your parent will learn about anemia in dogs and cats, and what it means when gums start looking pale and the dog or cat seems lethargic. Is your normally active dog not pulling its weight at the leash? Maybe your cat has suddenly declined to jump up on that window sill she loves so much or is sleeping more than normal? Lethargy in dogs and cats, or basic tiredness, is thought of as a regular thing when an animal ages, or a lazy daytime, but could possibly indicate a more severe, underlying issue with your pet’s circulatory system: Anemia in dogs and cats.
Anemia is not a universal condition. Rather, it is a clinical sign, which can be a serious issue of your pet’s red blood cells. They carry oxygen to all the muscles, tissues and organs of the body, and a sudden decrease in their numbers results in some form of suffocation within the body. It’s very upsetting to see your furry family member grow weaker every day. To assist them in their recovery, it is important to know how anemia occurs, how it can be detected at home, and advanced veterinary treatment to bring them back to their energy and vitality.

What is Anemia?

Anemia occurs when there is not enough red blood cells in the blood. In order to understand the effects of anemia on dogs and cats, one must examine the inside of their bone marrow, where red blood cells are continuously produced. These cells have a high concentration of a protein that contains iron, known as hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
In dogs and cats, anemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells and/or hemoglobin in the blood is abnormally low. If there are not sufficient working cells to supply oxygen, the heart has to work harder and faster to get the job done, causing this to cause exhaustion, weakness, and stress to the tissues.
There are two main types of anemia recognized by veterinarians, which are determined by the response of the bone marrow.

Regenerative Anemia: The bone marrow sees the lack and starts to make more and more of the immature red blood cells (reticulocytes) to make up for it. This is usually when there is sudden loss of blood or destruction of cells.

Non-Regenerative Anemia: The bone marrow is totally inactive, and will not generate new cells. This variant is typically a sign of chronic long-term diseases or of direct bone marrow failure.

The shortage has hidden causes.

There are many medical causes that can lead to anemia in dogs or cats. There are three primary types of causes.

Sudden or chronic blood loss (hemorrhage)

Anemia occurs rapidly when the blood flow out of the body exceeds the amount the body can replace. This may result from a more obvious trauma like being hit by a car or potentially from concealed, internal bleeding, for instance, due to a ruptured splenic tumor (hemangiosarcoma). It can also occur from severe external parasites such as fleas and ticks or from internal parasites (hookworms) which are sucking blood from the intestine over time.

Damage to red blood cells (Hemolysis)

Sometimes the body makes abundant cells which die before entering the blood stream. Many times this is related to a serious, life-threatening autoimmune condition called Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) in which the pet’s immune system attacks its own red blood cells. Blood parasites (such as Babesia or Mycoplasma) and a number of other substances that might be accidentally ingested, such as zinc (pennies minted after 1982), onions, garlic or certain medicines for humans are all possible causes of hemolysis.

Poor production due to low levels of bone marrow.

If the bone marrow is unable to make cells, then non-regenerative anemia occurs. This is a common secondary problem of Chronic Kidney Disease. The kidneys also make an important hormone, called erythropoietin, which tells the bone marrow to make red blood cells. If the kidneys fail, the hormones begin to decrease and the cells will not produce any more. Chronic infections, cancers and viral diseases such as Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) directly affect the function of the bone marrow.

The symptoms that every pet parent should check are:

The signs of a declining red blood cell count may be hard to detect in the early phases of anemia in dogs and cats, so pet owners must familiarize themselves with the physical indicators.

 

• • Pale or White Gums: This is the most definite clinical sign. Hold your pet’s lip and check their gums. If a dog’s gums are healthy, they should be bubblegum pink. If they are pale pink or white or have a slight yellowish (icteric) tone, then your pet is probably anemic.

• • Excessive lethargy and exercise intolerance: You pet may get tired after walking a short distance, not want to play or stay in dark corners all day.

• • Rapid Breathing and Heart Rate: Tissues are oxygen deprived, so the machine must work much harder. Your pet might pant heavily when resting and/or breathe faster.

• • Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss: Gradually lessening interest in food or treats, muscle loss.

