Non-regenerative Anemia in Dogs

A decrease in red blood cells is called anemia. Typically, bone marrow will respond to this decrease by increasing red blood cell production. However, in non-regenerative anemia, the bone marrow response is inadequate when compared to the increased need. For this reason, dogs who suffer from anemia caused by lead poisoning are put in a very dangerous situation. Also, dogs that become anemic over a period of time will fare better than those who have a sudden onset of anemia. When the anemia progresses slowly, the body has time to adjust to the decreased red blood cell count. Dogs that become anemic quickly may die because of the sudden loss in red blood cells and oxygen.

There are three kinds of anemia: blood loss anemia caused by blood leaking out of the vascular system, as in the case of a wound; hemolytic anemia results from the destruction of red blood cells circulating within the blood stream; and non-regenerative anemia, which is caused by a decrease in red cell production.

The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit this page in the PetMD health library.

Symptoms and Types

• Pale gums or mucous membrane
• Eyes and ears may be pale as well
• Weakness
• Depression
• Sleeping more than normal
• Stop grooming themselves
• Decreased appetite
• Increased breathing and heart rate

Causes

• Bone marrow disease
• Infections (tick disease)
• Abscesses
• Cancer
• Kidney failure
• Drugs
• Toxic chemicals
• Radiation
• Lead poisoning
• Inherited disorders (giant Schnauzers, Border collies, and Beagles are most at risk)

Diagnosis

Anemia is generally a symptom of another disease. Therefore, diagnosis is based on your dog’s history and clinical symptoms, physical examination, complete blood counts, urinalysis, iron testing, and bone marrow testing.

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Immune Mediated Anemia

The immune system in a dog is made up of a collection of specialized cells, proteins, tissues, and organs, which all constitute a solid defense system against a variety of infections, including bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral infections. Antibodies are proteins secreted by specific cells of the immune system, which bind to foreign substances, known as antigens, to destroy them. A diseased condition arises when the body’s immune system mistakenly starts recognizing its own red blood cells (RBCs) as antigens and initiates their destruction. In this process antibodies produced by the immune system bind to the RBCs and destroy them. The hemolysis (destruction) of red blood cells results in the release of hemoglobin, which can lead to jaundice, and further on to anemia when the body cannot produce enough new red blood cells to replace the ones being destroyed. This is why this disease is also known as immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, or IMHA.

The most commonly affected breeds include Irish setters, poodles, English springers, cocker spaniels, collies, and Doberman pinschers. In some breeds hereditary factors are suspected to be responsible but no genetic basis is yet established. These breeds include the Vizsla, Scottish terrier, cocker spaniel, miniature schnauzer, and old English sheepdog. This disease has been reported in dogs within the ages of 1-13 years. Female dogs are found to be at higher risk than males.

Symptoms and Types

• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Poor appetite
• Fainting
• Exercise intolerance
• Vomiting
• Rapid breathing
• Diarrhea
• Increased thirst and urination in some dogs
• Fever
• Jaundice
• Rapid heart rate
• Melena (Black feces due to hemorrhage in gastrointestinal tract)
• Petechia (red, purple spots on the body due to minor hemorrhages)
• Ecchymoses (skin discoloration in patches or bruises)
• Joint pains

Causes

• Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (production of antibodies against the body’s own RBCs and their destruction)
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) (production of antibodies against the body’s own tissues and blood)
• Certain infections like ehrlichia, babesia, and leptospria infections
• Certain drugs, like antibiotics
• Vaccination
• Heartworm disease
• Neoplasia (tumor)
• Neonatal isoerythrolysis (destruction of the red blood cells [erythrocytes] within a puppy’s body system by the action of maternal antibodies)
• Dysregulated immune system
• Idiopathic (unknown cause)

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will perform a detailed and complete physical examination, with laboratory tests, including complete blood tests, biochemical profile and urinalysis. These tests provide valuable information to your veterinarian for the preliminary diagnosis of the disease. More specific testing may be required to confirm the diagnosis and to find the underlying cause in case of secondary IMHA. X-ray images will be taken to evaluate the thorax and abdominal organs, including the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. Echocardiography and ultrasound studies may be used in some animals. Your veterinarian will also take bone marrow samples for specific studies related to the development of RBCs.

