Prevalence and causes of anaemia in dogs at Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
2025
Num-Adom, SM | Amali, GO
This retrospective study aimed to assess the prevalence and causes of anaemia in dogs admitted at the Small Animal Clinic of Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi from 2016 to 2020. The study reviewed case files of 489 dogs that were admitted out of which 320 dogs had low haematocrit values of <36% and were considered anaemic and included in the study. Data collected was subjected to statistical analysis. A prevalence rate of 65.4% was established. The study shows that the common causes of anaemia in dogs presented at the VTH from 2016 – 2020 were parasitic diseases (70.0%), followed by non-infectious diseases (15.9%). Out of 320 cases of anaemia recorded, it was observed that young dogs within the ages of 0 – 2 years (72.5%) were more affected (P<0.05) than dogs of older ages (27.5%). In a similar way, male dogs (61.9%) were most significantly (p < 0.05) affected by anaemia. Exotic breeds of dogs were also shown by the study to be more affected by anaemia (69.1%) at (p <005) followed by local breeds (26.6%). The study also revealed that anaemia is more likely to occur during wet/rainy season (53.1%. P = 0.021). The study concluded that anaemia is a common clinical finding in dogs in Makurdi and is caused mostly by parasitic diseases as such, deliberate programme of client education about the need for routine parasite control in pets by professionals, presentation of their dogs at the VTH for routine check-up and the provision of good housing, proper cooking of dog’s food and clean environments for pets are sure ways of curbing canine anaemia in Makurdi; and the development and use of parasite vaccines, made from indigenous parasite strains were recommended.
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