Anemia in dogs - causes, symptoms and treatment. Symptoms and treatment of anemia in a dog (autoimmune hemolytic anemia and blood transfusion)

The article will talk about the symptoms and treatment of various types of anemia in dogs. For this species of animals, anemia is the main symptom of some diseases.

Many primary diseases are often associated with a decrease in the nutritional function of the blood. Today we will discuss this area in more detail - we will talk on the topic: anemia in dogs - symptoms and treatment. The information will be useful for all owners, without exception, who would like to know a little more about the pathology, which, at times, is undeservedly ignored in the treatment process.

Anemia, or anemia, is a decrease in the normal number of red blood cells circulating in the general bloodstream - erythrocytes. The main role of these blood cells is to deliver oxygen from the lungs and nutrients from the intestines to all cells in the body.

Unfortunately, there is currently no therapeutic way to categorically prevent anemia in dogs. The causes of anemia are so varied and so fundamentally different from each other that anemia prophylaxis must be considered on an individual basis for each animal.

Anemia in a dog - causes

In dogs, like many warm-blooded living organisms, the following types of anemia are distinguished:

• hemorrhagic anemia. Occurs with severe blood loss, due to a decrease in the total volume of circulating blood in the body.
• Hemolytic anemia in dogs. In the presence of diseases that affect red blood cells.
• Aplastic anemia - with damage to the blood-forming organs, in particular - the red bone marrow.

In addition, each of the listed types of pathology can be regenerative in nature, when the animal's body is able to independently restore the missing number of red blood cells after the treatment of the underlying disease, and non-regenerative - when this is not possible.

Hemolytic anemia in dogs is characterized by the destruction or abnormally short lifespan of red blood cells, resulting in a decrease in the number of red blood cells without affecting the fluid volumes of the blood. This type of anemia can be either immune-mediated or non-immune-mediated. First, autoimmune hemolytic anemia in dogs is a condition in which the animal's own immune system, for some reason, perceives native blood cells as foreign and triggers a cascade of immunological processes to destroy these cells.

A healthy bone marrow is essential for producing the right amount and quality of red blood cells. When an organ is unable to produce blood cells for any reason, a condition known as aplastic anemia (when red blood cells are not produced at all) or hypoplastic anemia (when fewer red blood cells are produced than required) occurs.

Aplastic anemia in dogs can be caused by tumors that take up space in the red bone marrow, chronic kidney disease, and other disorders that interfere with red blood cell production. For example, infectious diseases such as or, some drugs (chemotherapeutic and sulfur-containing drugs, estrogens, phenylbutazone and others), as well as chronic exposure to radiation and toxins.

General principles of diagnosis

It should be emphasized right away that anemia itself is not difficult to diagnose. It is much more difficult to understand the underlying disease that caused anemia, since anemia is often just a symptom and, in order to exclude it, the disease itself must be treated.

Upon admission of the animal for the initial appointment, first of all, a general analysis of blood and urine is performed, regardless of the indications. As a rule, this is enough to diagnose anemia and start looking for the causes that caused it. Anemia is often discovered incidentally during a general examination of the animal.

A smear of fresh blood under a microscope will be extremely helpful in assessing the structure of red blood cells. This technique is carried out, as a rule, in cases where anemia is detected in a dog, but the exact causes of the destruction of red blood cells are unknown. Examination of faeces for the presence of occult blood is carried out in cases of unspecified blood loss.

Special Methods

Some pathological conditions require a more detailed diagnosis in order to find the source of anemia, if the diagnosis of the underlying disease has not yet been made.

Advanced diagnostic tests include a bone marrow biopsy if abnormal red blood cell production is suspected. In addition, taking a sample of free fluid from the abdomen using a process called laparoceptesis may be indicated. With this method, free blood can be detected, which is a secondary pathology in relation to internal trauma, disease of the spleen, or cases of divergence of surgical internal sutures after a previous operation.

Other diagnostic methods:

• Abdominal radiographs.
• Abdominal ultrasound.
• Endoscopy.
• Special tests to detect the presence of mycoplasma in the blood.
• DNA tests that can detect hereditary problems that cause anemia in some dog breeds.
• A chest x-ray may be appropriate if neoplastic cancer is suspected.
• It should be noted that the more complex the diagnostic procedure, the more expensive it is and not always its implementation can show any expected result.

