Anemia is a very serious disease that occurs not only in humans, but also in animals. Its insidiousness lies in the fact that due to the reduced nutritional value of the blood, various associated pathologies can develop, which very often lead to a slow and painful death of the animal. Therefore, each person should have an idea of how to diagnose this disease in a timely manner with his pet so that treatment can be started on time. In this article, we will examine in detail what kind of disease it is - anemia, what clinical manifestations it is accompanied by, and also what methods of therapy exist.
General pathology information
Anemia in dogs (symptoms and treatment will be described later) is a condition in which the normal composition of the blood changes and the number of red blood cells decreases significantly. They are responsible for the transport of oxygen and nutrients, so when they are deficient, internal organs begin to experience oxygen starvation, as a result of which their normal functioning is disrupted, which, in turn, affects the state of the whole organism.
Unfortunately, modern medicine does not know methods that would completely cure an animal of anemia. This is due to the fact that it can develop due to the huge number of factors that are fundamentally unrelated to each other. Moreover, there are no universal preventative measures that would reduce the likelihood of developing anemia. It all depends on the individual characteristics of each animal.
The main causes of the disease
Let's dwell on them in more detail. As already mentioned, there are many factors that can trigger the development of anemia. But qualified veterinarians claim that the most common causes of anemia in dogs are as follows:
- decreased circulating blood volume due to severe bleeding;
- various pathologies in which erythrocyte damage occurs;
- impaired functioning of the hematopoietic system.
It is worth noting that regardless of the reasons for the development of anemia in dogs, it can be regenerative in nature. Simply put, the animal’s body can independently restore the missing volume of blood, as a result of which the disease disappears. But most often there is non-regenerative anemia, in which the chances of a full recovery are almost nullified.
Classification
Depending on the cause of the development of the pathology, veterinarians divide anemia into several types. To date, the following types of anemia in dogs are known:
- posthemorrhagic;
- hemolytic;
- hypoplastic;
- aplastic.
Depending on the stage of the pathology, it can be primary and secondary. Forms of anemia differ from each other in the intensity and vivid severity of clinical manifestations, as well as related problems. In addition, hemolytic anemia in dogs can be acute and chronic. The first is due to a sharp decrease in the volume of circulating blood, and the second is slow and leads to a slow depletion of the animal's body. In chronic anemia, red blood cells are characterized by a short life cycle, so they quickly die and do not have time to fully fulfill their mission.
General methods for diagnosing the disease
What are they? Anemia in dogs often in the early stages proceeds secretly, without noticeable symptoms, so it is very difficult to detect. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a qualified veterinarian after examining the animal and undergoing certain laboratory tests. At the first appointment, the specialist prescribes a general analysis of urine and blood. With their help, you can evaluate the structure of red blood cells. This is necessary not only to confirm the presence of the disease, but also to draw up the most effective treatment program.
Special diagnostic methods
Let's dwell on this in more detail. If anemia in dogs (symptoms and treatment will be described in detail later in this article) has been confirmed, then a comprehensive examination is required to assess the condition of the sick animal. It is aimed at establishing the cause that led to the development of pathology. Advanced diagnostics includes the following types of laboratory tests:
- bone marrow biopsy;
- laparoceptis;
- radiography;
- Ultrasound of the peritoneum;
- endoscopy;
- genealogy DNA test;
- mycoplasma analysis.
At the same time, you should understand that the more modern and more accurate the diagnostic procedure is, the more expensive it is. As for the effectiveness of laboratory research, they do not always allow you to get the expected result.
Features of the development of anemia in animals
The occurrence of anemia, the intensity of the clinical manifestations and the consequences depend on its cause, the individual characteristics of the animal, the severity, and many other factors, for example, whether there was internal bleeding in the dog or if there are genetic features.
In red blood cells there is a protein responsible for the transport of oxygen and nutrients. They have a short life cycle, so red blood cells must be constantly reproduced in the body of any living creature. The hemopoietic system is responsible for this. Dead cells are absorbed by macrophages, and hemoglobin returns to the red bone marrow, from which it is produced.
