Blood is an important component in the body that enables animals to live normally. However, when dogs and cats have anemia, the amount of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the body decreases, causing less oxygen to be transported to various cells in the body. This affects the functioning of various organs in the body, causing abnormalities in the dog's and cat's body, such as fatigue, easy exhaustion, and loss of appetite. Anemia can also lead to many other diseases. To prevent our pets from being fatally injured, let's understand more about anemia.
Normally, red blood cells have the function of transporting oxygen from breathing into cells throughout the body, using "hemoglobin", and carrying waste products in the form of carbon dioxide out of the cells for further elimination from the body. Therefore, when dogs and cats have a reduced amount of red blood cells and hemoglobin in their bodies, oxygen transport in the body is reduced, affecting the functioning of various organs in the body.
Symptoms of anemia
Pets that have symptoms will have the following noticeable symptoms:
- Loss of appetite
- Depressed, tired
- Gums become pale
- Easily tired, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate
- Red or brown urine
- Black stool
If the owner notices these symptoms, they should take their pet to see a veterinarian as soon as possible to diagnose the cause. This is because anemia can have many causes. Once the cause is known, the veterinarian will be able to plan appropriate treatment.
Common causes of anemia
The causes of anemia in pets can be divided into three main categories. namely
1. Decreased red blood cell production
Red blood cells are primarily produced in the bone marrow. When an animal's body lacks nutrients or has a malfunctioning digestive system, it is unable to absorb iron or vitamins needed to produce blood cells. Or when hormone deficiencies occur due to kidney failure, infection, or cancer cells spreading to the bone marrow, red blood cell production can also decrease.
2. Increased red blood cell destruction
2.1 Blood parasites
Most cases of anemia in pets due to this cause are caused by blood parasite infections carried by ticks. The severity of the disease varies depending on the type of parasite, the amount of parasite in the bloodstream, and the animal's immune system.
2.2 Paracetamol
Some owners believe that dogs and cats can take paracetamol when they are sick. This is a misconception. The liver of animals, especially cats, does not have a process for detoxifying paracetamol. This results in damage to liver cells and red blood cells, making them unable to transport oxygen properly. If a large amount is taken, the pet may later die.
2.3 Garlic and onions
Garlic and onions are two common kitchen vegetables that we often use in cooking. Many people may not know that these two ingredients contain substances that are harmful to hemoglobin, which transports oxygen to cells in the body. This causes blood cells to be destroyed faster than normal, resulting in red or brown urine in pets and subsequent anemia.
3. Blood loss from the body
3.1 Acute blood loss It is bleeding from internal organs after an accident or a lot of blood loss after surgery.
3.2 Chronic blood loss It can be caused by hookworms, causing bleeding from a wound in the digestive tract or bleeding from a tumor or cancer.
Treatment
Treatment of anemia depends on the cause and severity of the disease, so the ownerDogs and cats with symptoms should be brought to an animal hospital for treatment.Veterinarians will diagnose and treat the underlying cause to stop bleeding or blood cell destruction as quickly as possible. Severe anemia can damage internal organs or cause failure, ultimately leading to the pet's death. Therefore, early diagnosis of the underlying cause is extremely beneficial in treating anemia in dogs and cats, as anemia can sometimes lead to other, more serious diseases.
References
Dr. Kuncharee Prakarn (Dr. Kukkai), Talingchan Animal Hospital
Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital. https://www.siphhospital.com/th/news/article/share/936/Anemia
Interpharma Group. https://bit.ly/3Q0OXoC
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