What does it mean when a dog’s red blood cells are high?
When the number of red blood cells is too high, which is called polycythemia, blood can become too thick, impairing the ability of the heart to deliver oxygen throughout the body. An animal’s metabolism is geared to protect both the red blood cells and the hemoglobin from damage.
What would a high red blood cell count mean?
A high red blood cell count can be a sign of: Dehydration. Heart disease. Polycythemia vera, a bone marrow disease that causes too many red blood cells to be made. Scarring of the lungs, often due to cigarette smoking.
How Long Can dogs live with polycythemia?
Prognosis. The prognosis for patients with polycythemia vera is guarded; however, with appropriate treatment, patients have survived for more than 6 years with a reasonably good quality of life.
Can stress cause high red blood cell count in dogs?
In some cases, slight elevations in red blood cell count can be caused by excessive stress or excitement when the blood is drawn.
What causes a high red blood cell count in dogs?
Causes of Overproduction of Red Blood Cells in Dogs Secondary erythrocytosis is typically caused by increased erythropoietin levels. This type can be seen as lung disease, congestive heart failure, abnormalities of blood circulation and decreased arterial oxygen saturation.
What are the side effects of high red blood cell count in dogs?
Your body may increase red blood cell production to compensate for any condition that results in low oxygen levels, including: Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease in adults) Heart failure. A condition present at birth that reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells (hemoglobinopathy)
Should I worry if my red blood cell count is high?
Should I worry if my red blood cell count is high? Not necessarily. While a high red blood cell count can indicate a disease or disorder, it doesn’t always mean you have a health condition. Other factors like living at a high altitude can also have an impact on your red blood cell count.
What is the most common cause of high red blood cell count?
High red blood cell count may be caused by low oxygen levels, kidney disease or other problems.
How is polycythemia treated in dogs?
Treatment of polycythemia vera includes removing red blood cells by withdrawing blood through a catheter placed in a vein, then replacing the lost blood with fluids. Drugs such as hydroxyurea or clorambucil may also be added to the treatment.
How common is polycythemia in dogs?
Polycythemia vera, or true polycythemia, is a rare disease of dogs and cats in which too many red blood cells (RBCs) are produced by the bone marrow. This is the opposite of anemia, in which there are too few red blood cells.
Does polycythemia affect life expectancy?
Recent studies estimate the average life expectancy after diagnosis with polycythemia vera to be about 20 years. The average age of death is about 77. The most common cause of death is complications from blood clots (about 33%). Advancing cancer is the second most common cause (15%).
Does polycythemia vera get worse over time?
It usually happens during the later stages of the disease. Polycythemia vera treatments help reduce your risk of symptoms and complications. But for some people, the disease still gets worse and turns into another blood cancer, despite treatment
What causes red blood cells to be high in dogs?
Causes of Overproduction of Red Blood Cells in Dogs Secondary erythrocytosis is typically caused by increased erythropoietin levels. This type can be seen as lung disease, congestive heart failure, abnormalities of blood circulation and decreased arterial oxygen saturation.
Can stress increase red blood cells?
Yes. Research has shown a link between stress and its effect on your blood cells. Stress can lead to an increase in red blood cells, neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) and platelets.
What does high red blood cell count mean in a dog?
When the number of red blood cells is too high, which is called polycythemia, blood can become too thick, impairing the ability of the heart to deliver oxygen throughout the body. An animal’s metabolism is geared to protect both the red blood cells and the hemoglobin from damage.
What increases red blood cells in dogs?
Polycythemia in Dogs Relative polycythemia develops when a decrease in plasma volume, usually caused by dehydration, produces a relative increase in circulating RBCs.
What does it mean if a dog’s red blood cell count is high?
When the number of red blood cells is too high, which is called polycythemia, blood can become too thick, impairing the ability of the heart to deliver oxygen throughout the body. An animal’s metabolism is geared to protect both the red blood cells and the hemoglobin from damage.
How do you treat high red blood cell count in dogs?
Hydroxyurea is the medication used in conjunction with phlebotomy to treat polycythemia vera. It works by slowing the bone marrow’s production of red blood cells. Because RBCs live an average of 120 days it takes time to see the effects of decreased production, which is why phlebotomy is also part of the treatment.
What happens when red blood cell count is too high?
Secondary absolute polycythemia This happens when there is an increase in production of the hormone erythropoietin in the kidneys. Erythropoietin is the hormone responsible for stimulating red blood cell production in the marrow.
What does it mean if red blood cell count is high?
High red blood cell count may be caused by low oxygen levels, kidney disease or other problems.
How do I decrease my red blood cell count?
A high red blood cell count can be a sign of: Dehydration. Heart diseasePolycythemia vera, a bone marrow disease that causes too many red blood cells to be made
What does is mean when your red blood cell count is high?
Should I worry if my red blood cell count is high? Not necessarily. While a high red blood cell count can indicate a disease or disorder, it doesn’t always mean you have a health condition. Other factors like living at a high altitude can also have an impact on your red blood cell count.
How do you treat high red blood cell count?
A high red blood cell count can be a sign of: Dehydration. Heart diseasePolycythemia vera, a bone marrow disease that causes too many red blood cells to be made. Scarring of the lungs, often due to cigarette smoking.
What is the best treatment for polycythemia?
Prognosis. The prognosis for patients with polycythemia vera is guarded; however, with appropriate treatment, patients have survived for more than 6 years with a reasonably good quality of life.
What does it mean when a dog has a high red blood count?
The most common treatment for polychythemia vera is having frequent blood withdrawals, using a needle in a vein (phlebotomy). It’s the same procedure used for donating blood. This decreases your blood volume and reduces the number of excess blood cells.