If the red blood cells become too small, then the dog's body begins to experience oxygen starvation. If the pathology is regenerative, then there will be no serious consequences from the disease, provided that complex therapy is carried out and the pathological process can be stopped.
Clinical manifestations
Anemia in dogs can occur in acute and chronic form. In the latter case, the symptoms are practically absent, therefore, it is almost impossible to independently determine the presence of a problem in the animal. Acute anemia is almost always pronounced and is accompanied by the following clinical manifestations:
- lethargy of the animal;
- emotional depression, reminiscent of depression in people;
- fatigue;
- refusal of food;
- fever;
- discoloration of the mucous membranes;
- an admixture of blood in feces and urine;
- bloating;
- small discharge of blood from the nose and gums;
- acute respiratory distress syndrome;
- rapid breathing;
- tachycardia;
- reduced reaction to external stimuli;
- uneven heart function;
- loss of creation.
If you notice the symptoms listed above at your pet, then do not rush to make a diagnosis. The thing is that anemia in dogs has much in common with various other diseases, so it is best to show the animal to a qualified veterinarian.
The main methods of animal therapy
This aspect should be given special significance. The treatment of anemia is a very long and complex process that requires an integrated approach. Typically, animal therapy involves the following:
- maintaining the body of the dog;
- restoration of the normal functioning of the hematopoietic system;
- elimination of bleeding, if any, as well as restoration of the normal blood volume and the level of red blood cells in it;
- elimination of the main causes that led to the development of anemia.
To date, there are many methods of treating anemia, but the treatment program is selected individually for each animal, depending on its clinical picture. Common events are:
- intravenous droppers using saline and glucose;
- if anemia has an infectious etiology, then a course of antibiotics is prescribed;
- with autoimmune hemologic anemia, drugs aimed at suppressing the activity of the immune system are mandatory;
- to improve blood coagulation, vitamin K is added to food;
- to normalize the functions of blood formation, the veterinarian prescribes drugs that include iron and potassium.
If the pathology is caused by severe bleeding, which cannot be stopped solely with the help of medications, then surgical intervention requires a blood transfusion in a dog with anemia. As for the prevention of anemia, today on sale you can find a huge number of drugs that promise a magical effect. However, according to veterinarians, in practice, they are not only useless, but can also harm the health of the animal. Unfortunately, there are no therapeutic methods that would prevent or at least reduce the likelihood of developing this dangerous pathology.
Diet of sick animals
Medications alone can not do. In the process of therapy, special dietary nutrition is also required for anemia in dogs. The animal needs a balanced diet, which must include foods containing a large amount of iron and calcium. Veterinarians recommend the following foods in your daily diet:
- lean meat;
- a fish;
- milk;
- homemade cottage cheese;
- vegetable soups without broth;
- boiled eggs;
- various types of cereals;
- Fresh and boiled fruits and vegetables.
Under the ban is fatty meat, any fried, salted and canned foods, rye bread, cabbage, spinach and sorrel. It is worth noting that when feeding, you must strictly adhere to the scheme developed by the veterinarian.
Forecast
To say for sure whether the sick animal will be able to recover and how much it will be able to survive with anemia at all, even the experts do not dare to say. This is due to the fact that this disease is very difficult to predict. If the animal is provided with proper treatment, under the constant supervision of a veterinarian, then there is every chance that the disease will recede. As practice shows, in just 3-4 weeks of intensive complex therapy, the animal returns to normal and returns to its usual way of life. But there were cases when even after several years of treatment it was not possible to achieve absolutely no result. At the same time, the age of the dog plays an important role. In younger individuals, the chances of recovery are much higher.
Conclusion
Anemia is not just called blood cancer. Like oncology, it never completely disappears, but remains with people and animals for the rest of their lives. And the worst thing is that if you do not take any measures, then a sick person or dog will slowly wither and wither, after which death will simply occur. Therefore, if you have any suspicion of anemia in your pet, it is better not to hesitate, but immediately show it to the veterinarian. If you start treatment on time, then you can give him several years of life.