Investigation of Pallor

Question 1

Step 1 What are the two causes of pallor?

Answer 1

Hypoperfusion (normal HCT)

Anaemia (low HCT, hyperkinetic pulse)

Question 2

Step 2 What should be considered after confirming low HCT?

Answer 2

Look for primary and/or secondary coagulation disorders

Question 3

Step 3 Grade the anaemia (Dogs)

Answer 3

Mild 30-36%
Moderate 18-29%
Severe <13

Question 4

Step 3 Grade the anaemia (cats)

Answer 4

Mild 20-24%
Moderate 14-19%
Severe <14

Question 5

Step 4 Examine the plasma. What are the possible findings?

Answer 5

Icterus - yellow
Haemolysis - red
Both - port coloured

Question 6

Step 5 Smear and slide agglutination. What are you looking for on the smear and what does it mean?

Answer 6

Evaluate for polychromasia to figure out if it is regenerative or non-regenerative

Question 7

What does a high reticulocyte count or polychromasia mean?

Answer 7

There must be functional bone marrow.

Question 8

What causes regenerative anaemia?

Answer 8

Blood loss (after 48 hours)
Haemolysis

Question 9

What causes semi regenerative anaemia?

Answer 9

Iron deficiency anemia

Question 10

What causes non regenerative anaemia?

Answer 10

Anaemia of chronic disease
Anaemia of renal disease
Bone marrow disorder
Endocrine anaemia

Question 11

How does regeneration appear on a dot plot?

Answer 11

Large reticulocyte cloud

Question 12

What is a good reticulocyte count for a moderate anaemia?

Answer 12

120K per microlitre ~4%