What Is Anemia? Anemia develops when the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream is reduced. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. There are many different causes and types of anemia. Anemia may result from blood loss, the destruction of red blood cells within the body, or the inability of the body to produce enough red blood cells. The type of anemia depends on its cause. For instance, a severe injury that causes bleeding externally or internally can result in blood loss that causes anemia. Other causes of anemia include:
Signs of Anemia in Cats
How Is Anemia Diagnosed and Treated? A simple blood test can diagnose anemia. Most veterinarians can perform a quick blood test called a packed cell volume (PCV) in the hospital. The PCV indicates the volume of red blood cells in the bloodstream. If your cat’s PCV is lower than the normal range, anemia is diagnosed. Your veterinarian will also take a complete history and consider physical exam findings, including whether your cat has a fever. Other blood tests can offer more detailed information regarding the anemia, such as whether the body is producing new red blood cells to replace the lost or destroyed red blood cells. Another test looks at the structure of the red blood cells to help determine suspected causes of the anemia. A CBC (complete blood cell count) is also an important test when evaluating a cat for anemia. This test looks at red blood cells, white blood cells (which fight infection and contribute to inflammation), and platelets (which help with proper blood clotting.) It is extremely important to identify the cause of the anemia so that proper and effective treatment may be given. Therefore, your veterinarian may recommend other diagnostic tests, including blood tests to check liver and kidney function and to determine exposure to FeLV, FIV, Mycoplasma haemophilus, and certain diseases. Taking radiographs (x-rays) of the chest and abdomen can help check for tumors that may be bleeding, and an ultrasound of the abdomen can help check for fluid (blood), signs of cancer, or liver, kidney, intestinal, or pancreatic disease. In cases of anemia resulting from sudden loss of a large amount of blood, or severe anemia from blood loss over time, a blood transfusion may be recommended (or required) for survival. Severe anemia results in a significantly reduced ability of the blood to deliver oxygen throughout the body and, most importantly, to vital organs such as the brain. Therefore, a blood transfusion is necessary to help deliver oxygen and nutrients to major organs and other parts of the body. Occasionally, multiple transfusions are required before the cat’s body can produce enough red blood cells on its own. Other treatments for anemia are determined based on the diagnosis of the underlying cause. How Can I Prevent Anemia? Prevention of certain causes of anemia may be aided by basic care and maintenance. You can decrease your cat’s risk of exposure to FeLV and FIV by keeping him or her indoors and away from stray or unknown cats. If your cat does go outside, ask your veterinarian what vaccines are recommended. Avoid leaving cat food outside, as this often attracts other cats and wildlife that may transmit disease. If your cat lives inside only, ask your veterinarian what he or she recommends regarding the FeLV vaccine. You can reduce the risk of diseases transmitted by fleas with the regular use of veterinarian-approved flea and tick control products. Discuss with your veterinarian the best plan for flea and tick prevention. Flea prevention is very important for indoor cats as well. Monitor your cat’s daily habits, including food and water intake and litterbox use. If you notice changes such as a marked increase in water consumption or urination, unexpected weight loss, or blood in the stool or urine, have your cat evaluated by your veterinarian and discuss the changes you have observed. These signs may be indicators of diseases that may lead to anemia or other problems.
