Oxygen Therapy for Anemia in a Dog

Canine anemia is a serious condition that affects the amount of oxygen in your dog's blood. A lack of red blood cells and oxygen in the blood can cause significant health problems and even lead to death if not properly treated. If you suspect your dog is anemic, it is absolutely crucial for your veterinarian to diagnose the specific type of anemia and its cause.There are two types of anemia that can affect dogs and the treatment methods that are used will depend on the type of anemia your dog suffers from. Oxygen treatment can help alleviate the immediate symptoms of anemia, but is not a cure.

  1. Basic Information About Canine Anemia

    • Canine anemia has a number of different causes, including hereditary illnesses, disease, blood loss, trauma, parasitic infestation and nutritional deficiency. Anemia can be either regenerative or non-regenerative. Animals can recover from regenerative anemia because their bodies are still producing adequate red blood cells and the animal will likely recover from the anemia with time and treatment. Non-regenerative anemia is the result of the dog's body not producing enough red blood cells and is considered to be a chronic condition. In both cases, there are not enough red blood cells to transport adequate oxygen through the dog's blood. Your veterinarian will determine what type of anemia your dog has by performing a blood test.

    Oxygen Therapy and Anemia

    • Anemia causes a loss of red blood cells, which transport oxygen in the blood. In severe cases, an anemic dog may have trouble breathing due to the inability to get enough oxygen from his cells. In this case, oxygen therapy may be useful to alleviate the immediate problem and help the animal get enough oxygen. Other symptoms of anemia include lethargy, loss of appetite, depression, weakness, breathing problems, discolored urine, and pale or discolored gums, lips, eyes or tongue.

    Treatment Options

    • Oxygen therapy can be useful in treating the symptoms of anemia, such as rapid and difficult breathing, but it does not treat the cause of the anemia. Your veterinarian will be able to determine the cause of your dog's anemia and prescribe a treatment plan to help alleviate the symptoms and cure the condition whenever possible. In many cases, anemia treatments involve a significant amount of rest combined with medications, wormers, nutritional supplements and dietary changes.

    Considerations

    • Oxygen therapy is generally considered to be a very safe form of treatment, but can result in complications if performed for too long a time period or in excess. Your veterinarian should prescribe a specific amount of oxygen therapy for your pet to receive. If your dog continues to have significant breathing problems, it may be necessary to evaluate his condition and determine what other measures need to be taken to ensure a high quality of life for your pet.