Does your pet bleed from the nose, have pale gums, look under the weather and have a rapid respiratory rate, as well as swelling of the abdomen? Blood is often found in the abdomen along with a tumor or smaller tumors that are extremely malignant and spread easily. Removing the tumor can add years to your pet’s life even though you cannot cure this cancer that originates in the lining of blood vessels. Tumors can develop anywhere in the body along blood vessels. You should watch out especially if the symptoms suddenly take a serious turn.
The brown dog tick is the prime culprit for spreading this disease that infects blood cells through three stages- (1) Acute (2)Subclinical (3) Chronic. Drugs to treat this disease are available. In severe cases of anemia or bleeding, a blood transfusion may also be required.
There are many other blood-related problems that are seen in our canine friends on a frequent basis. If you suddenly find that your dog has begun to bruise or bleed for lengthy time periods, then a trip to the vet is in order.
Dogs as well as people can develop conditions that affect the blood and its production. Your dog may have one of several blood diseases that can seriously affect his/her health. Some of these can be potentially fatal, so immediate intervention is essential.
Long bleeding episodes
Hemophilia is a lifelong incurable malady. Only females can act as carriers of this disease that usually affects male German shepherds who exhibit abnormal platelet function. Symptoms would include- long bleeding episodes that are difficult to control, respiratory problems caused by bleeding in the chest area, along with blood in the stools and bleeding under the skin, accompanied by difficulty walking due to bleeding into the muscles. This can lead to weakness, paralysis or death.
If your pup bleeds profusely after loosing milk teeth make sure there is no underlying cause. Guard your dog by taking every precaution to prevent any injury and be alert in case of severe bleeding that can prove fatal.
Hemangiosarcoma is found in the lining of the blood vessels and spleen. It results in malignant tumors that require radiation therapy.
Basset hound thrombopathia is a disorder of the platelets or small blood cells, which then become incapable of clotting. Even though you cannot cure this disorder, you can manage it with the help of a good vet.
Coagulation Disorder
Another disease that exhibits a clotting deficiency in the blood’s clotting system. The most common of the inherited coagulation disorders is hemophilia. Hemophilia is caused by a shortage in specific blood clotting factors. There is no cure for this disorder and in severe cases the treatment can include blood transfusions.
If your dog excretes blood through the urine or stool, feels weak with a faster heart and respiratory rate, has pale gums, vomits, has fever and abdominal pain, then he could have ‘autoimmune hemolytic anemia.’
For an accurate diagnosis you need to put your dog or pet through a series of blood tests that will be validated by a ‘Coombs’ test. Once diagnosed, treatments include blood transfusions and high doses of corticosteroids for a minimum of four months, or lighter doses taken through out your dog’s lifetime.
Be warned that ‘autoimmune hemolytic anemia.’ needs your full attention if your pet is to come out of it alive. It can also lead to Cushing’s or Thromboembolic disease.
One of the most widespread blood disorders amongst canines is ‘autoimmune hemolytic anemia’ when the dog’s own immune system starts attacking its own red blood cells. A pet with this malady can get weak with fever; have paler mucus membranes and a larger spleen. High doses of corticosteroids are the accepted treatment for this inherited blood disorder.
Female dogs are more susceptible to this disease than males dogs are and so are particular breeds like Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, Old English sheepdogs, Poodles Dachshunds and Irish Setters.
Pyruvate Kinase is a hereditary hemolytic anemia due to lack of the enzyme, pyruvate kinase, whose role it is to exchange glucose in to energy, when oxygen supply is low. There is no known cure for this deficiency and a low supply of this enzyme will mean that the red blood cells will break down faster than usual, resulting in hemolytic anemia.
Canines with this shortage can pass away by the age of five due to liver failure, myelobibrosis or osteosclerosis
This inherited bleeding disorder attacks canines the most. Von Willebrand’s Disease can result in your canine or pet bleeding to death- since it is a clotting disorder in which the blood does not coagulate enough to stem the bleeding. Von Willebrand’s Disease can result in hemorrhaging from the urinary bladder, nose, or mucous membranes.
If your dog has this disease, you should take the right precautions. Keep your pet indoors and in a calm frame of mind, since there is no real treatment- apart from a blood transfusion.
‘Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.’ –
Roger Caras
Your canine is susceptible to the same kind of blood disorders as you. What you should keep in mind is that certain breeds are more prone to a particular kind of blood disorder while other diseases are transmitted through the genes. As a rule of thumb you should avoid using dogs with hereditary disorders for breeding purposes.
INHERITED BLOOD DISORDERS
Diseases that can be transmitted from one generation to the next include-
- Lymphedema
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- Pyruvate Kinase deficiency
- Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
- Basset hound thrombopathia
- Coagulation disorders
- Hemangiosarcoma
What is Lymphedema?
The inherited disease – Lymphedma results in swelling in tissues storing extra lymph fluid. While cases of mild swelling would require little or no treatment, more chronic swelling could prove to be serious. In such cases, bandaging or reconstructive surgery may help.