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 Anemia, Iron Deficiency in Dogs

When the body is deficient in iron, red cells do not develop as they should. The lack of iron causes the cells that are produced by the bone marrow to be too small, and too low in oxygen-carrying features. In adult dogs, this condition is usually caused by some kind of blood loss. It is important to recognize iron-deficiency anemia, because the underlying disease can be life-threatening.

When the body is deficient in iron, red cells do not develop as they should. The lack of iron causes the cells that are produced by the bone marrow to be too small, and too low in oxygen-carrying features. In adult dogs, this condition is usually caused by some kind of blood loss. It is important to recognize iron-deficiency anemia, because the underlying disease can be life-threatening.

The most common site of the blood loss is the gastrointestinal tract. It is fairly common in adult dogs.

The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit this page in the PetMD health library.

Symptoms and Types 

• Decreased growth rate
• Anorexia
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Depression
• Rapid breathing
• Increased susceptibility to disease
• Dark-colored, tarry stools

Causes 

• Any form of external blood loss
• Blood-sucking parasites (e.g., fleas, ticks, hookworms)
• Lymphoma
• Mass in stomach or intestine
• Urinary tract infection

Diagnosis 

• Complete blood test (CBC)
• Packed cell volume test (PCV)
• Urinalysis
• Bone marrow aspirate
• Test for iron in the blood
• Fecal flotation to rule out hookworms
• Fecal examination for blood

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Article source: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/cardiovascular/c_multi_anemia_iron_deficiency

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Anemia, Megaloblastic (Anemia, Nuclear Maturation Defects) in Dogs

In this disease, red blood cells fail to divide and become abnormally large. These cells are also deficient in necessary DNA material. These giant cells with underdeveloped nuclei are called megaloblasts, or “big cells.” Red blood cells are mainly affected, but white blood cells and platelets can also go through changes.

Giant schnauzers seem to have an inherited tendency to have this kind of anemia. In dogs, it is generally mild, and left treated. The seriousness of the anemia can range from mild to severe. This disease is genetic in Toy Poodles, but it does not require treatment.

The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit this page in the PetMD health library.

Symptoms and Types

• Anorexia
• Diarrhea
• Pale skin color
• Weakness
• Sore mouth and tongue

Causes

• Deficiencies of Vitamin B-12 and folic acid
• Leukemia
• Bone marrow disorder
• Genetics
• Drugs such as chemotherapy

Diagnosis

Tests will be conducted to rule out the following:

• All mild to moderate non-regenerative anemias, including those of inflammatory disease, renal disease, and lead poisoning
• Complete blood counts will be taken and bone marrow aspiration analysis

Complete blood count, biochemistry, and urinalysis will examine the following:

• Is the anemia mild or moderate?
• Is the anemia caused by over-sized cells?
• Bone marrow biopsy usually reveals if there are an abnormal amount of cells

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Anemia, Metabolic (Anemias With Spiculated Red Cells) in Dogs

Metabolic anemia in dogs occurs as the result of any underlying disease related to the kidney, liver, or spleen by which the shape of red blood cells (RBCs) is changed. Normally, red blood cells (RBCs) in dogs are of biconcave discoid shape, but in metabolic anemia, this shape is lost and they become abnormally elongated and blunt, with finger-like projections called spicules coming out of the surface of the RBCs. These abnormalities render RBCs non-functional, and left untreated, can lead to anemia in affected dogs.

Symptoms and Types

There are no specific symptoms related to metabolic anemia in dogs. However, the symptoms related to disease of kidney, liver, or spleen responsible for metabolic anemia may be present.

Causes

• Any disease of kidney, liver, or spleen
• Hemangiosarcoma (malignant cancer) of the liver is frequently seen as a common cause

Diagnosis

You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health and onset of symptoms Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical examination on your dog, including laboratory tests. A complete blood profile, biochemistry profile, complete blood count and urinalysis will be performed. The results of all these tests will provide valuable information for the diagnosis of this disease. These tests will also provide important clues for diagnosing the underlying disease of the kidney, liver, or spleen, which may be responsible for the metabolic anemia. X-ray imaging and ultrasound will expand your veterinarian’s ability to evaluate the liver, kidney, and spleen structures.

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Article source: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/cardiovascular/c_dg_anemia_metabolic

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