HemoDol 60 mini tablets Iron Support for Dogs and Cats Copper Zinc B Vitamins

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Your vet may recommend one or more treatments, especially when your cat is initially diagnosed. If your cat’s anemia is severe, he may need a blood transfusion and hospitalization to save his life.

In addition to the signs associated with anaemia, cats may also show signs of an underlying disease (such as chronic kidney disease for example) that may be causing the anaemia. Cats that develop anaemia gradually over a long period are often able to adapt to the anaemia and show fewer signs (until the anaemia is really severe) compared with cats that develop a sudden onset of anaemia. Red blood cells are a special type of cell that contain haemoglobin – this is a special iron-containing molecule that efficiently binds oxygen. When we breathe in and out, oxygen is taken out of the air in the lungs and is absorbed into the blood, being bound to haemoglobin in the RBCs. As these RBCs circulate around the body, the haemoglobin can then release the oxygen in the tissues of the body where it is vital to maintain life. Haemoglobin in the RBCs also gives blood its characteristic red colour. In the article “what my cats eat in a day”, I showed you an example of 3 daily meals for my cats. I mentioned that I supplemented iron in that diet. Today, I’m going to go into more detail about iron, as it’s an essential mineral for cats. I will explain what iron is and its roles, how much iron your cat needs, in which foods you can find it, and more! Young Kittens: In some cases, very young kittens who are not nursing adequately may require iron supplementation to support rapid growth and development.Red blood cell mass refers to the total number of erythrocytes, which are a type of red blood cells containing hemoglobin that’s responsible for carrying oxygen across the bloodstream and delivering it to all body parts. Always consult with a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan if you suspect your cat has an iron deficiency. Neonatal isoerythrolysis– a condition seen in very young kittens where there is an incompatibility between the blood type of the kitten and the queen

This section focuses on the role of iron in IDA in pregnant women, infants, and toddlers as well as in anemia of chronic disease. Iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women The clinical implications of iron deficiency in people with chronic diseases are not clear. Even mild anemia of chronic disease is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization and mortality in elderly people [ 81]. Two prospective observational studies found that iron deficiency in patients with objectively measured heart failure was associated with an increased risk of heart transplantation and death, and this association was independent of other well-established prognostic factors for poor outcomes, including anemia [ 82, 83]. However, an analysis of NHANES data on 574 adults with self-reported heart failure found no association between iron deficiency and all-cause or cardiovascular mortality [ 60]. When anaemia is confirmed, the next step is to determine if it is regenerative or not. Features that indicate regeneration include:

Treatment

Short MW, Domagalski JE. Iron deficiency anemia: evaluation and management. Am Fam Physician. 2013 Jan 15;87(2):98-104. [ PubMed abstract] Untreated, anaemia can be a debilitating disease, and if severe can be life-threatening. Unfortunately, cats are particularly prone to the development of anaemia. This is partly because their RBCs have a shorter lifespan (around 70 days) than many other animals (around 110-120 days in dogs and humans) – this means they have a higher turnover of RBCs and anaemia can, therefore, develop quite rapidly if anything interferes with this. Also, cats suffer from a number of different diseases and infections that can cause anaemia. Types of anaemia Drakesmith H, Prentice AM. Hepcidin and the Iron-Infection Axis. Science 2012;338:768-72. [ PubMed abstract]

Iron is a mineral that is naturally present in many foods, added to some food products, and available as a dietary supplement. Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, an erythrocyte (red blood cell) protein that transfers oxygen from the lungs to the tissues [ 1]. As a component of myoglobin, another protein that provides oxygen, iron supports muscle metabolism and healthy connective tissue [ 2]. Iron is also necessary for physical growth, neurological development, cellular functioning, and synthesis of some hormones [ 2, 3]. Your vet will also take steps to treat the underlying cause of your cat’s anemia. Home treatment and prevention Adults with normal intestinal function have very little risk of iron overload from dietary sources of iron [ 2]. However, supplements containing 25 mg iron or more can reduce zinc absorption and plasma zinc concentrations [ 3, 87, 88]. High-dose iron supplements can also cause gastrointestinal effects, including gastric upset, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea [ 5, 89]. Taking iron supplements with food can help minimize these adverse effects. Case reports, some involving doses of 130 mg iron, suggest that some people develop even more serious gastrointestinal effects, including gastritis and gastric lesions (along with iron deposits in the gastric mucosa in some cases) [ 90-93]. Many ready-to-eat breakfast cereals are fortified with iron, and some fruits and vegetables contain iron. A minimum requirement of 17 mg of iron per 1000 kcal, which is equivalent to 70 mg of iron per kg of dry matter (DM) for a 4000 kcal/kg diet. This minimum requirement has been established on a purified diet, without anything that could reduce the absorption of iron.

Causes Of Iron Deficiency Anemia In Cats

Presence of reticulocytes (immature RBCs) – using special stains these cells can be distinguished from normal (mature) RBCs, and by determining their number it is possible to gauge how regenerative the anaemia is. Iron is absorbed through the cat’s small intestine. It can be found in sources like lean meats, legumes, liver, fish and whole grains. Most well-balanced, high quality cat foods have your cat’s daily requirements of this mineral at a ratio of 36.4 mg of iron per pound of food eaten. However, since red blood cells only live for 110 days, they will need to be replaced on a constant basis. If your cat isn’t eating well, especially after surgery or other trauma, or has other underlying health issues, its iron levels and red blood cells may be affected. What Can Cause Iron Loss? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that infants less than 12 months of age who are not exclusively or primarily breastfed drink iron-fortified infant formula [ 17]. Breastfed infants who were born preterm or with a low birthweight should receive 2–4 mg/kg/day of iron drops (to a maximum of 15 mg/day) from ages 1–12 months. Breastfed infants who receive insufficient iron (less than 1 mg/kg/day) from supplementary foods by age 6 months should receive 1 mg/kg/day of iron drops. The CDC also recommends that infants and preschool children at high risk for IDA (e.g., children from low-income families and migrant children) be screened between age 9–12 months, 6 months later, and annually from age 2–5 years. Treatment for IDA begins with 3 mg/kg/day of iron drops given between meals. (See reference 17 for additional advice from the CDC.) Paleness or pallor– A common sign of anaemia in cats is paleness of the mucous membranes (these are the membranes – or ‘skin’– lining the mouth and around the eyes etc). However, this is not an entirely reliable sign as pale membranes can also be seen for other reasons. There are many brands in the market include those that come in liquid form, as capsules or tablets or solution forms for injection. Your vet may recommend some of the below brands to help deal with deficiency or iron-deficiency anemia. 1. Pfizer Animal Pet-Tinic Vitamin-Mineral for Dogs and Cat