Why is this dog anaemic?

RE: Why is this dog anaemic?

Thomas Johnson — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 09:25:30 GMT

So it turns out the right thing to do was nothing while trying to work out what to do next. He has had no treatment, but is much brighter and eating normally. His haematocrit is 38.2% and his reticulocyte count is 171.4 and 3.1%. I'm going to check the haematology again in 1-2 weeks.

RE: Why is this dog anaemic?

Judith Archbold — Sun, 18 Jun 2017 15:24:10 GMT

I'm thinking IMHA too. The only other thing I might have done to rule out an obvious bleed would be a quick heart scan to check for pericardial effusion...Had a case of a Golden Retriever once that presented with "malaise": was mildly anaemic but no dyspnoea on day 1.

By day 2 there were signs of cardiac output failure so I radiographed the chest...." big round heart". Pericardiocentesis helped clinically ( fluid = blood) . Referred him to a cardiologist: luckily no harmangiosarcoma evident, had a pericardectomy...all sorted!

Anyway....probably your case is IMHA /AIHA.....but thought I'd mention this case for interest

RE: Why is this dog anaemic?

Eilidh Corr — Sun, 18 Jun 2017 12:27:45 GMT

Splenic FNAs are often very sketchy IME.

RE: Why is this dog anaemic?

Eilidh Corr — Sun, 18 Jun 2017 12:27:05 GMT

"Enlarged and mottled spleen" in an older rottie with regenerative anaemia and pyrexia ... histiocytic sarcoma?

RE: Why is this dog anaemic?

Glen McIntosh — Sun, 18 Jun 2017 11:47:48 GMT

[quote user="Thomas Johnson"]

The other thought that crossed my mind is zinc toxicity, has anyone seen a case present like this?

[/quote]

Easy enough to rule out by doing a rad of the abdomen?

RE: Why is this dog anaemic?

Jenny Harris — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 19:39:33 GMT

Oh sorry just saw that you had commented about the low urea- not sure if this rules it out entirely? But may be sensible to double check if no convincing evidence of haemolysis for now?

RE: Why is this dog anaemic?

Jenny Harris — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 19:36:58 GMT

If it was zinc toxicity would the pathologist not have seen Heinz bodies?

what about GI bleeding - faecal occult blood?

RE: Why is this dog anaemic?

Thomas Johnson — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 14:15:01 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

Presume it not on any drugs. How about diet, we had a dog that developed haemolytic anaemia after eating human food containing onions and there was no evidence of Heinz bodies on a smear.

[/quote]

The other thought that crossed my mind is zinc toxicity, has anyone seen a case present like this?

RE: Why is this dog anaemic?

Thomas Johnson — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 17:50:10 GMT

[quote user="Nicola M"]

When you said the scan was limited by size could you visualise the liver/spleen enough to rule out a tumour?

[/quote]

I'm pretty sure there was no tumour on the spleen, and I think I saw the majority of the liver and that was okay too.

RE: Why is this dog anaemic?

Nicola Cole — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 17:19:11 GMT

[quote user="Lucy Fleming"]

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]most likely neoplasia somewhere[/quote]

does it make me a terrible cynic to agree based on the fact that he is a rottie x?

[/quote]

When you said the scan was limited by size could you visualise the liver/spleen enough to rule out a tumour?

RE: Why is this dog anaemic?

Lucy Fleming — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 17:13:13 GMT

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]most likely neoplasia somewhere[/quote]

does it make me a terrible cynic to agree based on the fact that he is a rottie x?

RE: Why is this dog anaemic?

Robin Grimmer — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 14:19:07 GMT

Probably IMHA secondary to something else in this age, most likely neoplasia somewhere. Any history of foreign travel?

RE: Why is this dog anaemic?

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 13:47:38 GMT

Presume it not on any drugs. How about diet, we had a dog that developed haemolytic anaemia after eating human food containing onions and there was no evidence of Heinz bodies on a smear.