How to Treat Acute Anemia in a Dog

Acute anemia in dogs can be caused by blood loss or can be medication-related or even inherited. Regardless of the origin, the basic symptoms are essentially the same: lethargy, weakness, lack of appetite and pale to white tongue and gum tissue. If your dog is anemic, your vet will be able to determine the best course of treatment. Unfortunately, even with immediate, proper treatment, the dog̵7;s life span is affected in most cases.

  1. Hemolytic Anemia

    • Hemolytic anemia is caused by unusual and accelerated red blood cell destruction. This condition can be caused by an infectious disease, a reaction to a drug or even being bitten by a poisonous snake. Antibiotics can be employed to treat infections which cause the anemia. If the condition is thought to be brought on by a medication, immediately removing the medication from the dog̵7;s regimen is recommended, although it is not always guaranteed to reverse the anemia. With snakebites, there is really no treatment other than administering an anti-venom shot immediately after the bite. If your dog develops anemia after a snakebite, reversing the condition isn̵7;t likely. Occasionally, if the spleen is determined to have been affected and causing the anemia, a splenectomy might be performed. Iron supplements may be prescribed.

    Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

    • With Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia, the dog̵7;s system is producing auto-antibodies that attach to the walls of red blood cells and destroy them. Steroids have been found to be effective in blocking the antibodies to keep them from further destruction. In some cases immunosuppressants are used, too, if there is an antigen reaction to the steroids. Blood transfusions may be warranted if the anemia is severe enough, and iron supplements might be added to the diet.

    Anemia Due to Blood Loss

    • A dog may become anemic after a trauma causing blood loss, if he gets hookworms or fleas, or if he develops a stomach ulcer or tumor. If a dog is hit by a car or in some similar accident where there is severe bleeding or the loss of a limb, the veterinarian will stop the bleeding and, in extreme cases order a transfusion. Parasites are eliminated either with medication (hookworms) or with special topical preparations (fleas). Once the parasites are no longer a problem, though, your dog still may need iron supplements until he regains his health. With stomach conditions, an ulcer may be treatable with prescription or over-the-counter medications such as omperazole. With severe ulcers and tumors in the stomach, surgery is required.

    Hereditary Conditions Causing Anemia

    • A dog that has a hereditary cause for anemia is the most difficult to treat, in that there are no known effective treatments. Breeds including spaniels, beagles and basenjis are prone to having a red blood cell enzyme deficiency that causes the cells to fragment. Genetic tests can be performed for different types of inherited deficiencies and abnormalities that can predict a dog̵7;s inclination to develop a condition that will turn anemic. These circumstances, though, usually significantly shorten the dog̵7;s life to fewer than 5 years.