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Dog Anemia Treatments, Causes | Anemic Dog Symptoms, Diagnosis

Filed under: Dog Health — Tags: , , , — Nik @ 5:56 am

Dog Anemia Cure:

Anemia is a condition where the body suffers a deficiency of red blood cells because of a lack of hemoglobin – the oxygen carrying pigment that gives blood its red color. Though anemia is a specific disease, it is usually caused due to another health condition or is a symptom of a graver underlying condition.
When there is a deficiency of iron in the body of the dog, the body is not able to synthesize the optimum amount of red blood cells. Due to this, the blood is not able to carry enough oxygen to the various organs and the organs are not able to function optimally.

Anemic Dog Symptoms:

The first sign of anemia in dog is the disappearance of color from the gums. The gums of the dog may begin to appear pale. The dog could be very low on energy and prefer to rest most of the time. The dog may no longer be interested in any play activity. Dogs that are anemic seem extremely listless and tired.

Dog Anemia Causes:

Anemia is usually caused due to loss of blood from an injury or a disease which hinders natural clotting of blood. Diseases that cause red blood cells to break down may also be responsible for anemia. There are diseases which may cause a decrease in the production of red blood cells; such diseases may also cause anemia. Heavy infestation of parasites like fleas, ticks and worms may also be responsible for anemia in dogs.

Dog Anemia Diagnosis:

The first test that is done to check for anemia is the packed cell volume. This is a simple blood test to check for the red blood cell count in the blood. A packed cell volume of less than 35% is an indication of anemia in the dog.

The doctor may also take a stained blood smear to test whether the dog’s bone marrow is able to produce enough red blood cells or not. If the test detects an increased number of immature red blood cells, it means that the bone marrow is responsive and is trying to fulfill the needs of the body.
The blood smear test may also reveal the parasites that are responsible for the destruction of red blood cells. If there is a presence of abnormally shaped cells, it may be an indication of leukemia. To test the cells from the bone marrow, the doctor may ask for a bone marrow biopsy. The doctor may also require analysis of the urine or feces to determine parasitic presence.

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