Development and symptoms

Symptoms, as well as subsequent treatment of anemia in dogs, depend on the underlying condition causing the anemia and its severity. Red blood cells contain a protein - hemoglobin, the main task of which is to attach to itself and transport molecular oxygen, as well as nutrients from the intestines. The life span of red blood cells is limited, so their volumes must be constantly replenished by systemic hematopoiesis.

Red blood cells that have become obsolete are engulfed by other cells called macrophages. Part of the hemoglobin in this case returns to the red bone marrow to be included in young cells. The rest of it, like the remains of old or damaged red blood cells, is processed and excreted from the body by the liver.

When a dog develops an abnormally low red blood cell mass and therefore too low hemoglobin, the animal begins to experience varying degrees of oxygen deprivation. Such consequences of anemia can be mild if the process is regenerative in nature, and the primary disease has undergone effective treatment, or life-threatening if the underlying pathological process has led to the fact that the hematopoietic organs can no longer adequately restore the concentration of red blood cells.

Symptoms of Anemia in Dogs

At home, attentive owners can independently distinguish the first symptoms of anemia in their pet, depending on whether it occurs suddenly or is caused by a chronic course.

These signs include:

• General weakness and lethargy of the animal.
• Clinical signs resembling depression.
• Intolerance to physical activity, rapid fatigue.
• Lack of appetite.
• Increase in body temperature.
• Possible yellowing or pallor of the mucous membranes.

• Presence of blood in feces and urine.
• Bloating.
• Pinpoint hemorrhages through the mucous membranes, mainly from the gums and nasal mucosa.
• Difficulty breathing (tachypnea), rapid shallow breathing, respiratory distress.
• Increased heart rate (tachycardia).
• Decreased response to environmental stimuli.
• Uneven work of the heart ().
• Loss of consciousness.

It must be remembered that most of these symptoms are not specific to anemia in dogs, which will primarily affect further treatment.

Dogs at High Risk

Animals of all breeds, ages, and sexes can develop any type of anemia. Hemolytic anemia in dogs due to various hereditary defects occurs more frequently in some breeds, including English Springer Spaniels and less frequently in Cocker Spaniels due to a hereditary deficiency of the enzyme phosphofructokinase. And because of the lack of pyruvate kinase - in hounds, West Highland white terriers, cairn terriers, miniature poodles and dachshunds. Pit bull terriers are prone to anemia caused by infectious agents.

Treatment and prognosis

Therapeutic regimens for the treatment of any type of anemia should simultaneously pursue the following goals:

There is no definite algorithm in the treatment of anemia, since the causes of anemia are quite diverse. However, there are a number of manipulations depending on the condition of a particular dog:

• Intravenous fluid therapy to increase blood volume. Often, saline with glucose is used for this purpose.
• Transfusion of red blood cells, whole blood or prepared plasma.
• Prescribing antibiotics if the cause of anemia was an infection. It is strictly not recommended to use trimethoprim for this purpose, since preparations based on it stimulate the development of aplastic anemia.

Surgical intervention is indicated in cases of impossibility to stop bleeding by general methods and means.

There are many drugs on the market today that promise to prevent anemia in dogs. It should be emphasized that the intake of such funds, no matter what exhortations their distributors use, can be not only useless, but also harmful to the body of a healthy dog. In veterinary medicine, unlike medicine, there is no such thing as the prevention of anemia in dogs, since this type of animal does not require any “support” of the body in this direction. All drugs and supplements of this series should be prescribed to the dog solely on the recommendation of a veterinarian and only for the treatment of anemia or support after, but not prevention.

Forecast

Careful monitoring of the dog's condition and support of the animal after primary treatment are critical to prognosis. Cases of acute aplastic anemia are usually cured within 3-4 weeks after the primary cause of the disease is completely eliminated. Chronic aplastic anemia is a more serious condition and requires many months of recovery, and sometimes several years.

Younger dogs always show a better prognosis, because their red bone marrow has not yet been replaced by yellow - adipose tissue. Hemorrhagic anemia usually has a favorable prognosis once bleeding has been controlled.

Cancer-induced anemia is unfortunately associated with a cautious prognosis, which primarily depends on the animal's response to chemotherapy or surgery.

We really hope that the information in this article on the symptoms and treatment of anemia in dogs will be useful to our readers. In addition, you can read about the same. Questions can be asked in the comments to this article, or

Every dog ​​owner has noticed at least once that his pet gets tired quickly or refuses to eat. Sometimes it doesn't raise any suspicions. But what if this situation repeats itself systematically? Then the poor health of the dog suggests that she is sick. It can be caused by anemia in dogs.

