Anemia

Dogs or cats can suffer weakness and oral mucous membrane pallor due to anemia.  In a small number of cases, this is due to recent blood loss.  In most cases, it is due to lack of red cell production or rapid destruction of the red cells.

Anemia can be caused by infectious disease, certain parasites, cancer, kidney failure, bone marrow disease and in situations where the immune system destroys the red blood cells. 

The latter condition, often called "Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia" is a variable and usually very serious condition, often secondary to other problems, that requires intervention.  In many of these patients, therapy may include transfusions with whole blood, packed red blood cells, or hemoglobin based oxygen carriers. 

In all cases, therapy is directed by results of diagnostic tests and may include locating and removing bleeding tumors, treating kidney failure, eliminating parasistes, suppressing the immune system, etc. 

Cats often show few signs of anemia, though you may notice decreased activity or increased rate of breathing, along with pale gums. Dogs often are more noticeably quiet, have reduced tolerance for activity or become profoundly weak.

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