Witnessing your dog have a seizure can be scary and worrisome. Luckily, seizures in dogs only impact about 5 percent of the canine population. Seizures caused by ingesting a toxin are even less common. However, knowing what household items cause convulsions can minimize your dog’s risk.

Dog Seizures: What Do They Look Like?

Seizures in dogs appear very similar to what a seizure looks like in humans. Dogs can experience loss of consciousness, falling over, paddling of limbs or stiffness of the whole body, excessive drooling, and/or losing control of their bladder and bowels.

Most seizures look very similar, whether they are caused by a toxin ingestion, epilepsy, cancer, or other disease. However, there can be subtle differences, so be sure to note how long the seizure lasted, notable movements (or stiffness) during the episode, and any behavior or activity that preceded the seizure. It is also important to note whether your pup has gotten into the trash, eaten plants, or other household items that could cause seizures. 

Toxins That Cause Seizures in Dogs

From foods to household cleaners, there are a variety of everyday items that contain toxins that cause seizures in dogs. Here are the ones you should watch out for: 

There are a few foods that are common in households that cause seizures in our companion animals. Chocolate, caffeine, xylitol, ethanol and high salt dough (such as playdough) are some of the most common items. 

Chocolate

Chocolate has a substance called theobromine in it that dogs are unable to metabolize, or break down, as easily as humans do. This build up in their system affects their heart and blood vessels, lungs, and their central nervous system which causes seizures. Dark chocolate is much worse than milk chocolate because of the higher concentration of cacao and theobromine. 

Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant that dogs are very sensitive to, which increases their heart rate, induces cardiac arrhythmias, muscle tremors, and seizures. Caffeine is found in teas, coffee, energy drinks, and other products. Don’t leave your coffee or other caffeinated beverage where your dog can reach it and make sure to keep coffee grounds out of reach of your pup.

Xylitol

Xylitol is tricky because it’s a sugar substitute that can be found in everyday items labeled as “sugar-free.” Xylitol may also be referred to as birch sugar. Be sure to read the labels on chewing gum, mints, peanut butter (or other nut butters), baked goods, or “skinny” ice cream. Xylitol ingestion in dogs causes the release of insulin into their bloodstream. Insulin is responsible for removing sugar from the bloodstream, therefore this results in a rapid decline of blood sugar (hypoglycemia) which causes weakness, incoordination, and seizures. 

Alcohol

Alcohol is found in alcoholic drinks, as well as hand sanitizer, antifreeze, raw bread dough, mouth wash, vanilla extract, cosmetics, car coolants, and liquid medications. It is a central nervous system depressant, and signs of vomiting, diarrhea, and visible intoxication usually accompany alcohol toxicity in dogs. More severe signs include seizures and coma.

Homemade Dough

Dough with high salt content, such as homemade Playdough, causes sodium toxicity in dogs. The large increase in sodium causes an imbalance of electrolytes, which regulate muscle contractions, water levels in the body, and nerve impulses. This can damage brain cells and lead to seizures, or even death. 

Human Medications

There are both human and animal medications that can cause seizures in dogs. Talk to your vet about any side effects of medications or multiple medications taken together. Some human meds to look out for are: ibuprofen, chemotherapy drugs such as flourouracil cream (5-FU cream), phenylbutazone, metronidazole, ivermectin, or amphetamines. 

Sago Palms

Sago Palms, especially the seeds, contain multiple toxic compounds, such as cycasin, which is toxic to the liver, resulting in seizures and liver failure in dogs. The first signs you may see are vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Familiarize yourself with these plants and avoid them in your neighborhood.

Amanita Mushrooms 

The Amanita species of mushrooms are very poisonous to dogs and cause seizures as well as liver failure, kidney damage, and can be neurotoxic. Be sure to look for these mushrooms growing in your area. Identification of these mushrooms can prevent seizures and further harm to your dog. 

Pesticides

Strychnine is used in pesticides that causes tremors, agitation and seizures which can result in respiratory arrest and death. It is extremely toxic to most domesticated and wild animals, and is used in pesticides to control rats, moles, gophers, and coyotes. Bifenthrin is an insecticide that when ingested in larger quantities can lead to tremors, weakness, and seizures. This substance is used against fire ants. Metaldehyde, which is snail and slug bait, can cause seizures and severely elevated body temperatures. The first signs you may see are drooling, panting, weakness, and anxiety.

What to Do if Your Dog Ate a Toxic Substance

If you know your dog ate something toxic, call poison control and bring your dog to the veterinarian right away. Early intervention and care can help prevent irreversible damage or even death.

