia

Anemia is otherwise called anemia, but this does not mean that the disease reduces blood volume. The amount of blood in this pathology remains unchanged, but its qualitative composition changes. This is expressed in a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin and is most often accompanied by a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood.

If we remember that the role of hemoglobin is to deliver oxygen to the body’s cells and remove carbon dioxide from them, then it becomes clear how important it is for a dog’s blood to have a normal amount of this protein.

Anemia has a classification and is divided into several types:

Massive bleeding after injury or surgery causes a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the dog's body, resulting in posthemorrhagic anemia.
When exposed to certain substances or microorganisms, red blood cells are destroyed and this is the cause of hemolytic anemia.
When a dog’s body does not have enough of its own resources to produce red blood cells, hypoplastic and aplastic anemia develops.
If a dog has regenerative anemia, then his body can restore the lost volume of red blood cells; with non-regenerative anemia, such restoration does not occur.

The cause of non-regenerative anemia, as well as post-hemorrhagic anemia, can be severe bleeding, after which the dog needs a lot of effort to heal the wound and replenish the supply of red blood cells.

The problem is that after an injury or surgery, the animal sometimes loses its appetite and, accordingly, its body no longer receives enough nutrients. The dog does not have enough iron to “build” new blood cells, and a type of disease occurs called hypochromic, that is, low-color anemia.

Any of these conditions are dangerous for dogs, so anemia must be treated under the supervision of an experienced veterinarian.

What causes the disease?

The reasons why anemia occurs are quite varied, but it makes sense to consider the most common of them:

Less common causes of anemia include tumors affecting the red blood marrow, infectious diseases, chronic kidney disease, radiation exposure, and long-term use of toxic medications.

Manifestations of the disease

Signs of anemia are associated with the fact that the supply of oxygen to cells in the dog’s body is impaired. It must be taken into account that the symptoms of anemia are often mistaken for other diseases, for example. When anemia occurs, the owner may observe symptoms of the disease in the pet, such as:

Lethargy and depression.
Fatigue, decreased activity.
Bad mood, lethargy.
Drowsiness.
Decreased appetite.
Paleness of the mucous membranes and minor hemorrhages on them.
Arrhythmia and increased heart rate.
Temperature increase.
Traces of blood in stool and urine.
Shallow and rapid breathing.
Increased abdominal volume.

However, the presence of such signs does not allow an accurate diagnosis to be made, since anemia has symptoms similar to other pathologies, and therefore treatment of the dog should begin with instrumental studies.

Establishing diagnosis

The main diagnostic method for determining anemia is a clinical blood test. Based on this study alone, it is already possible to identify anemia. It is more difficult to understand what caused the pathology, so the veterinarian may prescribe:

Despite a wide range of studies, sometimes it is not possible to determine the exact cause of anemia in a dog.

Treatment

The treatment tactics for anemia in dogs are developed by a veterinarian based on data about what caused this pathological condition:

Proper treatment, a balanced diet and good care will help your pet recover in a month and a half, and for chronic anemia, therapy will be prescribed on an ongoing basis.

Prevention and feeding of a dog with anemia

There are no preventive measures that would help completely protect a dog from anemia, but it is recommended to follow the classic rules for preventing diseases:

Vaccinate in a timely manner.
Visit your veterinarian regularly.
Make sure that the dog does not come into contact with toxic substances.
Coordinate the use of any medications with your doctor.
Pay special attention to your diet. You need to feed your dog in a balanced manner, i.e. include foods rich in vitamins and minerals in the menu. Meat, buckwheat and liver, which contain a lot of iron, are well suited for these purposes. When choosing industrial feed, carefully study its composition and give preference to feed made from meat waste, as they contain more nutrients.
Make sure your pet eats regularly, at least 3 times a day. If your dog has a poor appetite, you can try feeding him small, frequent meals, and try to find food he likes.
If necessary, you can correct the lack of nutrients with nutritional supplements. Pregnant and lactating bitches, who often have low hemoglobin, are recommended to be given B vitamins and iron tablets. A doctor at a veterinary clinic will help you choose the right drug and calculate the dosage.

A dog with anemia can live a long and full life if it is treated promptly and strictly follows the recommendations of the attending physician.

Hello, dear readers!

Anemia in dogs (anemia) is a group of symptoms, the common fact of which is a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood, and at the same time the number of red blood cells decreases. Hemoglobin colors blood red. It is one of the components of red blood cells - red blood cells that are formed in the bone marrow and move into the blood. Red blood cells live for 2 months. Then, having died, they are removed from the body, and the blood is renewed with young red blood cells. In a healthy body there is always the right amount of them. An imbalance of red blood cells can be caused by either decreased production or increased loss.

