Module 5: anemia Flashcards
clinical signs
Pale mucous membranes.
Generalized weakness and lethargy.
Tachycardia.
Heart murmurs.
Shock—This will occur if there is a rapid loss of more than one third of the total blood volume.
regenerative anemia
Blood loss (acute)., Hemolysis causes.
- Macrocytic/normochromic.
- Marrow compensates for the red cell loss by increasing RBC production.
- Increased polychromasia.
- Increased reticulocyte count.
- Decreased RBC, Hct, and Hgb.
- Can be a result of hemorrhage or hemolysis.
non regenerative anemia
Nutrient deficiency (iron), Erythropoietin deficiency.
, Stem cell abnormality.
Erythropoietin and stem cell:
- Normocytic/normochromic.
- No new RBCs produced.
- Decreased polychromasia.
- Decreased reticulocyte count.
- Decreased RBC, Hct, and Hgb.
Nutrient deficiency:
- Microcytic/hypochromic.
- Decreased hemoglobin.
- Polychromasia and reticulocytes seen, but cells are hypochromic.
- Decreased Hct and Hgb; RBCs may be normal—unique situation.
DIC
a rare but serious condition that causes abnormal blood clotting throughout the body’s blood vessels.
dehydration relating to polycythemia
An increase in the hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red cell count above normal.
Most often, the RBC count is increased as a result of hemoconcentration—dehydration.
RBC count, Hgb, and Hct are increased.
A transient condition and corrects with fluid therapy.
Anemia
Anemia is defined as a decrease in the number of RBCs, with Hgb and Hct below normal for that animal.
Anemia leads to:
decreased ability of the body to meet its oxygen demand for the animal. Remember the RBC’s role in delivering oxygen to vital organs.
is anemia a disease?
NO ! it is a clinical finding as a result of a disease process. The cause of the anemia must be identified in addition to managing and treating the anemia.
physiologic affects of anemia
Decreased oxygen delivery to the tissue.
Physiologic adjustments made by the animal to increase the efficiency of the RIBC and decrease the workload on the heart.
how can anemia be classified?
Morphology RBC size and colour, Pathophysiology mechanism
desrribe the morphology of anmeia
Macrocytic anemia—RBC larger, polychromatic, MCV increased.
Normocytic anemia—RBC normal size and colour, MCV normal.
Microcytic anemia—RBC smaller in size, hypochromic, MCV decreased.
macrocytic vs normocytic vs microcytic anemia
Macrocytic is
- regenerative (increased number of reticulocytes in circulation, therefore increased MCV).
Normocytic is:
- Non-regenerative (stimulus or bone marrow failure, therefore no new RBCs being produced)
- Early regenerative (not enough time for increased production to show in circulation, e.g., first hour).
Microcytic is a
- nutrient (iron) deficiency (decreased hemoglobin content)
chronic blood loss or parasites can lead to ______ anemia
regenrative
Regenerative anemia is usually of ___________ onset, and the animal is in reasonable overall physical condition because the process has not been going on long enough to cause general debilitation.
acute
saline aggulation test
Allows us to differentiate between rouleaux and agglutination on a blood smear.
Quick and simple test that can be done in clinic.
Positive agglutination can suggest hemolytic anemia.
Great test for dogs that present for suspicion of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA).