What Is Anemia? Anemia develops when number of red blood cells in the bloodstream is reduced. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. There are many different causes and types of anemia. Anemia may result from blood loss, the destruction of red blood cells within the body, or the inability of the body to produce enough red blood cells. The type of anemia depends on its cause. For instance, a severe injury that causes bleeding externally or internally can result in blood loss that causes anemia. Other causes of anemia include:
Sometimes, anemia is caused by a lack of red blood cell production as a result of chronic diseases (such as certain types of cancer or kidney disease) or exposure to certain medications that may interfere with red blood cell production. Signs of Anemia in Dogs
How Is Anemia Diagnosed and Treated? A simple blood test can diagnose anemia. Most veterinarians can perform a quick blood test called a packed cell volume (PCV) in the hospital. The PCV indicates the volume of red blood cells in the bloodstream. If your dog’s PCV is lower than the normal range, anemia is diagnosed. Your veterinarian will also take a complete history and consider the physical exam findings, including whether your dog has a fever. Other blood tests can offer more detailed information regarding the anemia, such as whether the body is producing new red blood cells to replace the lost or destroyed red blood cells. Another test looks at the structure of the red blood cells to help determine suspected causes of the anemia. A CBC (complete blood cell count) is also an important test when evaluating a dog for anemia. This test looks at red blood cells, white blood cells (which fight infection and contribute to inflammation), and platelets (which help with proper blood clotting.) It is extremely important to identify the cause of the anemia so that proper and effective treatment may be given. Therefore, your veterinarian may recommend other diagnostic tests, including other blood tests, radiographs (x-rays) of the abdomen to check for masses that may be bleeding, or an ultrasound of the abdomen to check for masses and fluid (blood) in the abdomen. In cases of anemia resulting from sudden loss of a large amount of blood, or severe anemia from blood loss over time, a blood transfusion may be recommended (or required) for survival. Severe anemia results in a significantly reduced ability of the blood to deliver oxygen throughout the body and, most importantly, to vital organs such as the brain. Therefore, a blood transfusion is necessary to help deliver oxygen and nutrients to major organs and other parts of the body. Occasionally, multiple transfusions are required before the dog’s body can produce enough red blood cells on its own. Other treatments for anemia are determined based on the diagnosis of the underlying cause. How Can I Prevent Anemia? Prevention of certain causes of anemia may be aided by basic care and maintenance. For instance, you can reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases by using veterinarian-approved flea and tick control products. Talk with your veterinarian about the best plan for flea and tick prevention. If your veterinarian prescribes any medication, ask about the most common side effects so you can monitor your dog for any signs of these side effects. If you notice any change in your dog’s behavior while he or she is taking a medication, such as vomiting or decreased appetite, call your veterinarian right away to notify him or her of the changes and to check if you should continue giving the medication.
What Are Anal Sacs? Anal sacs are a set of glands that are just under the skin near your pet’s anus. The two glands arelocated at the 4:00 and 8:00 o’clock positions from the anus. The anal sacs fill with a foul-smelling fluid that is normally expressed through a tiny duct when animals defecate. Animals may use their anal glands to mark territory or repell aggressors, although a nervous dog or cat may accidentally express these glands when frightened. If an animal cannot naturally empty ananal sac during defecation, the sac fills with fluid, becoming increasingly swollen. This is called an impacted anal sac, which can become painful and irritating to the animal. Some pets drag or “scoot” on their rear end to try to relieve pain and empty the glands. Pets may also lick the area to relieve discomfort. If impacted anal sacs are not emptied, they continue to swell with fluid, leading to inflammation. Eventually, the area becomes infected, and an abscess (pus-filled inflammation) can form. In some cases, the abscess can rupture through the skin. This condition can be extremely painful to the pet and requires immediate medical treatment. In some cases, particularly if the problem happens several times to the same animal, surgical treatment may be recommended. Anal sacs can also develop tumors that can be malignant (cancerous), which means that the cancer can spread to other areas of the body. Signs of Disease
Diagnosis Your veterinarian can diagnose many anal gland issues by examining the area and feeling the glands. For pets that are in a lot of pain, sedation may be recommended so that a thorough examination can be performed. During the examination, your veterinarian will look for redness, signs of pain, swelling, or the presence of pus, which indicates infection. If a thickening, lump,or growth is present, your veterinarian may recommend a biopsy (collecting and testing a small sample of tissue) to help determine whether the tissue is cancerous. Treatment Expressing the anal sacs describes the manual removal of fluid that has accumulated in the anal glands. This can be performed at the veterinary hospitalor even at home by a pet owner after careful instruction. Some groomers routinely express anal sacs before bathing pets. If a pet is having any type of problem with the anal sacs, it is best to let a veterinarian examine the pet and express the sacs if necessary. Examination gloves should be worn when attempting to express anal sacs. The technique involves placing a paper towel over the anal area and gently squeezing with the thumb and index finger to remove the fluid. Care must be taken to avoid rupturing the sac or otherwise injuring the pet’s rectum or anus. If you are unsure of whether or how to express your pet’s anal sacs, ask your veterinarian to perform this procedure on your pet. If the anal glands are infected or abscessed, your veterinarian will empty the glands to remove the fluid. Your veterinarian may also flush out the sacs with antiseptic solution and insert ointment to relieve pain and inflammation. Antibiotics, pain medication, and medication to relieve inflammation may also be prescribed. Surgical removal of the anal glands may be recommended for animals that have had repeated anal gland issues or infections. Your veterinarian will talk to you about the benefits and risks of this procedure and whether it may be a good option for your pet. Prevention The best way to prevent anal sac issues is to frequently express the anal sacs if they are not emptying on their own. This helps prevent the sacs from filling with fluid. Some experts recommend adding fiber to the pet's diet, which helps naturally express fluid from the anal sacs.
