| Your dog is not exempt from anemia. Anemia is not a | | | | vessels or internal organs. Fleas, ticks, and hookworms |
| specific disease, but it is the result of a disease | | | | can cause blood loss. Intestinal tract, kidney, and urinary |
| process. Anemia happens when red blood cells, | | | | tract tumors can cause blood loss. Blood loss could be |
| hemoglobin, or both are drastically reduced. There are | | | | caused by diseases that prevent proper blood clotting. |
| common signs of anemia in dogs, such as: loss of pink | | | | 2. Diseases that cause hemolysis (red blood cell |
| color of the gums, tired, listless, and very lethargic. | | | | breakdown) - Diseases that cause the red blood cells |
| Anemia is not the same type of disease as in humans. | | | | to destruct include: autoimmune disease, blood |
| It is not caused by iron deficiency. | | | | parasites, chemicals and toxins, and cancer. |
| These signs alone warrant a visit to the veterinarian. | | | | 3. Diseases that decrease red blood cell production - |
| Your dog's veterinarian will take several tests on the | | | | Bone marrow suppression can be the result of |
| red blood cells. The most common test is the PCV | | | | decreased red blood cells because of: severe, chronic |
| (packed cell volume). If your dog is diagnosed with | | | | disease, poor nutrition or nutritional imbalances, |
| anemia, there may be some other tests that will need | | | | autoimmune disease, hypothyroidism, chemicals and |
| to be done. The veterinarian will need to know if the | | | | toxins, and cancer. |
| bone marrow is producing increased numbers of new | | | | Treating anemia can be moderate or severe. If it is |
| red blood cells to replace the lost. This can be shown | | | | life-threatening, a blood transfusion may be needed. |
| in a blood smear. | | | | This will stabilize a dog in order to give the veterinarian |
| Also in a blood smear, parasites will be looked for that | | | | time to find out the source of the anemia. If the anemia |
| might be causing the destruction of the red blood cells. | | | | is moderate, you will need to make sure your dog can |
| This could be a sign of leukemia. Parasite presence will | | | | get enough nutrition during this time, especially. |
| be tested also in a fecal exam. This is also a reason | | | | Making sure your dog is given all natural healthy dog |
| that could be causing blood loss. | | | | food packed full with vitamins and minerals will help |
| These are a few tests that can be run to find the | | | | give your dog more strength during this tough period. |
| cause of your dog's anemia. It is important for these | | | | Hopefully, the veterinarian will find out the cause of the |
| tests to be done because there are many diseases | | | | anemia and your dog will be up and running around in |
| that can cause anemia in dogs. These diseases can | | | | no time. Consider keeping your dog on an all natural |
| be grouped into three different groups. These are: | | | | dog food to help protect him from becoming sick in the |
| 1. Diseases that cause blood loss - These diseases | | | | future. |
| can be caused by trauma or injury that severs blood | | | | |