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Regenerative Anemia in Dogs

Blood is made up a cellular portion, and a liquid portion called plasma. This cellular makeup of blood includes the red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells. When there are not enough red blood cells, the body is said to be anemic. One type of anemia, regenerative anemia, occurs when the body loses blood faster than it can be regenerated, despite the fact that new red blood cells are being produced in the bone marrow.

This condition can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how regenerateive anemia affects cats, please visit this page in the PetMD health library.

Symptoms and Types

• Pale gums
• Pale eyes and ears
• Weakness
• Rapid heart beat
• Depression
• Sleeping more than normal
• Failure to groom
• Weak appetite
• Excessive panting
• Heart murmur
• Hemolytic anemia:
  • Yellow gums
  • Yellowing of whites of eyes

Causes

• Parasites (worms)
• Fleas
• Wound
• Cancer
• Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as aspirin and ibuprofen
• Hemolytic anemia, which can be due to :
  • Ingestion of toxic materials
  • Ingestion of pennies
  • Ingestion of onions and/or acetaminophen
  • Bacterial and viral infections
  • Defective red blood cells
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Parasites of the blood

Diagnosis

• Complete blood test (CBC)
• Packed cell volume test (PCV)
• Urinalysis
• Bone marrow aspirate

Treatment

Blood-building vitamins and minerals are the treatment regimen of choice; transfusions will be required in severe cases. In the case of hemolytic anemia, this is usually a crisis situation, and transfusions are not effective because the new blood is destroyed as soon as it is added. Hemolytic anemia is treated with antibiotics and drugs, slowing the destruction of red blood cells.

Living and Management

Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for treatment. If your dog is severely anemic, it will probably need repeated transfusions. Extra care and protection will be required during this period. Also, keep your dog away from other animals during recovery, as they may overexert your pet. Keeping it in a cage may help in this case.

At first, your dog will need to be checked by the veterinarian every 24 hours, as its red blood cell count begins to rise, and then every three to five days for check-ups to be be done. In case of acute bleeding, normal values should be seen after about 14 days; however, it may take longer if the anemia had other causes.