How Can I Increase My Dog’s Red Blood Cell Count
In order to increase a dog’s red blood cell count, it is imperative finding out why the dog’s red blood cells are plummeting in the first place considering that this condition can turn out being quickly life threatening. It may be tempting for dog owners to feed their affected dogs’ foods that are rich in iron or iron supplements in hopes of raising red blood cells, but these remedies risk, not only not to work, but also delaying time in getting veterinary treatment when it counts the most. Only try these options under the guidance of your vet. Veterinarian Dr. Ivana Crnec explains causes of lowered red blood cell count in dogs and ways to increase them.
How do I increase my dog’s red blood cell count
When Will A Veterinarian Recommend Dog Blood Tests
The following situations can result in dog blood work being ordered:
- On the first veterinary visit: We recommend puppies have blood test to rule out congenital diseases, for baseline information and for pre anesthetic testing prior to spay or neuter
- During semi-annual wellness exams: This is recommended if your veterinarian suggests it as part of a thorough physical examination because dog blood work, along with other bodily fluids like urine, can help identify conditions the examination portion of a physical cannot
- If a dog seems not quite right: Canine blood tests are suitable for a dog that is not displaying any overt signs of illness, disease or injury, but is acting abnormal
- Pre-surgical tests: Dog blood work is used to determine the efficiency of the liver and kidneys, which helps a veterinarian select the safest dose of anesthesia. Tests can also help determine the surgical risk level in infirmed, elderly or injured patients
- Prior to starting a new medication: Particularly for new medication may be metabolized by the liver or kidney
- During senior wellness exams: Dog blood tests are usually recommended for mature, senior and geriatric dogs as part of their periodic wellness exams. These are extremely beneficial, as we often see senior dogs return to a more youthful state of being when blood tests identify an issue that can be easily treated
A Matter Of Dehydration
If your dog has a high red blood cell count, dehydration can be a cause. Dehydration takes place when your dog’s water loss exceeds his water intake. Often, dehydration in dogs can take place when affected dogs are suffering from fluid loss from repeated or prolonged vomiting and diarrhea. This form of polycythemia can be resolved with fluid replacement therapy and tackling the underlying cause for the vomiting and diarrhea if found.
Read Also: Why Does My Mucus Have Blood In It
Food For Dogs With Anemia
Diet plays a very important role for dogs suffering from anemia, since they usually have significant deficiencies in protein, iron and vitamins. One exception is cases of anemic internal bleeding caused by an ulcer. In these cases, the dog will be treated with acid pumps and antibiotics. The following foods should help make them stronger and recover necessary nutrients.
Dog food high in iron is essential for a dog that is suffering from anemia. It is estimated that dogs need 1 milligram of iron for every 12 grams of food. High-quality foods are most recommended, because they allow the animal to correctly absorb the required nutrients. Some iron-rich foods for dogs include:
Follow this simple step by step:
Are There Ways To Prevent Anemia In Dogs
Understandably, talking about the outlook for anemic dogs also raises the question about preventing your dog from becoming anemic. In keeping with most other aspects of anemia, the answer to that question is that it varies based on the cause of the anemia.
There probably isnt anything you can do to keep your dog from getting a splenic tumor or chronic kidney disease. However, you can ensure your dog is on year-round heartworm, flea, tick, and intestinal parasite preventives. Plus, you should allow your vet to run yearly heartworm tests and fecal tests on your dog to screen for heartworms or intestinal parasites.
You can also ensure that all toxins are out of your dogs reach, and promptly contact your vet should you have any concerns about your dogs health. The sooner your dog gets help for anemia, the better.
Read Also: Can You Take Keto Pills With High Blood Pressure Medicine
What Foods Increase Red Blood Cells In Dogs
The condition called anemia in dogs can have negative effects on your dogs health. The reason for this is that your dogs body produces fewer red blood cells than necessary. This results in a dangerously low level of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in the blood that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body. Although anemia in dogs is not a disease in itself, the condition may be an early sign of a more serious underlying issue.
If your dog is experiencing anemia symptoms, you should take your dog to the vet to diagnose the condition. Anemia in dogs is most often the result of a disease or injury that causes severe blood loss. It can also be caused by a stomach ulcer, or an accident or trauma. There are many ways to treat anemia in dogs. However, you should consult your veterinarian first before implementing any of these remedies.
