Anemia

Anemia is a condition in which there is a decreased amount of circulating red blood cells in the blood stream. Since the red blood cells carry life-supporting oxygen to all of the body cells, a decrease in red blood cells will cause symptoms varying from weakness and lethargy to labored breathing. An anemic animal’s gums may appear less pink than normal – in severe cases, almost white. Anemia is not a disease. Anemia is a condition caused by some other disease state in the body. Anemia can be caused by the blood loss due to injury. It can occur as the result of a number of infectious diseases. It can even occur from severe infestations of fleas which are blood sucking parasites. Following are some examples of clinical cases of anemia from varying causes.

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)

Fritz, a 2-year-old male domestic shorthair was presented for listlessness and lack of appetite. Fritz was an outdoor cat who had been adopted as a stray and had never been vaccinated. Physical examination revealed weight loss, dehydration, poor hair coat, pale gums, rapid pulse and labored breathing. Blood samples were drawn for analysis and Fritz was placed in an oxygen chamber while the blood tests were being run.

Pictured above are two QBC tubes. The best measure of anemia is with a test called either the microhematocrit (HCT) or packed cell volume (PCV). The blood is placed in a small hollow glass tube and spun at high speed in a machine called a centrifuge. This packs the red blood cells into one end of the tube. The HCT or PCV is then expressed as a percentage of the total blood volume. If the packed cells filled ½ of the tube, that would be a HCT of 50%. On the left is a QBC tube from a cat with a normal HCT of 35% (normal HCT for a cat is between 29-45%). The QBC tube on the (right) is Fritz’. His HCT is 9%. This means that Fritz has only about 20% of his red blood cells remaining.

A number of other blood tests were run, including a test for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). Shown above is an in-house test device for FeLV. A blood sample and test chemicals are placed in the test well and these interact with the test device itself. The test detects the presence of FeLV in the blood sample if it is present. If a single blue spot develops, the test is negative. If, as in this case, more than one spot develops, the test is positive, meaning the patient has the FeLV virus in its system. Felv is incurable. In the terminal stages, there is little that can be done for the patient. At the owner’s request, Fritz was euthanatized (humanely “put to sleep”). This case illustrates the importance of annual vaccination against FeLV.

Abdominal Tumor

“Duke”, a 12-year-old male Labrador Retriever was brought to the clinic by his owner because he was not walking well – he would collapse and lie down frequently. His appetite was poor and he was very lethargic. Duke had a history of prostate problems and now was having some difficulty urinating. Duke’s physical examination was relatively normal. It was difficult to assess the color of his mucous membranes because they were heavily pigmented (this is common in black dogs). He had a rapid heart rate. Blood was drawn for a complete profile, an intravenous catheter was placed and intravenous fluids and antibiotics were started.

The blood profile revealed a severe regenerative anemia (HCT = 23.1% Normal=37-55%). Thoracic and abdominal radiographs were taken. The abdominal films revealed the presence of mass in the area of the spleen. It was suspected that Duke had a tumor of the spleen. Some splenic tumors pool large quantities of blood, causing anemia. An ultrasound (see link to Lane) examination of the abdomen was recommended, but his owner decided against it due to his age, the expense involved, and the guarded prognosis. Surgery would have been the only treatment option.  A few weeks later, Duke was brought in for euthanasia.