Nonregenerative immune-mediated anemia in Dogs

Category: Blood
Breeds documented: 3
Published sources: 5

Overview

The immune system can attack developing red blood cells in the bone marrow, the tissue that makes blood cells. In this form of anemia, the blood has too few red cells and does not receive enough new ones to replace them. Some affected dogs also lose mature red cells through immune attack. The resulting illness can cause tiredness, weakness and loss of appetite.

Signs to watch for

Unusual tiredness
Weakness or fainting
Eating less than usual
Weight loss
Drinking and urinating more than usual

In one hospital study, the average age at diagnosis was 7 years 7 months.

Emergency Go to an emergency vet now if your dog loses consciousness.

Diagnosis and tests

Vets check red blood cell numbers and reticulocytes, the young red cells that show whether replacement is happening. A bone marrow sample can reveal immune cells engulfing developing red cells. Other tests help rule out diseases that can cause a similar blood pattern. The diagnosis uses these findings together, rather than relying on a low red cell count alone.

Breeds with documented risk

3 breeds

By breed size

1 Small
1 Medium
1 Large

DachshundSmall · Hound Group
BoxerLarge · Working Group
WhippetMedium · Hound Group

Inheritance

Not yet known
None of the sources we use states how this is inherited in dogs yet.

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.