A dog with anemia will often have pale pink or whitish gums. It may also appear listless and tire easily during exercise. It may also show signs of bruising on its skin. These signs can be a sign of severe platelet destruction, which can indicate rat poisoning or another underlying cause.
What Are Good Sources Of Iron For Dogs
You can boost the amount of iron in your dogs system by supplementing his diet with fresh foods containing this important mineral. You can start with green vegetables, beef liver, raw egg yok and adding canned sardines to their regular food.
Depending on your dogs size, youll want to aim to add anywhere from 500 to 2,000 milligrams of Vitamin C per day.
Dont forget to check with your vet before starting your dog on any new diet, medication or other treatment. Because liver is a rich food, ask how much your dog should be given – you dont want to cause a case of diarrhea while trying to treat anemia.
When it comes to predicting how long dogs can live with anemia, it should be treated as a serious symptom by you and your vet, since some of its causes are very serious. Prognosis will depend on the underlying cause and how early and effectively it can be treated.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet’s condition, please make an appointment with your vet.
You May Like: Where Can I Stream Blue Bloods
Can Dog Anemia Be Prevented
While you can’t predict or protect your dog from every cause of anemia, you can take steps to lower your dog’s risk of developing anemia. Tips to protect your dog against conditions that can cause anemia include:
- Having your dog examined by a vet at least once a year.
- Having your dog’s stool tested at least once a year to check for parasites and using a monthly broad-spectrum dewormer to protect your dog against worms.
- Using effective flea and tick control during the flea/tick season .
- Feeding your dog a high-quality, complete and balanced food that’s certified by the Association of American Feed Control Officials .
Fortunately, in many cases, if the underlying cause of the dog’s anemia can be treated, the dog is in otherwise good health and they receive prompt treatment, the prognosis can be favorable. If the dog is already unhealthy, the anemia is severe, or the anemia is due to cancer, toxins or immune-mediated causes, the prognosis is less favorable.
How Is Dog Anemia Treated
Treatment of dog anemia involves replacing blood cells and treating the underlying cause. Traumatic blood loss can lead to shock, and in severe cases, dogs may require blood transfusions to treat a life-threatening loss of blood.
Otherwise, treatment of anemia will depend on the underlying cause. For example, parasitic worms are treated with a dewormer, iron deficiency is treated with iron supplementation, immune-mediated anemia is treated with immunosuppressive drugs and bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics.
Also Check: Mucus Blood In Dog Stool
Talk To Your Vet If You See Symptoms Of Anemia
This is important so I want to say it again. In severe cases, anemia can kill dogs. If you are worried your beloved dog is anemic, the best thing to do is to contact your veterinarian. He or she can help you decide if the situation warrants an immediate emergency visit or if you have enough time to schedule a more standard veterinary appointment.
Treating Anemia Caused By Autoimmune Disease
Recommended Reading: Broken Blood Vessel In Nose
How Our Dog Laboratory Processes Blood Work
In addition to having veterinary staff on duty around-the-clock to handle pet health emergencies, Point Vicente Animal Hospital also has its own in-house laboratory. Although this means we can process all kinds of lab work for dogs quickly and reliably, it is in emergency situations, when time is of the essence, our in-house dog laboratory is most helpful.
After all, if we can draw, process and analyze dog blood work on the premises, then we can have the results we need immediately. This increases the chances that we can determine what the issue is, and then implement a successful medical intervention based on the results. In this way, our dog laboratory allows us to be a proactive and timely partner in your dog’s health and care.
Can Anemic Dogs Get Blood Transfusions
Yes, they can. Severe cases of anemia require blood transfusions. The only restriction preventing more widespread use of transfusions is the availability of canine blood itself. Like humans, dogs have different blood types. Compatibility between the blood of the donor and that of the recipient is vital to prevent a dangerous transfusion reaction. Many animal hospitals keep lists of donors large, healthy dogs with owners willing to have their dogs donate blood.
For further reading:
- For further reading:Signs of internal bleeding in dogs Types of anemia in dogs Regenerative versus non regenerative anemia in dogs
Recommended Reading: What Is The Latest Episode Of Blue Bloods
What Are Good Sources Of Iron For Cats
If your cat is found to be iron deficient, you can help improve his iron count by adding iron-rich foods to her diet, in addition to cat food brands high in iron. Iron supplements can also help.
