Clinico diagnostic and therapeutic investigations of canine anaemia

Abstract

The present research was undertaken at Small Animal Medical Ward, College of Veterinary Science, Tirupati to study the prevalence, aetiology, clinical signs, diagnostic aspects, haemato biochemical changes and establishment of different therapeutic protocols for anaemia in dogs. Out of 2320 dogs suspected for anaemia were tested, 1299 (55.99%) dogs were found anaemic. Prevalence of anaemia was maximum in the age group of 1-5years (32.33%). Highest prevalence was observed in Labrador breed (21.56%). The prevalence was slightly higher in males (58.89%) than in females and highest recorded during the month of May (11.24%). Moderate anaemia (42.72%) was more prevalent than mild, severe and very severe anaemia. Anaemia in dogs was more common due to Babesia gibsoni (7.46%), Ehrlichia canis (7.39%), severe tick infestation (6.62%), haemarrhagic gastro enteritis (4.54%), toxicities (2.67), Babesia canis (1.30%), primary immune mediated haemolytic anaemia (PIMHA-1.46%), leptospirosis (0.92%), neoplasia (0.76), liver dysfunction (4.31%), chronic renal failure (4.23%), hook worm infection(3.77%), hypothyroidism (2.54%), anorexia (5.85%), demodicosis(4.54%), surgical wounds (7.16%) and unknown etiology were also found to cause anaemia 36.26 per cent. Among infectious causes, anaemia was more common due to Babesia gibsoni (7.46%).The distribution recorded for the DEA1.1 blood group system of dogs was positive in 47.34 per cent and negative in 52.63 per cent. newlineIn the present study 85 cases were diagnosed positive for IMHA based on Coomb s test, In-saline auto agglutination test or rapid osmotic fragility test. A total of 80 cases showed presence of spherocytes on blood smear examination. A significant association between diagnostic tests and presence of spherocytes was observed. newline newline