Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Seasonal patterns of immune-mediated anemia in dogs in southern
By Kidd, Linda et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2014·Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Seasonality of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs from southern California.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that dogs with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), a condition where the immune system attacks red blood cells, showed more cases in spring and summer compared to winter and fall in San Diego. This pattern was not seen in Los Angeles, indicating that environmental factors might play a role in the occurrence of this disease. If your dog is showing signs of anemia, such as weakness, pale gums, or jaundice, it's important to consult your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
People also search for: dog anemia symptoms · immune-mediated hemolytic anemia treatment · seasonal dog health issues
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is seasonal variation in the incidence of canine idiopathic immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) at 2 specialty hospitals in southern California. DESIGN: Retrospective study. To determine seasonality, cases of idiopathic IMHA presenting between June 2006 and June 2012 were identified by searching medical record databases of 2 large specialty hospitals. The presence of anemia with autoagglutination, spherocytosis or a positive Coomb's test and no identifiable underlying cause were required for inclusion. Dogs with a history of recent travel (within 1 year) were excluded. One hundred and twenty-six dogs, 57 from a practice in San Diego, and 69 from a practice in Los Angeles, met the criteria. RESULTS: The pattern of seasonality differed with practice location (P = 0.02). More cases of idiopathic IMHA presented during spring and summer (n = 39) than winter and fall (n = 18) for the San Diego practice (P = 0.008) but not the Los Angeles practice (n = 32 and 37, respectively, P = 0.63). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of idiopathic IMHA in dogs presenting to specialty hospitals located in 2 different climates of southern California was different, suggesting environmental triggers may be involved. Larger, prospective studies are needed to determine whether environmental parameters or undetected infectious disease account for some cases of idiopathic IMHA in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24750898/