As the name suggests, anemia means that your dog has too little blood, or more precisely, that the number of erythrocytes (red blood cells) and hemoglobin (the pigment in blood) is reduced. Anemia is not a disease in itself, but a symptom that can accompany many different diseases.
The protein hemoglobin found in red blood cells is responsible for transporting oxygen in the body. If the hemoglobin concentration in the blood is low, the blood's ability to transport oxygen decreases and the body reacts by increasing the heart rate in order to continue transporting sufficient oxygen to the organs.
In a healthy body, there is a balance between the formation, consumption, and breakdown of red blood cells. A disturbance of this balance leads to anemia.
Depending on how it develops, different forms of anemia can be distinguished:
In terms of the body's ability to repair itself, a distinction is made between regenerative and non-regenerative anemia. Regenerative anemia occurs when blood loss, increased erythrocyte breakdown, or erythrocyte destruction can be compensated for by increased production in the bone marrow. If the bone marrow itself is damaged and therefore no longer able to produce and release enough new erythrocytes, this is referred to as non-regenerative anemia. Kidney and thyroid disorders or iron deficiency can also lead to insufficient production of red blood cells.
The classic symptoms of anemia are pale mucous membranes, shortness of breath, weakness, increased heart rate, and rapid fatigue. However, the actual symptoms are often mixed with those of the underlying disease, making diagnosis difficult. The more sudden and rapid the development of anemia, the more pronounced the symptoms. A slowly declining hemoglobin level is tolerated by the body down to a lower limit, below which an abrupt collapse can occur.
The symptoms of the underlying disease can provide clues as to the type of anemia. For example, bleeding of the skin or mucous membranes is a sign of coagulation disorders, and the presence of blood or parasites in the stool is an initial indication of occult (hidden) bleeding. If the anemia is caused by increased blood breakdown, the release of the blood pigment causes a yellow discoloration of the mucous membranes (jaundice = icterus).
During a general examination, your veterinarian will be able to identify the first signs of anemia, such as fatigue, jaundice, or mucosal bleeding. Depending on the underlying condition, further tests may be necessary.
A blood test is standard procedure for many conditions and often provides the veterinarian with valuable information about the animal's state of health and may indicate a specific disease. A small blood count is routinely performed to determine the hematocrit, which represents the proportion of red blood cells in the total blood volume. If it is low, anemia is present. However, the exact type of anemia can only be determined with further laboratory tests.
The overall aim of treatment is to influence the underlying disease. However, if severe anemia is present, it must first be treated symptomatically in order to stabilize the dog. In life-threatening cases, the affected dog must be given a blood transfusion. At the same time, the consequences of anemia, such as oxygen deficiency, must be alleviated by administering oxygen. Further treatment depends on the underlying disease and its cause. The patient's blood values should be closely monitored over a longer period of time.
Anemia can be caused by a variety of different diseases. Comprehensive prevention is therefore virtually impossible. However, as a pet owner, you can protect your dog with adequate vaccinations against infectious diseases such as distemper or parvovirus, which can cause anemia. Appropriate parasite prevention can also protect against blood parasites transmitted by ticks, for example.
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