Anemia or anemia is a dangerous disease in dogs associated with a violation of the blood composition. Such a disorder can occur as a symptom of dangerous diseases, and sometimes as a separate phenomenon. A severe form of the disease can pose a threat to the pet's life, so anemia must be noticed and diagnosed in time. To do this, you need to know the causes and symptoms of the onset of the disease.

Anemia in dogs is quite a dangerous disease.

Anemia can develop in dogs of any breed and age. Often it develops among pit bull terriers (such as) or greyhounds. This is due to the fact that these breeds are prone to the appearance of acute or chronic infectious diseases, which can become one of the prerequisites for the development of anemia.

Causes

The causes of the disease can be a variety of factors that negatively affect the health of the dog. The most common of them:

1. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (ulcer).
2. Severe injury leading to blood loss.
3. infectious diseases.
4. Internal bleeding.
5. Reaction to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
6. Bites of ticks, fleas, the appearance of worms.
7. Poisoning with poisons and chemicals.
8. Malignant tumor.

The hereditary factor is also responsible for the occurrence of the problem.

The development of the disease and its symptoms are influenced by the factor that caused anemia. The clinical picture can be distinguished by the following features:

• blanching of the mouth;
• weakness, fatigue;
• drowsiness;
• decreased appetite.

Clinical signs also depend on the type of anemia.

Disease classification

The disease is usually divided into the following varieties:

1. Posthemorrhagic anemia, which appears as a result of internal bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract. The reason for this is gastritis and ulcers. In this case, the pet may fall into a state of shock.
2. Hemolytic anemia. Its appearance is the result of the administration of chemicals or poisons, as well as infection of the body. Symptoms can be: fever, nausea and vomiting, disruption of the intestines.
3. hypoplastic anemia, arising as a result of a lack of B vitamins, iron or folic acids in the body of a dog. Such anemia can be both congenital and acquired. A dog with such a disease fades away gradually, the disease recedes after taking vitamins or wholesome food, and after a while the weakness returns again.

Anemia is also divided into primary and secondary. Primary occurs as a result of administration or exposure to drugs and does not affect the organs of other systems. The secondary becomes a complication of diseases progressing in the dog's body.

The form of anemia can be chronic and acute. The acute form is a single case caused by discharges or injuries that threatens the health of the dog. Chronic anemia is caused by developmental pathologies. Relapses can be observed throughout life. A lethal outcome with such a problem is possible only in the absence of treatment.

Diagnosis of the disease

The disease is diagnosed by a veterinarian by examining the pet's blood. A blood test determines the hemocritical value in the patient's circulatory system. The diagnosis is confirmed when this indicator drops to 30-35%.

To determine the cause of the onset of the disease, the dog is prescribed the following:

• bone marrow biopsy;
• blood tests for biochemical composition;
• general analyzes of urine and feces.

Based on the results of the diagnosis, an effective treatment is selected, the procedures of which begin to be carried out immediately to reduce the risks.

Treatment is selected for the pet individually. This takes into account the causes and degree of development of anemia, the age and weight of the dog, the presence of concomitant diseases.

Along with medical methods, vitamin complexes and procedures are prescribed for the dog to maintain the body, improve the functioning of the immune system. After a period of treatment, it is required to continue constant monitoring of the condition of the dog, since the possibility of a recurrence of the problem is not excluded.

Attention! In the presence of complications or concomitant diseases, a surgical intervention may be prescribed for the pet. Its need and type is selected by a specialist individually in each clinical case, therefore, in no case should you self-medicate a dog.

Effective treatment will get rid of ailments in a period of two weeks to one month. In chronic or severe forms of the disease, treatment procedures can last for many years.

What to feed a dog with anemia

The effectiveness of treatment increases with an integrated approach. The nutrition of the dog plays a big role in this. The diet of your pet must be diversified with foods high in B vitamins and iron. In this case, the liver will be useful.

In addition, you can use the following tips:

1. Taking food supplements. The selection and dosage of such drugs should be carried out by the attending veterinarian. A common choice is ferum and ferroplex.
2. Vitamins. Vitamin complexes with iron content can be mixed with pet food. In the advanced stages of the disease, intramuscular fortified injections can be prescribed to the dog.
3. The right choice of food for anemia is very important. Do not use cheap or generic food. When buying a product, you need to study its composition. Preference is given to those companies that offer food from meat waste, and not freeze-dried bones and cartilage. The latter are low in nutrients.

