Anemia in dogs

Anemia in dogs

Anemia in dogs has many possible causes, and can range from mild to severe, and can be fatal.

Anemia is not contagious. However, anemia can be caused by infectious diseases, such as ehrlichiosis, which is transmitted through a tick bite that can be passed from one animal to another.

What is anemia?

Anemia is defined as a deficiency of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the blood. In anemic adult dogs, the concentration of red blood cells in the total blood volume is less than 37% of the volume, when the normal concentration would be between 39 and 60%.

The purpose of red blood cells is to transport oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body. They are produced in the bone marrow and have an average lifespan of 110 to 120 days. At the end of these days, they are retained in the spleen where they are recycled to create new red blood cells.

Signs of Anemia in Dogs 

• Fatigue.
•  Decreased appetite.
•  Paleness of the mucous membranes of the mouth and genitals; the gums and tongue become pale pink to white. 
•  Weakness (difficulty exercising).
•  Rapid pulse and respiratory rate in dogs with severe anemia.
•  Drowsiness.
•  Paler skin than normal.

Other signs (depending on the type of anemia):

• Yellowing of the skin and white parts of the eyes (jaundice) in cases of Hemolytic Anemia. 
•  Dark brown urine (hemoglobulin) in case of Hemolytic Anemia.
•  Seizures
•  Fainting.

Danger of severe anemia: the dog could collapse due to intense effort.

Main causes of anemia

• Infectious diseases, including certain tick-borne diseases (ehrlichiosis). 
•  Severe flea infestations (especially in very small dogs and puppies).
•  Severe disease or inflammation that causes bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
•  Reaction to certain medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
•  Congenital disease (genetically inherited by a recessive gene).
•  Immune-mediated disease (the immune system attacks its own red blood cells).
•  Kidney disease (may cause bleeding).
•  Exposure to toxins such as lead, ingestion of toxic products such as herbicides, absorption of bulbs, nitrates, methylene azide…
•  Cancer (may cause bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract or bleeding from the tumor).

How Can I Prevent Anemia? 

Foods such as offal, sardines, red meat and eggs can help your dog not only prevent but also recover from anemia, as they are foods rich in iron. You can also complement them with oranges, rich in vitamin C. In the case of calf liver, which provides large amounts of iron, vitamin B and B12, it must be taken into account that this is where most toxins accumulate, so we must make sure that it comes from organic farming. 

ATTENTION: REMEMBER THAT IF YOU GIVE HIM RAW SUPPLEMENTS DO NOT MIX THEM WITH THE FEED, WAIT ABOUT 12 HOURS FROM THE LAST TIME HE ATE FEED AND THEN ABOUT 6 HOURS UNTIL YOU EAT FEED AGAIN SINCE FEED AND RAW FOOD INVOLVE DIFFERENT DIGESTIONS. IN CASE OF FEEDING HIM WITH BARF DIET YOU CAN INCLUDE IT IN YOUR DAILY DIET.

Anemia caused by ticks and fleas can be prevented with collars and pipettes.

Anemia caused by medication: when prescribed by your vet, carefully read the side effects and monitor your dog in case any develop (vomiting, loss of appetite, etc.). If any develop, consult your vet immediately.

Use natural or non-toxic cleaners at home.

Types of anemia, what causes them in dogs?

1.- Anemia due to blood loss

The most common causes of blood loss in adult dogs are:

• traumatized,
•  Slow gastrointestinal bleeding associated with stomach and duodenal ulcers,
•  parasites,
•  tumors in the gastrointestinal tract,

In puppies, hookworms and fleas are common causes of chronic blood loss.

2.- Hemolytic anemia

Hemolytic anemia is caused by an acceleration of the process of decomposition of red blood cells, causing an accumulation of bile and hemoglobin (products of the decomposition of old red blood cells) in the body. As a result, the spleen, liver and lymph nodes become inflamed. In other words, hemolytic anemia is caused by the destruction of red blood cells.

