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Owner’s Guide To Dog Anemia
June 26th, 2009
Anemia in dogs occurs when there is an insufficient amount of red blood cells in the body. This can occur because the body is losing red blood cells too quickly to replace them, or if the body simply isn’t producing red blood cells fast enough. Anemia isn’t a disease, but is a symptom of an underlying condition. You may be wondering what exactly causes anemia in dogs?
Causes
This condition can occur for a number of reasons. Dogs that suffer a traumatic injury can develop anemia. There are also various diseases that prevent proper blood clotting. This can easily lead to anemia. Another possibility is an infestation of parasites like fleas, worms, or ticks. Hypothyroidism and cancer are other diseases that can cause anemia.
Symptoms
Anemia in dogs produces numerous symptoms. Your dog will have pale eyes, gums, and ears since the mucous membranes won’t have any color. He may even start to sleep more than normal and suffer from depression. Other common symptoms of anemia include increased heart rate, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
Diagnosis
Supposedly anemic dogs need to be seen by a vet. It’s important that the underlying cause of anemia be found. A blood test is useful since it can detect the presence of various parasites. The vet may also choose to analyze a stool sample. Since leukemia is a common cause of the condition, your dog may have a bone marrow biopsy to check for it.
Treatment
If your dog has a severe case of anemia, he may need a blood transfusion. Once the cause of the condition has been determined, it will have to be treated also. Milder cases don’t normally require a blood transfusion.
Your precious pet can be susceptible to symptoms of canine illnesses. You can read up on many different potential health problems at dog-illnesses.com. So, come by right now to become informed.
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