Anemia in dogs - what is it? The concept of “anemia” is only a symptom that implies clarification of what specific disease caused the deficiency of red blood cells.

Causes of anemia in dogs

Diseases that can cause anemia are divided into three categories:

Diseases that provoke the destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis)

Diseases that cause atrophy of the reproductive function of red blood cells in the bone marrow

Chronic severe diseases of internal organs;
Poor or unbalanced diet;
Immune system disorder;
Pathology of the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), making it unable to produce sufficient amounts of hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine). As a result, the metabolic process in the dog’s body slows down;
Poisoning by toxins or chemicals;
Malignant neoplasms (neoplasia).

Symptoms of Anemia in Dogs

Hemoglobin supplies the body's tissues with oxygen. An animal suffering from anemia will experience symptoms caused by a lack of oxygen. There is no strict description of the signs of this disease. Its symptoms will depend on the cause of the disease.

As a rule, the presence of anemia in a dog is indicated by:

Pathologically pale mucous membranes (pale pink or even white). This is especially true for the oral cavity;
Refusal to eat or decreased appetite;
Progressive weakness;
Low performance;
Tendency to sleep;
Dyspnea;
Rapid pulse;
The presence of pustules on the skin (pyoderma) indicates the presence of infection (pus-forming cocci).
The appearance of jaundice (indicates possible hemolytic anemia).

Dogs of all breeds are susceptible to this disease. In mild cases, the above symptoms may not be observed. If signs are present, the animal should be immediately taken to the veterinary clinic. It is important to start treatment in a timely manner - oxygen deficiency can cause irreversible consequences.

Treatment of anemia in dogs, medications.

The prognosis of treatment depends on the severity of the disease and the general condition of the dog:

Severe forms of the disease that threaten the animal’s life require blood transfusion. We are talking about atrophy of the reproductive function of red blood cells in the bone marrow or hemolysis. If necessary, blood is transfused multiple times. This procedure allows you to deliver the necessary oxygen and other nutrients to the tissue cells and thereby stabilize the animal’s condition. But for direct treatment it is necessary to identify the cause of the disease and prescribe appropriate therapy.
To stop bleeding of internal organs, hemostatic medications, for example, Vicasol, are prescribed.
In the treatment of gradual anemia, folic acid, iron, etc. are used.
In case of poisoning by toxins or poisons, steroid hormones are used - corticosteroids, glucocorticoids (prednisolone) and antidotes (antidotes). To increase the effectiveness of treatment, the spleen is sometimes removed.
Autoimmune anemia is treated with immunosuppressants - drugs that reduce the dog's immunity. But this therapy is not always effective. It often leads to side effects and complications leading to the death of the animal.
Dietary nutrition is an important component of therapy. Raw liver is very useful. It contains a lot of microelements, especially iron. Prescribed for anemia caused by iron deficiency.
Vitamin therapy

This disease cannot be guaranteed to be prevented. But preventive measures will help raise the animal strong and able to withstand many ailments that cause anemia. You should take care of his proper nutrition, walk him a lot in the fresh air, regularly go for examinations to the veterinarian, get the required vaccinations, and it is useful to visit a forum for dog lovers.

Associated with immune disorders. The animal's body regards its tissues as foreign and seeks to damage them. As a result, hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) occurs, causing anemia.

This is mainly due to genetic predisposition. Often occurs as a result of cancer, systemic lupus erythematosus, or infection with infectious diseases. Poodles, bobtails, Irish setters, and cocker spaniels are especially prone to this type of anemia. The most vulnerable age period for dogs is from 2 to 8 years. Bitches get sick much more often than males.

Diagnosed through laboratory analysis of blood smears, which allows one to determine external changes in red blood cells. Treatment involves taking medications that reduce the dog's immunity (immunosuppressants) and steroid hormones (corticosteroids). In severe forms of the disease, a blood transfusion is performed and the spleen is removed. The mortality rate for this disease is 40%.

Symptoms of autoimmune hemolytic anemia are often subtle. Often this is:

darkening of urine to brown;
darkening of stool to black;
pale or icteric mucous membranes;
muscle pain;
refusal to eat or loss of appetite;
severe weakness;
heavy breathing;
rapid pulse;
enlarged spleen and peripheral lymph nodes.

Test for anemia in dogs

To determine the diagnosis, an extensive blood test is done.

A quick diagnosis can be made by examining hematocrit - the volume of red blood cells in the blood. Hematocrit shows the content of red blood cells in the blood, expressed as a percentage. If it is 35% lower than normal, then the dog is anemic.

Further research into the cause of anemia is done in the laboratory:

Good luck everyone, see you in the next article.