What Is Alopecia? Alopecia is the medical term used to describe hair loss. Alopecia can occur when hair fails to grow at a normal rate, or when hair is lost more quickly than it can grow back. Alopecia should not be confused with increased shedding. Shedding (even year-round shedding in some pets) is a normal process and is not an illness. Shedding should only be a cause for concern if it is heavy enough to create areas of thinning hair or baldness consistent with alopecia. What Causes Alopecia? Hair growth occurs in a cycle and depends on a healthy, functioning hair follicle. Once a hair grows, it is maintained within a hair follicle until a new hair grows to replace it. When this occurs, the old hair is shed and the new hair is held within the hair follicle until it is shed and replaced in its turn. If hair follicles are damaged, destroyed, or affected by inflammation or infection, hair loss can occur and hair regrowth can be hindered. When this happens over a large enough area, alopecia or baldness can be observed. Alopecia can be caused by a variety of conditions. Conditions that can affect the hair follicle directly include the following:
Alopecia can result when a pet damages its skin or pulls out its hair. Fleas, for example, can cause itchy pets to pull out their hair and create bald patches. Pets that are allergic to fleas experience even more intense itching and can remove their hair, create wounds on their skin, and develop secondary bacterial infections from repetitive scratching and biting. Cats can experience psychogenic alopecia, which is a compulsive grooming behavior often caused by stress or changes in the household. Cats with this condition may groom the hair on their flanks and back limbs until bald areas are created. There are rare cases of congenital alopecia (meaning the pet was born with abnormally functioning hair follicles), and some breeds, such as dachshunds, can develop pattern baldness on their ears or elsewhere on the body. What Are the Clinical Signs of Alopecia? The most obvious clinical sign of alopecia is thinning of an area of hair, or hair loss significant enough to create bald spots. Other changes on the skin may help your veterinarian determine the cause of the alopecia. These include scabs, redness of the skin, excessive crusting or discharge, dandruff, or wounds. In some cases, such as with thyroid disease or other glandular conditions, the skin may look relatively normal except for hair thinning or hair loss. Pets with alopecia may or may not have itching. In some cases, the hair may pull out very easily when the pet is touched. How Is Alopecia Diagnosed? A medical history and physical examination findings can provide valuable information for your veterinarian. The medical history may include trying to determine how long the hair loss has been going on and whether any other signs of illness have been observed. Physical examination findings may reveal evidence of underlying illness. For example, a dog with thyroid disease may be overweight and have a slower than normal heart rate, or your veterinarian may find fleas or “flea dirt” (flea feces) on a pet that has a flea infestation. A diagnosis of alopecia means trying to identify an underlying cause. Your veterinarian may recommend specific tests to obtain more information about the condition of your pet’s skin:
If your veterinarian suspects that alopecia may be caused by skin allergies, he or she may recommend a test to determine what the pet may be allergic to. Similarly, if an illness such as thyroid disease is suspected, blood testing or other specific diagnostic tests may be recommended. How Is Alopecia Treated? Treatment for alopecia should involve treating the underlying cause. Fortunately, flea infestation, mange, pyoderma, and many other causes of alopecia are treatable conditions. Medications given by mouth (such as antibiotics or antifungal medications), medicated shampoos, and products to control fleas may be recommended. Once the underlying problem has been addressed, the hair follicles recover over time. If the hair follicles have not been permanently damaged or destroyed, the hair will grow back. However, if a skin infection or other skin trauma has been severe enough to damage or destroy hair follicles, areas of baldness may remain |
AuthorDr. Carlson is an avid contributor to her blog, make sure you check out her articles! Archives
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