The most common causes of Hemolytic Anemia are:

• Serious infectious diseases (babesiosis and canine leptospirosis) caused by tick bites.
•  Ingestion of toxic products such as herbicides, absorption of bulbs, nitrates, methylene azide…
•  Reactions to medications such as paracetamol.
•  Poisonous snake bites.
• Congenital:
  • How does it occur? Hereditary abnormalities in the structure of red blood cells that cause their premature destruction.
  •  Are some dogs more prone to suffer from it? Breeds such as English Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels have a recessive trait that causes them to have a deficiency in the enzyme phosphofructokinase that causes changes in the pH of red blood cells, causing the cells to periodically fragment and produce episodes of hemoglobinuria. Also breeds such as Basenjis, Beagles and West Highland White Terriers are more prone to have pyruvate kinase deficiency (enzyme in red blood cells) caused by an autosomal recessive gene. Puppies that suffer from it usually develop it between 2 and 12 months of age.
  •  What is the prognosis? It is usually poor and can cause the dog to die within 3 years.
• Immunodeficiency: the most common of the Hemolytic Anemias;
  • How does this happen? Antibodies mistakenly attack antigens present on cells in the dog's own organs or tissues or attack antigens from organisms attached to the walls of red blood cells. These weakened cells are trapped in the spleen and destroyed.
  •  Are there dogs more prone to suffer from it? Breeds such as the Poodle, English Bobtail, Irish Setter and Cocker Spaniel are more predisposed to immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia. However, all dogs are susceptible to it. Dogs between 2 and 8 years old are also more prone to it, with females being more likely to suffer from it (ratio of four to one).
  •  What is the most common cause? Idiopathic, that is, unknown. Although it also occurs when the dog suffers from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

3.- Anemia of medullary origin

The cause of anemia of bone marrow origin is that the bone marrow does not produce enough red blood cells due to:

• A reduction in the synthesis of erythropoietin by the kidney, mainly in cases of renal failure, which causes a decrease in the number of stem cells that can be blocked by tumor cells or by sclerosis that invades the bone marrow; they can also be destroyed by cytotoxic agents (such as antimitotics used in the treatment of certain cancers in dogs).
•  Chronic digestive disorders such as (chronic diarrhoea of ​​parasitic origin, tumours in the digestive tract, etc.) can cause deficiencies in the formation of haemoglobin (iron) or in the formation of the red blood cell nucleus (participated in the synthesis of vitamin B9 and B12).

How is anemia diagnosed and treated? 

A quick blood test called hematocrit indicates the volume of red blood cells in the bloodstream. If the result is below the normal range, anemia is diagnosed.

In addition, there are other blood tests that can provide more detailed information about anemia, such as:

• To test whether the body is making new red blood cells to replace lost or destroyed red blood cells.
•  Analyze the structure of red blood cells to help determine suspected causes of anemia.
•  Perform a complete blood cell count by examining red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Other diagnostic tests your veterinarian may recommend include:

• Analysis of the presence of parasites.
•  Radiographs (x-rays) of the abdomen to check for any masses that may be bleeding,
•  An ultrasound of the abdomen to check for lumps and fluid (blood) in the abdomen.
•  Spinal cord puncture.
•  A genetic profile.
•  Urine analysis.
•  Stool analysis.

It is very important to identify the cause of anemia so that appropriate and effective treatment can be given.

In the case of anemia caused by sudden loss of a large amount of blood or severe anemia resulting in severe blood loss, a blood transfusion is usually the most recommended. This is vital to ensure the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the major organs. Sometimes even multiple transfusions are necessary before the dog can produce enough red blood cells on its own.

In the case of immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia, treatment is primarily aimed at preventing further destruction of red blood cells by blocking the antigen-antibody reaction. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are mainly used for this purpose. In the case of severe anaemia, blood transfusions are performed. In extreme cases, and only when it is proven that the spleen is contributing to the haemolytic process, its removal may be beneficial. Even with any of the above treatments, the mortality rate is close to 40%.

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