Anemia Treatments in Dogs: Our Vet Explains 11 Options

No matter how much we try to keep them in optimal health, our dogs sometimes become ill. It’s just a fact of life. What’s important is getting familiarized with the different treatment options available for any condition or illness our canine companions come down with.  This helps us understand that the veterinarian is providing the best available treatment option.

Anemia is described as a lower overall number of red blood cells in the body. There are many different kinds of anemias and they are also a result of very diverse causes. Therefore, when it comes to treating anemia in dogs, there are several options available. The best one for the case will be determined by the cause and kind of anemia present. Some of these options treat very specific underlying causes of anemia, so there is not a one-size-fits-all treatment for all anemic dogs. In most cases, these treatments will be used in conjunction with each other.

Today, we’ll be looking at all those options and what they entail, so keep reading!

What Is Anemia?

What exactly is anemia in dogs? Anemia occurs when a canine’s body doesn’t have enough red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissue, so if there are fewer of them or they aren’t doing their job properly, a dog can become weak and fatigued, and depending on the degree of the anemia, the lack of proper tissue and organ oxygenation can cause a myriad of undesirable consequences.

In all cases, anemia is a sign of some other underlying issue. Some examples are:

Anemias are classified as regenerative if the cause of anemia is treatable and the dog is able to recover normal red blood cell levels with treatment. Anemia is non-regenerative if the cause is their inability to produce new red blood cells. The latter happens when dogs have issues with their bone marrow or from chronic disease or damage to the kidneys or other organs.

The treatment of choice will be decided based on the kind of anemia and the cause beyond it. While the following list is not exhaustive, it is a good overview of some of the treatment options for anemia in dogs.

The 11 Treatment Options For Anemia in Dogs

1. Iron Supplements

You’re likely familiar with iron-deficiency anemia in humans; it’s not uncommon in canines, either. In the case of dogs, iron-deficiency anemia is most common in cases of chronic blood loss. However, insufficient intake of iron through diet is another possibility. Since iron plays such an important role in the transportation of oxygen to the body’s tissues in the form of hemoglobin, adequate iron levels are crucial for recovery. If your dog is experiencing iron-deficiency anemia, iron supplements will be prescribed.

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2. Blood Transfusion

If your pet has experienced some injury or trauma that has led to sudden, severe blood loss, it’s a life-threatening situation, so a blood transfusion will be necessary. The primary purpose of this treatment is to stabilize your pup so that the reason for the anemia can be figured out and treated (provided the reason isn’t obvious, like an injury). Occasionally, the reason for severe blood loss isn’t so apparent—there could be a condition making it difficult for blood to clot or a bleeding tumor somewhere, which could lead to low-grade chronic blood loss resulting in iron-deficiency anemia.

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3. Deworming or Parasite Medications

Internal parasites can also be responsible for anemia in canines. Hookworms, in particular, can result in anemia as they attach to the small intestine to feed on blood. However, ectoparasite infestation can also result in anemia. Increased numbers of fleas and ticks feeding on their host’s blood can lead to severe anemia, especially in puppies. If your vet finds that internal or external parasite infestations are responsible for a dog’s anemia, deworming or anti-parasite medications will be given. The specific treatment will largely depend on the case.

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4. Gastrointestinal Medication

A number of diseases can result in anemia if there is chronic blood loss from ulcerations, an inability to absorb iron from malabsorption, or other intestinal disturbances. If your vet has done testing and found that the cause of the anemia is something like stomach ulcers, your dog will be given gastroprotectants and proton pump inhibitors. If the cause is due to the inability to absorb iron due to gastrointestinal illness, the solution would depend on treating the underlying cause but might include antimicrobial drugs, anti-inflammatories, immunosuppressants, and even specialized diets or calming aids.

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5. Cobalamin (B12) Supplementation

If the anemia is caused by a cobalamin deficiency, periodic subcutaneous injections of cobalamin might be prescribed. In dogs, the most common causes of cobalamin deficiencies are exotic pancreatic insufficiency and chronic and severe small intestinal disease. Hereditary cobalamin deficiency is also a possibility and has been described in various dog breeds including the Border Collie, Shar Pei, Giant Schnautzer, and the Australian Shepherd.

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6. Antibiotics

Sometimes infections, particularly chronic infections or those infections leading to sepsis, are associated with the development of anemia. If that is the case, a course of antibiotics that target the causing bacteria will need to be part of the treatment protocols.

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7. Corticosteroids and Immunosuppressive Drugs

Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia is probably the most common autoimmune disease in canines, and corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs are used to treat it. The purpose of this treatment is to stop the dog’s immune system from destroying their own red blood cells.

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8. Intravenous Fluids & Binders

Intravenous fluids are also sometimes given for anemia in conjunction with medications and other treatments, particularly if your dog’s anemia is due to kidney disease or intoxication. These fluids help keep the kidneys working correctly and protect the kidneys from further damage. So, don’t be surprised if your vet gives your pet fluids during your visit.

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9. Surgery or Chemotherapy

If the cause behind the anemia is an injury, a damaged organ, or even cancer, surgery or chemotherapy might be the treatment options of choice to resolve the primary issue behind your dog’s anemia.

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10. Potassium Phosphate Supplements

Some metabolic disorders can cause hemolytic anemias. Dogs with diabetes, hepatic lipidosis, and refeeding syndrome might present this problem. Providing additional phosphorus, either orally or injected, is the recommended treatment.

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11. Bone Marrow Transplant

If your canine companion is dealing with primary bone marrow disease, this will lead to non-regenerative anemia because the red blood cell precursors (stem cells that will become red blood cells) come from the bone marrow. To be diagnosed, your dog would most likely have a bone marrow aspiration, followed by a core biopsy. And in this case, a bone marrow transplant from a suitable donor might be the only way to resolve this kind of anemia. However, this is a rare procedure in veterinary medicine.

Conclusion

When your favorite canine suffers from anemia, several options are available to help. The best treatment option will depend on the underlying cause of your pet’s anemia. Treatment could be as simple as antibiotics or iron supplements for something like a bacterial infection or iron deficiency. In cases where anemia has been brought on due to blood loss, parasite infestations, renal issues, intoxication, or injury, treatment could be more involved and may include antiparasitic treatments, gastric treatments, blood transfusion, binders, and intravenous fluids. Rest assured that your vet will provide the best treatment option for your dog. In the meantime, it’s helpful to understand that there are several causes and types of anemia, and each one will require a different treatment approach.

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Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock

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