Iron-rich foods include lean meat such as turkey, pork, beef and chicken . Fish also makes the list, as do eggs .
Always get your vets okay before adding any new food to your cats diet, in case more serious medical treatment is required or he has a food allergy.
If you notice signs of anemia in your cat, make an appointment with your vet right away. They can perform tests and develop a custom treatment plan, which may include actions you can take at home to help him recover.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet’s condition, please make an appointment with your vet.
My Dog Is Anemic And Won’t Eat
Seeing your dog’s health deteriorating is a horrible experience – even when you make them delicious and tasty meals, this often won’t be enough for a sick animal. If this is the case with you, we at AnimalWised will give you some tricks that can help you get your dog to eat:
- Try encourage your dog to drink chicken stock without salt or other seasonings instead of water. This will hydrate it and give it lots of protein. You will have to ensure there are no toxic ingredients in the broth, likely meaning you will have to make it yourself.
- If your dog is happy to drink the chicken stock, try to include some rice in it and add some vegetables or fruits such as apple or cauliflower so that they get some vitamins.
- If your dog has no problems eating fruit, try to give them small pieces of watermelon and melon, which are rich in water and vitamins. However, try not to use too many as they have a high sugar content.
- Whilst it isn’t particularly digestible, some dogs enjoy eating soft cheese without salt, which gives them an excellent boost of protein.
Also Check: New Episodes Of Blue Bloods
Signs Of Anemia In Dogs
The signs and symptoms of anemia in dogs depend on 3 factors: the severity of the anemia, the duration of it and underlying cause.
In dogs, the most commonly observed signs and symptoms of anemia include, impaired and difficult breathing, panting, exercise intolerance, weight loss and pale possibly white gums in dogs in the most severe cases.
The process of diagnosing anemia and determining its type requires several procedures:
- Complete blood count to determine the anemias severity and evaluate the red blood cells characteristics.
- Reticulocyte count to verify whether the body is responding and producing new red blood cells.
- Blood film to check for blood cell abnormalities and parasites.
- Chemistry tests to check the liver, pancreas, kidneys and blood sugar levels.
- Electrolyte balance to evaluate the hydration status.
- Complete urinalysis to evaluate the kidneys.
- Specialized tests to identify underlying infectious diseases.
Pathogenesis Of Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron deficiency anemia may be classified into 3 stages: storage iron deficiency, iron deficient erythropoiesis, and iron deficiency anemia . Initially during blood loss, iron body stores are preferentially utilized for accelerated erythropoiesis. After depletion of body iron stores, erythropoiesis and production of other iron-containing proteins become limited, leading to an overt iron deficiency anemia . Anemia is exacerbated as iron-deficient erythrocytes have a shortened survival due to their fragility, which accelerates reticuloendothelial cell sequestration and destruction . The observed erythrocyte morphologic changes with the underlying iron deficiency reflect the severely hampered hemoglobin synthesis and are characterized by hypochromasia and microcytosis . Furthermore, the hemoglobin-deficient erythroid precursors are thought to undergo additional mitoses while attempting to achieve ideal cytoplasmic hemoglobin levels, thereby exaggerating the microcytosis .
Also Check: Blood Pressure Is 120/80
How Do You Decrease Red Blood Cells
If you have a high RBC count:
Hi, I’m Andy. I currently own a full-service dog training facility and spend about half my time dealing with behavior issues for clients, helping them overcome common problems like fear of loud noises, fear of thunderstorms, separation anxiety and aggression toward other dogs or people. The rest of the time is spent teaching classes to the general public on topics like puppy obedience, problem-solving for adolescent dogs as well as basic exercise and feeding programs that can help families maintain a happy dog throughout your pet’s lifetime
Diagnosis And Treatment Of Anemia In Cats
The veterinarian will need to collect a Complete Blood Count from your cat so it can be tested to tell him or her how many red blood cells, hemoglobin, white blood cells and platelets your pet has. This can also reveal the type of anemia.
Once the type of anemia is found, your vet can recommend other tests depending on your cats symptoms to identify the cause of the anemia. Treatment will depend on the severity of the condition, as well as the underlying cause. In some cases, this may include a change in diet or medication, surgery, blood transfusion or other treatments.
Don’t Miss: Can Low Blood Sugar Cause Blurry Vision