Canine Heart Worm Treatment & Thrombocytopenia
Whenever a dog displays uncontrolled bleeding, he should immediately be taken to the veterinarian. There is the potential that this bleeding can be fatal. This is also a common symptom for conditions such as thrombocytopenia and may be a sign of more serious conditions such as heartworms or cancer.
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Symptoms
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Thrombocytopenia and heartworms present themselves in the same manner and are often related. The symptoms of the conditions include lethargy, loss of appetite and weakness. Thrombocytopenia also presents itself with additional symptoms including small hemorrhages in the mouth, bruising in the groin area, blood in the urine or stool, nosebleeds and pale gums.
Diagnosis
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According to PetEducation.com, thrombocytopenia is diagnosed through the use of complex blood tests that count the number of platelets in the blood. A decrease in these platelets is a classic sign of the condition. In addition the dog will receive X-rays and blood tests to verify that the condition is not caused by a cancer or ulcer, which can also deplete the blood. A dog who is tested positive for thrombocytopenia is frequently tested for heartworms. The heartworm test looks for the antibodies that the body creates when attacking the worms. This test can typically be performed in the office in a matter of minutes. Thrombocytopenia can be caused by the presence of a large heartworm infection.
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Treatment
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The immediate treatment for a severe case of thrombocytopenia is a blood transfusion according to PetEducation.com. The treatments for thrombocytopenia depend upon the cause of the condition. If the condition is caused by cancer, chemotherapy and radiation will be recommended as well as surgery to remove the largest tumors. If the condition is due to an infection, antibiotics will be administered and the dog will be observed for improvement. If the condition is due to heartworms, the dog will be treated with a heartworm medication designed to kill the heartworms. The dog will remain at the veterinarian's office for a period of time to ensure that the dying worms do not clog the arteries and veins of the dog as they dislodge from the heart.
Prognosis
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If left untreated, thrombocytopenia is a fatal condition that causes the dog to bleed to death from the inside. Each condition that causes the disease is potentially fatal in itself and paired with the bleeding condition, the chances of a full recovery are slim. Thrombocytopenia is known to recur after treatment, causing additional bleeding and complications for a dog that would otherwise be on the mend. Frequent blood transfusions can limit the chances of a fatality.
Prevention
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The prevention of heartworms is a good way to prevent thrombocytopenia since they are related in most cases. To prevent heartworms, PetEducation.com suggests that the dog owner provide the dog with the appropriate heartworm medication throughout the year. This will provide the dog the necessary protection against the worms that can be transmitted either through the fecal matter of another dog or through mosquito bites by infected insects. Preventing thrombocytopenia that is from cancer is difficult to do. Even the healthiest dogs can be susceptible to cancer, but according to CanineCancer.com, early spaying can prevent the most common cancer in dogs, breast cancer. The condition that is caused due to an infection can only be prevented by catching the infection early.
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References
- Photo Credit dog on boat image by JulianMay.co.uk from Fotolia.com