Important! The dog should eat at least three times a day, in sufficient portions. In the absence of appetite, portions can be divided into small ones and offered to the pet every one and a half to two hours.

Forecast

When the disease is confirmed, the prognosis depends on many factors. The main one is the form of the disease: acute or chronic, as well as the degree of its development.

Timely diagnosis of an acute form of anemia has a positive prognosis in 90% of cases. In the chronic course of the disease, the body in two cases out of three will never be able to fully recover.

An equally important factor for obtaining a favorable prognosis for anemia is the cause of the disease. With malignant tumors, anemia is practically not amenable to treatment. With a chronic lack of nutrients in the body, treatment has a positive result, but relapse prevention will have to be carried out throughout the life of the pet.

Disease prevention

Prevention of the development of anemia, first of all, should be aimed at eliminating the possible causes of the disease.

1. . Ensure that he receives all the necessary vitamins and minerals from food.
2. Provide your dog with adequate physical activity. This is especially true for puppies and young animals.
3. Protect your pet from fleas and ticks. Anti-flea collars can be used for this. After a walk in nature, the dog must be carefully examined for the presence of ticks.
4. Timely diagnose and treat any infectious and other diseases, especially diseases of the gastric tract.

You need to monitor changes in your pet's behavior throughout his life. Any owner will definitely notice if his dog has become less active, has lost his appetite. In this case, you can not neglect the advice of a specialist. Early diagnosis can greatly increase the chances of a full recovery.

Watch the video from the veterinarian Alexander Andreevich Bykov.

It is characterized by an autoimmune mechanism of development and acute hemolytic crises. The disease is more common in females, young or middle-aged.

Etiopathogenesis.
The disease develops as a result of damage to erythrocytes by autoantibodies with their transformation into spherocytes (increased density, thickness, spherical shape) and subsequent destruction in the reticuloendothelial system.
The destruction of spherocytes occurs mainly under the action of macrophages in the spleen, but there may be intravasal hemolysis.
As a result of massive hemolysis, free hemoglobin is released, a large amount of which the reticuloendothelial system is not able to convert into bilirubin, which is why excess hemoglobin is washed out with urine.

Pathogenesis.
In AIHA, erythrocyte destruction is accelerated by antibodies and/or by the fact that complement is fixed to the erythrocyte membrane.

Susceptibility: Dogs, Cats

Symptoms.
Sick animals become lethargic, their condition is depressed, the mucous membranes due to severe anemia have a porcelain appearance.
Concerns about severe shortness of breath (due to lack of oxygen), anorexia, vomiting and fever.
The spleen is greatly enlarged due to increased functional activity, peripheral lymph nodes are enlarged. The breakdown of red blood cells is evidenced by clinical signs: jaundice, dark brown bloody urine and black feces (inconsistently).

General clinic:
1. Abnormal size of retinal vessels;
2. Anorexia (lack of appetite, refusal to eat);
3. Auscultation of the heart: Tachycardia, increased heart rate;
4. Paleness of visible mucous membranes;
5. Fast fatigue during physical. load;
6. Hemorrhagic diathesis, impaired blood clotting;
7. Generalized weakness;
8. Hepatosplenomegaly, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly;
9. Hypodipsia, Adipsia;
10. Hyphema, blood in the anterior eye chamber, "black eye";
11. Darya, diarrhea;
12. Dehydration;
13. Dyspnoe (difficulty breathing, with an open mouth);
14. Icterus (Jaundice);
15. Bloody feces, hematochezia;
16. Fever, pathological hyperthermia;
17. Melena, black feces
18. Petechiae, ecchymosis;
19. Polydipsia, increased thirst;
20. Polyuria, increased volume of urination;
21. Reduced water intake,
22. Vomiting, regurgitation, emesis;
23. Heart murmurs
24. Dark colored feces;
25. Increased frequency of respiratory movements, polypnea, tachypnea, hyperpnea; Lymphadenopathy; 26. Oppression (depression, lethargy);
27. Urinalysis: Hematuria;
28. Urinalysis: Hemoglobinuria or Myoglobinuria;
29. Urinalysis: red or brown urine;
30. Epistaxis, Rhinorrhagia, discharge of blood from the nose;

Laboratory research show severe anemia (1-2 million erythrocytes), decreased osmotic resistance of erythrocytes, reticulocytosis, hemoglobinuria, bilirubin, urobilinogenuria, excretion of stercobilin with faeces.

Diagnosis is based on anemia, characteristic detectable spherocytes, and a positive response to prednisolone treatment.

