Anemia is a blood condition that develops when a dog's blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells. This condition can occur for a variety of reasons, and while anemia is a serious condition it can be treated with the proper medications. If your dog has been diagnosed with anemia, it is important to find out why the anemia developed and how it can be prevented in the future.
Symptoms of anemia in dogs may appear suddenly or gradually over time. Your dog becomes notably weak, lethargic and depressed due to the lack of oxygen getting to its tissues. She may show disinterest in her favorite activities and toys. Lethargy might be accompanied by a lack in appetite as well as excessive thirst and urination.
Auto-immune mediated hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a condition that results from a destruction of red blood cells creating a severely low red blood cell count. Treatment is aggressive and ultimately determined based on the underlying cause of AIHA. The main goal of treatment is to decrease the red blood cell destruction while maintaining your dog's health until his red blood cell supply can be replenished.