Thrombocytopenia refers to a disorder in which the patient has too few platelets.
Platelets are small cell-like particles in the blood, which are produced in the bone marrow. Their function is to form blood clots to stop the flow of blood after an injury or surgery. When platelet levels are very low, bleeding can occur.
Thrombocytopenia may occur as a response to a disease, as a component of blood cancer, immune disorder or as an adverse reaction to a medication. Since thrombocytopenia can be life-threatening, early detection and intervention are key.
There are two types of thrombocytopenia: congenital (present at birth) or acquired. Acquired thrombocytopenia can occur in dogs and cats and can have many causes.
Anemia is a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells. The number of red blood cells can diminish due to loss (bleeding), destruction (hemolysis), or decreased production (bone marrow disorders). Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body, so anemia causes a decrease in oxygen delivery to cells.
There are three categories of anemia:
1. Blood Loss Anemia can occur from external and/or internal blood loss.
External blood loss from:
Injuries like puncture wounds, getting hit by a car, or falling from a building (high-rise syndrome)
Bleeding tumors such as mast cell, bladder, nasal, and intestinal tumors
Nosebleeds or blood in stool or urine from low platelets (thrombocytopenia) or other bleeding disorders such as rodenticide poisoning
Stomach ulcers
Internal blood loss from:
Bleeding internal organ tumors such as hemangiosarcoma, liver, and kidney tumors
Spontaneous bleeding from low platelets (thrombocytopenia) or other bleeding disorders such as rodenticide poisoning
2. Hemolytic Anemia occurs when red blood cells are destroyed at an abnormally high rate. Hemolysis is a normal process through which old red blood cells are removed so they can be replaced by new ones. However, if this removal process occurs faster than the replacement, the pet becomes anemic. This can happen from:
Immune system disorder (immune mediated hemolytic anemia)
Infections from organisms such as Babesia (parasites that cause babesiosis), Mycoplasma (bacteria), or Leptospira (bacteria that cause leptospirosis)
Zinc poisoning from ingesting pennies or zinc screws
Low phosphorus
Red blood cell disorders resulting from pyruvate kinase and phosphofructokinase deficiencies
Onion ingestion
Acetaminophen ingestion in cats
Exposure to skunk musk in dogs
Cancer (the tumor(s) destroy red blood cells)
3. Decreased production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. Bone marrows, like any other organ in the body, can stop functioning properly. If the bone marrow cannot produce the necessary number of red blood cells, the pet will become anemic. This can happen from:
Infections like FeLV or FIV
Fungal infections
Tick-borne illness
Parvovirus
Iron deficiency from a poor diet, intestinal parasites, intestinal disease or chronic blood loss. Iron is an important building block for red blood cells
Lead poisoning
Liver shunt
Hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver syndrome)
Kidney disease
Systemic illness from pancreatitis
Bone marrow disorders:
Myelophthesis (bone marrow tissue is replaced by cancerous tumors like leukemia, multiple myeloma, or lymphoma)
Myelodysplasia (bone marrow cannot produce enough red blood cells or produces abnormal cells)
Pure red cell aplasia (bone marrow stops making red blood cells)
Precursor immune mediated hemolytic anemia (red blood cells are getting inside the bone marrow)
Drug reactions: developing red blood cells are damaged in the bone marrow
Kidney disease refers to the inability of the kidneys to work properly. Kidneys perform several key functions in the body, the most important of which is filtering waste products from the blood. Kidneys also maintain the balance of electrolyte levels in the body (such as sodium, potassium, and chloride), maintain blood pressure, and produce urine. Damage to the kidneys can result in the buildup of waste products to dangerous levels in the blood, also known as azotemia.
There are two main types of kidney disease – acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD develops slowly over time and can damage the kidneys to the point where they are unable to function properly. CKD was previously termed chronic renal failure (CRF). Unlike acute kidney injury, CKD does not disappear with treatment. CKD affects up to 10% of elderly dogs, while all cats are at risk of developing the disease. Unfortunately, it can take months or even years before a pet with CKD show signs of the disease. In addition, pets that have been diagnosed with AKI are at risk of developing permanent damage to their kidneys which can lead to CKD.
Pyometra is a serious bacterial infection of the uterus that occurs most often in older, intact (unspayed) female dogs and cats. The most common bacterium identified in pyometra is E. coli, which typically originates in the feces and ascends through the vagina into the uterus. The infection tends to occur about a month after the dog or cat has been in heat. If unrecognized and untreated, pyometra can lead to a systemic infection or blood poisoning.
Pyometra is often described as being “open” or “closed.” With “open” pyometra, the cervix (the part of the uterus that connects with the vagina) is open, allowing the fluid that forms in the uterus due to the infection to drain out of the body through the vagina.
With “closed” pyometra, where the cervix is closed, the fluid in the uterus cannot drain through the vagina. Instead, it builds up, stretching the uterine walls and potentially causing the the uterus to rupture. If this occurs, the infection may spread throughout the abdomen leading to shock and, potentially, death.
X-ray showing pyometra in a dog
X-ray showing pyometra in a cat
More than 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs each year. Nearly 1 in 5 of those bitten will require medical attention, with children being the most common victims. Any dog, no matter the breed, size, age, or sex, can bite. In fact, it’s very common for young children to be bitten by a dog that they are familiar with. The good news, however, is that most dog bites are preventable.