Differentiate from other anemias (history, blood picture), kaagulopathy (impaired blood clotting) and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Diagnosis:
There is a positive Coomb's test to detect antibodies.
Often you can find competitive thrombocytopenia, which itself can cause hemorrhage.
Diagnosis per juvantibus. Improvement after steroid therapy helps the diagnosis.
In most cases, blood tests show signs of erythroid regeneration, such as polychromasia and reticulocytosis, but in some cases these are absent in dogs, a condition known as regenerative (non-regenerative) anemia.

Diagnostic algorithm:
- non-immunological tests: Total blood count (CBC), reticulocyte count, blood morphology, blood biochemistry and urinalysis.
A provisional diagnosis can often be made when a blood smear shows the appropriate erythrocyte morphology and other causes of anemia have already been ruled out.
- immunological tests: direct antiglobulin test (also known as direct Coomb's test). They determine antibodies or complements on erythrocytes. The test is positive in 60-70% of cases from dogs with AIHA.
Tests with polyspecific agents are also used, with the help of which immunoglobulin G, M or C3 (IgG, IgM and C3) are determined on the surface of erythrocytes. The spectrum of their activity is much wider than the direct Kuumbs test:
- Coomb's test, using separate, specific reagents for IgG, IgM and C3;
- Direct enzyme-linked antiglobulin test (Direct enzime-linked antiglobulin test) that quantifies the level of IgG, IgM and C3 on the surface of erythrocytes;
- Papain test (Papain test), which modifies the erythrocyte membrane in such a way that makes it more sensitive to agglutination and thus makes it easier to identify incomplete antibodies (incomplete antibodies);
- radioimmunoassay (radioimmunoassays), which quantifies the level of IgG associated with red blood cells.

TREATMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND PROGNOSIS

The course of the disease in the form of acute crises and rarely latent.

The forecast is doubtful.

Treatment: principles:
Immediately begin drip intravenous administration of prednisolone at a dose of 2 mg/kg.
If at the same time anemia decreases, then the dose is reduced to 0.5-0.25 mg / kg within a week.
In case of poor tolerability of prednisolone or ineffectiveness of therapy, immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine at a dose of 1-2 mg/kg is additionally connected without risk to hematopoiesis.
Avoid blood transfusion during an acute crisis. Relapses after remission are rare. If they occur, then a splenectomy should be done.

Treatment: schemes and doses:
Detailed treatment is described by Van Pelt and Stewart and Feldman.
It is divided into 3 categories:
- treatment of the described causes (if they are known)
- supportive therapy:
- immunosuppressive therapy:

Glucocorticoids are the main drugs of choice.
Prednisolone is usually recommended at a dose of 2-4 mg / kg / day, in two doses (1-2 mg / kg).
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate 0.5 mg/kg (which is approximately equipotent to 4 mg/kg prednisolone) may be given, followed by prednisone to continue treatment.
The PCV (total cell volume) should be monitored every day in the hospital until it begins to increase, at which time the animal is released and treatment continues at home.
The PCV is monitored weekly until it is completely normal, and then once a month to ensure that the animal is well tolerated by the prescribed corticoid treatment.

- Cyclophosphamide (Cyclophosphamide)- a cytotoxic alkylating agent that can be used in cases with acute intravascular hemolysis, autoaglutination, or cases resistant to corticoid monotherapy. Cyclophosphamide can be given orally at a dose of 50 mg/m2 every other day. If vomiting is caused by oral administration, cyclophosphamide can also be used as an intravenous bolus at a dose of 200 mg/m2. Side effects include myelosuppression, gastroenteritis, and the possibility of hemorrhagic cystitis.

- (Azathioprine) Azathioprine (Azathioprine). It can be used as monotherapy at a dose of 2 mg/kg/day per os for the first 7-10 days, then the dose can be reduced by 1 mg/kg/day. Side effects include myelosuppression, gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, and elevated liver enzymes.
Note: There is no difference in efficacy between azathioprine and cyclophosphamide.

- Danazol (Danazol)- a synthetic androgen that increases T-suppressor cells, reduces the binding of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) to the erythrocyte membrane (RBC) and reduces the number of Fc receptors in macrophages. Side effects: fatigue, lethargy, masculinization and mild elevation of liver enzymes. The main recommended dose of danozol when used together with glucocorticoids is 10 mg/kg/day. The dose of danazol can be reduced when remission occurs.