• • Jaundice (Yellow Skin or Eyes): If the anemia is due to rapid destruction of the red blood cells, a yellowish substance called bilirubin accumulates in the tissues, causing the whites of the eyes and ears to turn yellow.

How the vet determines the severity and diagnosis.

Once you suspect anemia in your dogs and cats, your veterinarian will immediately conduct diagnostic testing in your pet to confirm the diagnosis and determine the underlying cause.

Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Packed Cell Volume (PCV)

The fastest method of testing for anemia is through a PCV test. A small blood sample is taken, placed in a centrifuge and the percentage of red blood cells is compared against the volume of blood. A normal PCV for dogs is roughly 35% to 55%, and for cats, it is 30% to 45%. Pet’s PCV levels outside these ranges indicate anemia. The absolute reticulocyte count is also measured to see if the bone marrow is actively opposing the anemia.

Blood Smear Evaluation

A drop of blood will be examined with a microscope by a veterinary pathologist to inspect the physical structure of the cells. Abnormally-shaped cells (such as spherocytes) may confirm the diagnosis of an autoimmune disorder such as IMHA and a close examination may identify minute blood parasites attached to the cell walls.

Advanced Treatment Options

Treatment of anemia in dogs and cats depends solely on the extent of the anemia (the number of cells lacking), and the disease process.

Lifesaving Blood Transfusions

If the PCV is below the danger level (usually 15-20%), the pet may need an emergency blood transfusion to stabilize them. Dogs and cats also have blood types, and vets will do a compatibility cross match before giving donor blood. Transfusions are not a cure for the underlying condition, but do give the veterinary team valuable time to allow medications to take effect.

Targeted Medical Protocols

 

• • Immunosuppressive Drugs: High doses of immunosuppressive drugs such as corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone) or more sophisticated immunomodulators (e.g. cyclosporine) may be administered to prevent the immune system from attacking its own blood cells in cases of IMHA.

• • Antibiotics/Antiparasitics: To eliminate underlying blood parasites, tick-borne diseases or bacterial infections.

• • Hormone Therapy (Erythropoietin): If your pet has chronic kidney failure, this hormone can be given in a synthetic form to stimulate your pet’s lazy bone marrow and get it producing new cells.

• • When severe flea, tick or hookworm infestations are present, they are treated aggressively to prevent active blood loss.

Conclusion

Anemia is a condition that can be complex and quite intimidating to the pet owner, but is one of the areas that veterinary medicine has developed thoroughly in recent years to deal with. Early detection is the key to successful recovery. Pets will have naturally varying gum colors, but intense redness, blue colors, or changes in color at any point should be cause for concern, as should be any sudden decrease in activity or rapid breathing. Routine gum checks at home, watching for sudden changes in energy or rapid breathing, and prompt veterinary action at the first sign of trouble, can mean catching the underlying disease process before it becomes life-threatening. Many pets with anemia recover and fill their blood back up and enjoy a happy, active life if the necessary diagnostic puzzle pieces are placed and the right treatment plan is followed.

FAQ

Q: Yes, dogs and cats have blood types that are different if used for transfusion.

A: Yes. There are more than 12 blood group systems in dogs, known as DEA (Dog Erythrocyte Antigen). The blood typing system in cats is very strict and distinct, with only A, B, and AB blood types. The process of typing and cross-matching are important, particularly with cats, where incompatible blood transfusion reactions can be fatal.

Q: Is there a special diet that I can give my pet to treat her anemia?

A: Nutritional deficiencies are a very rare cause of anemia in dogs and cats, while iron-rich foods are extremely good for humans that are iron deficient. An increase in iron intake will not cure iron-deficiency anemia due to autoimmune disorders, cancer, kidney disease or rapid bleeding. Always treat the root cause, as directed by the veterinarian.

Q: What is the recovery time for an anemic pet varies by the cause of the anemia, the severity, and the type of pet?

A: Usually it takes the body 2 to 3 weeks to produce a normal supply of mature red blood cells and to return the PCV to normal when the bone marrow is healthy and the problem (such as flea infestation, slow bleeding etc.) has been eliminated completely.