Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA): A closer look

Other factors that contribute to iron deficiency in animals are bleeding gastrointestinal ulcers (causing chronic blood loss), infestation with bloodsucking parasites, haemorrhagic diseases, and malnutrition.

Iron deficiency can result in so-called Iron Deficiency Anaemia, mostly occurring in young calves due to low iron content in cow’s milk and high demand for this element by calf’s organism.

Iron poisoning mostly occurs due to excess iron intake caused by an inappropriate dose of iron given to animals or accidental consumption of high doses of supplements, Excess iron intake can cause overload and damage of internal organs.

Iron deficiency occurs in stages:

• The mild form begins with a decrease in stored iron, usually either from a low-iron diet or from excessive bleeding.
• If this does not resolve, the next stage is a greater depletion of iron stores and a drop in red blood cells.
• Eventually this leads to iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) where iron stores are used up and there is significant loss of total red blood cells.

 Anaemia Tests

Typically, a doctor screens for anemia by first checking a complete blood count (including hemoglobin, hematocrit, and other factors that measure red blood cell volume and size). If this is below normal, ferritin and transferrin levels may be measured to determine if the type of anemia is IDA (there are other forms of anemia not caused specifically by an iron deficiency).

Signs & Symptoms of Anaemia:

• Fatigue, weakness
• Lightheadedness
• Confusion, loss of concentration
• Sensitivity to cold
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid heartbeat
• Pale skin
• Hair loss, brittle nails
• Pica: cravings for dirt, clay, ice, or other non-food items

Other factors that contribute to Anaemia:

Blood Loss Anaemia: Acute blood loss can lead to shock and even death if >30%–40% of blood is lost and the hypovolemia that develops is not treated aggressively with IV fluids or compatible blood, or both.

Causes of acute loss can be known (e.g., trauma, surgery) or occult (e.g., GI blood loss). GI parasites, such as Haemonchus in ruminants and hookworms in dogs, can lead to severe blood loss, especially in young animals.

This chronic blood loss can be due to some type of parasitism in young animals (e.g., fleas, lice, intestinal parasitism), but in older animals, bleeding from GI ulcers or tumors is more common.

Haemolytic anaemia results from loss of RBCs. Immune-mediated destruction are the most common cause in dogs, although infections, tumors, and other causes also occur. Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia is treated with immunosuppressive drugs. Other types are treated by addressing the underlying cause.

Nutritional deficiency anaemias develop when micronutrients needed for RBC formation are not present in adequate amounts. Iron deficiency is the most common deficiency seen in dogs and piglets but occurs less commonly in horses, cats, and ruminants. Iron deficiency is rarely nutritional in origin—it most commonly occurs secondary to chronic blood loss. Young animals have minimal iron stores, and milk contains very little iron. This can be especially important for piglets that grow rapidly and are often raised indoors with no access to iron. Oral or injectable iron supplementation is indicated as treatment for iron deficiency; any source of blood loss must be eliminated.

Anaemia of chronic disease is the most common form of anaemia seen in animals. The anaemia can be secondary to chronic inflammation or infection, neoplasia, liver disease, hyper- or hypoadrenocorticism, or hypothyroidism. The anaemia is mediated by cytokines produced by inflammatory cells, which lead to decreases in iron availability, RBC survival, and the marrow’s ability to regenerate. Treatment should be directed at the underlying disease and often results in resolution of the anaemia.

Chronic renal disease is a common cause of non-regenerative anaemia in animals. Erythropoietin is normally produced by the peritubular endothelial cells in the renal cortex. Animals with renal disease produce less erythropoietin, leading to anaemia.

Primary bone marrow disease or failure from any cause can lead to non regenerative anemia and pancytopenia. With diffuse marrow involvement, granulocytes are affected first, followed by platelets and finally RBCs.

Aplastic anaemia has been reported in dogs, cats, ruminants, horses, and pigs with pancytopenia and a hypoplastic marrow, replaced by fat. Most cases are idiopathic, but reported causes include infection (feline leukemia virus, Ehrlichia, parvovirus), drug therapy (methimazole, chemotherapeutic agents, antibiotics [trimethoprim-sulfa, chloramphenicol], fenbendazole), toxin ingestion (estrogen), and total body irradiation.

THE DIFFERENCE WE MAKE

We at Yors have developed a unique formula under HEMATINIC segment which gives that Extra fighting power to anaemic animals for replenishing their red blood cells.

MODUSEL Forte L is an excellent vitamin complex that fights anaemia by the contribution of several of its components to the formation of red blood cells for animal health.