Intravenous human gamma globulin is used to treat dogs with AIHA.
Other treatments include cyclosporine (cyclosporin), splenectomy (removal of the spleen) and plasmapheresis (plasmapheresis).
Cyclosporin may help to inhibit T-helper cells (T-helper cells).
Splenectomy may also be of benefit because the spleen is the primary site of phagocytosis of immunoglobulin G (IgG) coated erythrocytes (RBCs).
Plasmapheresis removes circulating anti-erythrocyte antibodies from serum, but is expensive and not readily available.

Forecast.
The average mortality rate for dogs with AIHA is 20-40%, but 80% can be reached in some cases.

Anemia is a serious disease that affects not only the human body, but also many animals. It occurs against the background of a significant decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood (blood cells that are responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body). Red blood cell deficiency can have a detrimental effect on the overall health of the animal and affect the functioning of many body systems.

Types of anemia in dogs

Veterinarians distinguish several different types of this disease:

1. Posthemorrhagic anemia - a decrease in BCC develops due to blood loss (internal or external bleeding). The etiology of this type lies in injuries that affect blood vessels or internal organs. If the bleeding is internal, it will be difficult to notice it, especially if it is chronic. But according to certain signs, it is possible to recognize the presence of anemia (pallor of the mucous membranes, frequent appearance of subcutaneous foci of hemorrhage).
2. Hypoplastic anemia - this form of the disease occurs due to the absence or deficiency of certain trace elements, proteins or vitamins. If the dog eats a complete fortified food, then the cause of hypoplastic anemia may be hidden behind pathological changes in bone marrow cells caused by toxins. Toxins can accumulate in the body in a variety of diseases.
3. Alimentary anemia is one of the varieties of the hypoplastic form. Mostly detected in puppies who eat unbalanced food. It may be associated with insufficient intake of iron from the diet, much less often due to impaired absorption of iron by the intestines.
4. Aplastic anemia - occurs due to severe pathologies in the blood formation system. The disease concerns not only the formation of red blood cells, but also all other blood cells.

Causes of Anemia in Dogs

Many factors can influence the development of anemia in a pet. The main ones are:

1. Injuries accompanied by significant blood loss.
2. Massive internal bleeding caused by pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (severe inflammatory or infectious processes).
3. Infectious diseases (often, anemia develops due to infection with ticks), this reason is characteristic of small breeds of dogs.
4. Autoimmune diseases that regard their own red blood cells as pathogenic cells.
5. Treatment with certain groups of drugs, for example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which often provoke bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
6. Flea infestation, as well as with tick infestations, there is a high risk of pathology in small breeds.
7. Poisoning the dog's body with poisons, heavy metals, which lead to severe general intoxication of the body.
8. Pathologies of the chronic course - many dogs who have survived to old age suffer from oncology. These diseases are treated with drugs that reduce the production of red blood cells.

Clinical picture

The main function of red blood cells is to transport oxygen to all tissues and organs, which is very important for their smooth functioning. If the level of red blood cells decreases, it will be displayed throughout the body.

A sick dog looks lethargic and lethargic, it is difficult to tolerate physical exertion. You can also notice changes in behavior: the dog spends all the time lying in one place. Does not show the same activity, gets up only in case of emergency. The animal's appetite worsens or completely disappears. A characteristic sign of anemia is the pallor or cyanosis of the mucous membranes, if you feel the gums, then in sick animals they will be cold.

With an autoimmune etiology of anemia, you can notice a more pronounced set of symptoms:

• Shortness of breath, even when at rest.
• Dysfunction of the digestive tract - vomiting, diarrhea.
• Increased urine output (rare symptom).
• Strong thirst, provoking the animal to drink a lot of water.
• Fever.

During the examination, veterinarians may note the presence of palpitations, systolic murmurs, tachypnea, and signs of jaundice. Urine may change to a darker color due to the high concentration of hemoglobin or bilirubin in it. On ultrasound and other instrumental diagnostic methods, you can notice an increase in the size of the liver, spleen and lymph nodes.

At-risk groups

Anemia can develop in any dog, regardless of breed, age or gender. But the high-risk group includes those animals that have a history of gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer, as well as some hereditary diseases.

This includes the pit bull terrier and the greyhound, because these breeds of dogs are prone to infectious diseases, which, as described above, can provoke anemia.

Diagnostics

Anemia can be diagnosed after a blood test. Most often, they use the method of calculating the hematocrit value, which is a component of the general blood test. If the downward deviations from the norm exceed 35%, then the dog is safely diagnosed with anemia.

