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Treatment

For this condition, your dog should be hospitalized. Your veterinarian will decide, dependent on the underlying cause of the polycythemia, whether your dog needs to have some of the excess red blood cells removed by opening a vein - called a phlebotomy, or “letting” - and whether the excess has been caused by low levels of oxygen in the blood, which would require some amount of oxygen therapy. Your dog may also need to be treated with fluid therapy, or with medication if there is a diagnosis of a blood marrow disorder (myeloproliferative/polycythemia vera).

Living and Management

Your veterinarian will schedule follow-up appointments with your dog as necessary to assure a normal packed cell volume, and to follow progress.