Pet Anemia Symptoms

Anemia is a disease characterized by a significant reduction in red blood cells, the cells responsible for carrying oxygen to various organ systems in the body. Anemia isn't limited to humans; any mammal can suffer from it, including household pets. Unlike in humans, anemia in pets almost always indicates a more severe underlying disease. Recognizing the symptoms of anemia in pets can be the gateway to a speedier and more comprehensive diagnosis. A pet displaying symptoms of anemia should be taken to a veterinarian as a precaution; the vet can run comprehensive blood and urine tests that will accurately determine if the pet has the disease.

  1. Changes in Skin Color

    • An anemic pet will experience changes in its skin pigmentation. The skin may become very pale, or, if it was pale to begin with, may even take on a yellow tinge. The whites of the eye, which are ordinarily a pale pink or show a faint web of blood vessels, may appear extremely white. A common symptom of anemia in a pet is paling gums. Gums in an anemic pet can even become completely white in severe cases. The tongue and the inside of the ears can also turn pale in an anemic pet, although this is not always a consistent indicator, because some animals' tongues and ears are naturally pale.

    Changes in Temperament

    • Because anemia squeezes off the oxygen supply to the body's organ systems, the illness can cause drastic differences in a pet's behavior and temperament. A pet may suddenly become lethargic, lacking the systemic oxygenation necessary to be its usual lively self. It may sleep much more often, and seem tired with markedly increasing frequency. A pet that suffers from anemia may display signs of depression, irritability and even short bursts of uncharacteristic aggression. Anemia may trigger bouts of unexplained fever in a pet. It may experience a radical loss of appetite.

    Stool Changes

    • The stools of an anemic pet will change radically from their ordinary texture and appearance. A pet that suffers from anemia may also suffer frequent diarrhea or very loose stools. Always alarming in any context, blood in the urine or feces of a pet may be one more sign that a pet has become anemic and should be checked by a veterinarian as soon as possible. An anemic pet may also vomit frequently and experience rapid weight loss as a result.