Of the main diagnostic methods, a bone marrow biopsy is most often prescribed - this analysis provides maximum information about its condition, and can indicate the cause of anemia. Less common diagnostic procedures:

After undergoing a full range of diagnostic procedures, doctors can determine the exact cause that caused anemia in a dog. Based on the results, timely and adequate therapy can be prescribed to the animal.

Treatment

Therapeutic measures largely depend on the etiological factor, in addition, when drawing up a treatment plan, the veterinarian takes into account such data as: the general condition of the dog, its age, gender, individual characteristics, anamnesis, etc.

During the entire course of treatment, it is important to monitor the general condition of the dog, and once it is completed, conduct regular check-ups and register with the veterinarian. With timely assistance, acute manifestations of anemia can be eliminated in just 3-4 weeks.

The chronic course of anemia is a more complex and difficult problem, requiring a serious approach. Even after undergoing treatment, the dog will recover for a long time and return to normal. Of course, the body of young individuals copes with the disease faster, and their disease proceeds in a milder form. In young dogs, the rehabilitation period (even after surgical treatment) is faster and more successful than in older dogs.

Forecasts

The assumptions that doctors give to animals with anemia largely depend on the diagnosed type and form of the disease, as well as the general condition of the pet's body. With the hemolytic form of anemia, the recovery period is quite fast and successful, but only if it is diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

If anemia was caused by poisoning, or an autoimmune disease, then the prognosis will not be so rosy. Anemia caused by oncology, in many cases, ends in death, because the animal's body reacts negatively to chemotherapy or surgery.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (autoimmune hemolytic anemia) is an extremely serious disease of humans and animals, characterized by the launch of autoimmune mechanisms aimed at destroying body cells, in particular, normal red blood cells. In 60-70% of cases, the etiology of this disease remains unidentified.

The disease is widespread, being observed everywhere. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia has been reported in dogs of all breeds. However, Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, Old English Sheepdogs and Irish Setters are more likely to be detected. Also, a number of researchers note that most often this pathology occurs in young females and middle-aged females. No pronounced seasonality was found.

The reasons

The dominant cause in the occurrence of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, according to many researchers, is the genetic predisposition of the individual. Other factors contributing to the occurrence of the above pathology include infectious diseases transferred by the dog (mycoplasmas, viruses of the Paramyxoviridae family), iatrogenic effects on the body (fludarabine, interferon alfa), oncological lesions (leukemia, lymphoma), vascular autoimmune diseases.

Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, regardless of the etiological factor, is as follows. Under the influence of the above pathogenic endogenous or exogenous factors on the body, erythrocyte sensitization occurs with a change in their surface antigenic structure, which, in turn, leads to a violation of the histocompatibility complex in the body and a violation of tolerance to the cells of one's own body. As a result of these ongoing processes in the body of the individual, the production of specific autoimmune antibodies directed against their own previously normal sensitized erythrocytes begins. As a result of the usual immune reaction - antigen (normal sensitized erythrocyte) + complement + autoantibody - the erythrocyte is damaged with a change in its usual shape, volume and transformation into a spherocyte. The erythrocytes transformed into spherocytes are recognized by macrophages of the spleen, liver, and bone marrow as foreign cells that pose a danger to the body and are destroyed by hemolysis. As a result of massive intravasal and extravascular hemolysis of erythrocytes in the bloodstream, the amount of free hemoglobin, unable to be metabolized into bilirubin, sharply increases.

At the same time, according to J. Pellerin, C. Fournel, L. Shaban, primary autoimmune hemolytic anemia due to the action of class G autoimmune immunoglobulins is more common in dogs. Secondary autoimmune hemolytic anemia is often combined with systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune dermatosis.

Another consequence of extensive hemolysis is the accumulation of free bilirubin in the blood, which, due to liver dysfunction, cannot be associated with glucuronic acid and thus be neutralized.

As a result of the described processes, on the one hand, the loss of hemoglobin in the urine occurs, and on the other hand, unbound bilirubin has a toxic effect on the central nervous system, kidneys, organs of the endocrine system, liver, heart, etc. In addition, the fact of destruction of the erythrocyte, which is a blood cell , responsible for the transport of oxygen to the cells of organs and tissues of the body, leads to the development of anemia, hypoxia and other disorders.

