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What Are the Symptoms of Anemia in Dogs?

The health of dogs is always a top concern for their owners, and anemia is a health problem that dogs may face. Understanding the symptoms of anemia in dogs is crucial for us to detect potential health risks in a timely manner.

The health of dogs is always a top concern for their owners, and anemia is a health problem that dogs may face. Understanding the symptoms of anemia in dogs is crucial for us to detect potential health risks in a timely manner. Moreover, only by figuring out the causes of anemia in dogs can we better prevent and treat this disease.

What are the symptoms of anemia in dogs?

1、Pale gums

During anemia, a change in the color of a dog's gums is the most obvious observable symptom! When a dog's gum color becomes lighter or even turns pale, it may be caused by anemia or low blood pressure. Sometimes, if the color is hard to distinguish, you can try pressing on the gums and then releasing to see if it takes more than two seconds for the color to return to normal.

2、Loss of appetite

When a dog is sick, loss of appetite is one of the most common symptoms, and anemia is no exception. So, if you find that your dog can't even eat its favorite meat when it's right in front of it, you must take it to the vet right away!

3、Rapid breathing

An anemic dog's ability to transport oxygen through the blood decreases and can't meet the needs of the dog's body organs. As a result, the dog may have rapid breathing or panting. At this point, it indicates that the dog's anemia is relatively severe. Additionally, a faster breathing rate may not necessarily be due to anemia. It's necessary to take your furry friend to the hospital for an examination as soon as possible.

Why do dogs get anemia?

1、Hemorrhagic anemia

As the name implies, a large number of blood cells are lost, and there are many possible causes. For example, bleeding from a car accident injury, accidental ingestion of human painkillers or rat poison, gastrointestinal bleeding caused by onions, heatstroke, etc., or abnormal internal organs can also lead to blood loss. For example, long - term gastric ulcers, tumors, or parasites that cause the destruction of red blood cells.

2、Insufficient production of heme

When a dog's bone marrow metabolism is abnormal and the blood - making function slows down, it can lead to anemia in the dog. Problems with the bone marrow may be caused by chronic diseases of the kidneys and liver or the invasion of cancer cells. In such cases, dogs may be iron - deficient because the liver or spleen can't recycle the iron in the blood normally. Therefore, it's usually recommended that owners supplement their dogs with iron - related health products when necessary.

3、Immune - mediated hemolytic anemia

If a dog's red blood cells are attacked by its own immune system, resulting in the dissolution and reduction of red blood cells, it's called immune - mediated hemolytic anemia. Such a disease may be triggered by other foreign substances, leading to an abnormal immune system, such as blood parasites, tumors, certain drugs, or toxins in the body.

Or it may be caused by congenital or unknown factors that trigger the body's own immune system disorder, called autoimmune hemolytic anemia. This is related to a dog's genetic genes and is more likely to occur in specific dog breeds. However, at present, medicine can't completely cure it. Therefore, it's recommended that such dogs avoid breeding as much as possible.

In general, the symptoms of anemia in dogs include pale gums, loss of appetite, rapid breathing, and many other manifestations. These symptoms can help us initially determine whether a dog may have anemia. The causes of anemia in dogs are complex and diverse, including hemorrhagic anemia, insufficient production of heme, immune - mediated hemolytic anemia, and many other situations. Whether it's an accidental injury, accidental ingestion of harmful substances, or internal organ diseases and immune system problems, they can all lead to anemia. As dog owners, we should always pay attention to our dogs' physical conditions. Once we notice signs of anemia, we should take the dogs to the hospital for an examination as soon as possible. And in daily life, we should try our best to avoid exposing dogs to risk factors that may lead to anemia and safeguard the healthy growth of dogs.

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