Dog Anemia:

Dog anemia is a condition in which the red blood cells count in the blood drops below the normal amount. Usually, anemia in dogs is not a disease, but a symptom of another condition that the dog may be suffering from. Since dogs are largely fed on a non-vegetarian diet, it is rare for a dog to suffer from anemia due to deficiency in its diet.

Anemia simply means that the red blood cells are perishing faster than they are being reproduced. In dogs, it means that the source of the red blood cells has been affected due to some disease. Since red blood cells are manufactured in the bone marrow, the vet will first check for ailments that may affect the bone marrow of the dog.

Anemia could also be caused in a dog when the dog bleeds due to an injury and proper care is not given to the wound. Sometimes, ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract or hookworms and heartworms could result in internal bleeding, which could cause the dog to suffer from anemia.

Here are some of the common causes of anemia in dogs:

• The primary reason for anemia is blood loss. Injuries and trauma are most commonly associated with blood loss. In dogs, blood loss may also be caused due to parasitic infestation or diseases in which the blood loses its ability to clot.
• There are some typical diseases that cause the breakdown of red blood cells in the body. Such autoimmune diseases or cancerous diseases deplete the number of red blood cells in the body, causing anemia.
• Some autoimmune diseases also prevent the body from synthesizing red blood cells. In some cases, these diseases also destroy the red blood cells in the body.

If your dog is suffering from anemia, it will be listless and appear fatigued. The energy levels will be low, the dog’s appetite will reduce drastically, the gums will become pale, and the dog will pant more than usual. A packed cell volume test is given to the dog in order to ascertain the number of red blood cells in a given volume. This can help identify whether the red blood cell count of the dog is normal or not.
Generally, dogs suffer from anemia when the packed cell volume is less than 35%. A bone marrow biopsy may also be done in order to confirm the tests and to identify the cause of anemia.

Dog Anemia Treatemnt
Dog anemia treatment is preventative in nature. Certain foods and nutrients like beef liver, kelp powder, green vegetables, nutritional yeast and Vitamin C provide necessary nutrients that help prevent the onset of anemia.