Symptoms

The clinical manifestation of autoimmune hemolytic anemia does not have pronounced signs inherent in this disease. The main symptoms that accompany anemia in dogs and which can be recognized are:

Changing the color of the animal's urine up to dark brown;

Paleness and / or yellowness of the mucous membranes;

Animal hypodynamia;

Pain in the muscles;

Vomiting in a dog

Discoloration of feces to black (sometimes);

Anorexia;

progressive weakness;

fast heartbeat (tachycardia);

Increase in body temperature;

Significant enlargement of the spleen and peripheral lymph nodes.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia is complex and should include an analysis of the history, clinical examination of the animal, laboratory and diagnostic research methods.

To make a clinical diagnosis, V.N. Mitin proposed the following summary algorithm of symptom complexes:

1. Abnormal size of retinal vessels;

2. Anorexia - lack of appetite, refusal to eat;

3. Tachycardia;

4. Paleness of visible mucous membranes;

5. Rapid fatigue during physical exertion;

6. Hemorrhagic diathesis, bleeding disorders;

7. Generalized weakness;

8. Hepatosplenomegaly, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly;

9. Hypodipsia, adipsia;

10. Hyphema - blood in the anterior eye chamber, "black eye";

11. Diarrhea, diarrhoea;

12. Dehydration;

13. Dyspnoe - shortness of breath with an open mouth;

14. Jaundice;

15. The presence of blood in the feces;

16. Fever, pathological hyperthermia;

17. Black feces;

18. Petechiae, ecchymosis;

19. Polydipsia - increased thirst;

20. Polyuria - an increase in the volume of urination;

21. Reduced water intake;

22. Vomiting, regurgitation, emesis;

23. Heart murmurs;

24. Polypnea, tachypnea, hyperpnea - an increase in the frequency of respiratory movements;

25. Lymphadenopathy - enlargement of the spleen and peripheral lymph nodes;

26. Depressed state of the dog;

27. Hematuria, hemoglobinuria;

28. Dog urine red or brown;

29. Rhinorrhagia - discharge of blood from the nose.

When conducting laboratory tests, a complete analysis of blood, urine, and feces is carried out. At the same time, the presence of spherocytes is detected in the blood, a decrease in the number of erythrocytes to 1-2 million, which indicates severe anemia; polychromasia and reticulocytosis; change in the level of hemoglobin in the blood (below 110 g / l); a high concentration of bilirubin in the blood serum - above 19 µmol / l. Urinalysis reveals a change in the color of urine from red to brown due to hemoglobinuria and urobilinogenuria. In the study of feces, the excretion of stercobilin with feces is detected.

As a laboratory diagnostic test in determining autoimmune hemolytic anemia, the formulation of the direct Coombs reaction is used. With its help, the level of nonspecific immunoglobulins and autoantibodies is determined in the blood serum.

Another technique in the diagnosis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia is the staging of a steroid test. A positive response of the body to the use of prednisolone for therapeutic purposes can serve as an indicator confirming the correctness of the assumption for the above disease.

The main complication of the above disease is the development of thromboembolism. The prognosis for autoimmune hemolytic anemia varies from cautious to unfavorable.

Differential diagnosis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia in dogs should be carried out from other types of anemia, as well as diseases that occur with a clinically similar picture - hepatitis of various nature, leptospirosis, listeriosis, etc.

Treatment

The direction of treatment of autoimmune hemolytic anemia in dogs is determined by the pathogenesis of the disease. In this regard, if the etiological cause of the described pathology is infectious diseases or neoplasms in the body, then, first of all, the veterinarian works to eliminate them. The eradication of primary causes will contribute to the speedy recovery of a sick animal.

In the case of an iatrogenic nature of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, it is necessary to stop the flow of drugs into the body.

With the development of autoimmune hemolytic anemia due to the genetic predisposition of the individual's body, treatment is directed to the use of immunosuppressants, for example, sandimmun (cyclosporine A), azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, rituximab. Also, corticosteroids such as prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, or betamethasone can act as substances that suppress the body's immune activity. These drugs, by suppressing immunological reactions, significantly improve the patient's condition and prevent the development of hemolysis.

A radical method in the fight against autoimmune hemolytic anemia is the surgical removal of the spleen. Splenectomy, on the one hand, avoids recurrence of the disease, and, on the other hand, the removal of an immunocompetent organ will reduce the level of hemolysis.

Moreover, in all cases of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, treatment should include detoxification of the body, the introduction of iron-containing drugs, vitamins, for example, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), which promotes erythropoiesis.

Veterinary center "DobroVet"