If your dog is in an active seizure state, try to remain calm and steady, as hard as that may be! Many seizures feel like they last forever, but usually are only about a minute in length. 

Make sure your dog is not in danger of hitting their head on hard surfaces or furniture. You can place something soft under their head if they are actively seizing. Do not put your fingers in their mouth, as they can clamp down unknowingly during active seizures. If you can, time the seizure so you can report to your vet how long it lasted. Note how their behavior seemed right before and right after the active seizure. 

Call the Pet Poison Helpline and bring your dog to the vet if you suspect that toxicity was the cause of the seizure. If you know what they ate, take a picture of the plant, substance, and bring the packaging and labels if you have it. This will help with determining treatment and care for your dog. 

Do not induce vomiting unless specifically told to by your veterinarian, as this can cause aspiration or worsening of signs. 

Preventing Toxicity in Dogs

Be sure to identify plants that cause seizures so you can avoid them on walks, hikes, and even in your backyard. Avoid using pesticides, rodenticides, and insecticides that cause harm to dogs and other animals. Be sure to lock up or keep foods, medications, and substances that cause seizures out of reach from your dog. Talk to your family members and guests that come over about not feeding your dog chocolate, coffee, xylitol, and other toxic foods to your dog. Being aware of potentially harmful substances to your dog in your environment can prevent toxin ingestion.

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That’s why it is so important to use a flea comb for dogs to check for any infestations. 

What is a Flea Comb for Dogs? 

A flea comb is a specialized tool that helps find and get rid of fleas on dogs and other pets. The comb has finely spaced teeth that can pick up and remove fleas, flea eggs, and flea dirt that traditional brushes can’t. Flea dirt is adult flea feces that shows up as tiny dark specs, almost like small coffee grounds, on your pet’s skin and fur. 

Types of Flea Combs

There are a few different types of flea combs available to pet parents. These include traditional manual flea combs and electric flea combs. 

Manual flea combs work just like any other comb and a pet parent will need to drag the grooming tool over their dog’s coat in order to pick up any fleas or flea eggs. Manual combs are relatively small, able to fit in your pocket or bag, which is great to use on the go after hiking, beach days, and dog parks to remove any fleas before you head home. 

Electric flea combs release a mild electrical charge that kills fleas and their eggs on contact. The charge will not harm your pet. These combs are bulkier than traditional flea combs because they require a battery. Some electric flea combs do make a beeping sound, which may startle some dogs.

Flea combs also come in different materials. Most often, you’ll find plastic and metal or stainless steel options. Many people prefer not to use plastic ones, as the teeth can break off when stressed too hard. 

If your dog has a longer coat, flea combs with longer teeth can help the comb move through their fur easier, while removing fleas, flea eggs, and flea dirt. Flea combs with shorter-length teeth are best used in dogs with short coats. 

The bottom line is to look for a flea comb that has very small spaces between the teeth, so it can comb out and remove fleas. If the spaces between the teeth of the comb are too wide, then it could leave live fleas, flea eggs, and flea dirt behind on your dog. 

How to Use a Flea Comb

Using a flea comb—whether you choose a manual or electric one—is easy. However, it’s important to take a few steps before and during the combing process. Here are some tips for successfully using a flea comb on your dog.

Step 1: Set up an area in the house or an outdoor spot where you can easily vacuum or clean after flea combing your dog. You can lay down a towel or pee pads to catch any fleas, flea eggs, and flea debris.

Step 2: Before using the flea comb, carefully brush out or remove any mats from your dog’s coat. This way the comb can easily move through their fur, without causing irritation when tugging on mats or knots.

Step 3: To get started move the comb gently through your dog’s fur, starting at the head and moving towards the tail. Be sure to comb multiple times through your pet’s coat, concentrating on the neck, belly, and around the tail base where fleas tend to congregate. 

Step 4: For manual combs, after every few strokes dunk the comb in the bowl of warm water and remove debris off the comb with paper towels. You may see some live fleas, so the water will help to kill them. Electric combs can be wiped off with a paper towel. The fleas should already be dead due to the electric current.

Step 5: When you are finished, remove the towel or pee pad you used and wash or throw them away to prevent flea reinfestation. Vacuum the area thoroughly, and be sure to wash and clean anything that was used during your flea combing session. 

Bonus Tip: It helps to make this process fun for your dog. Have a few high-value dog treats or a toy on hand to keep them entertained while you comb them. You can also use a lick mat and smear it with dog-safe peanut butter or plain pumpkin as a way to keep them still and occupied.   

Treating Fleas on Dogs: A Multi-Step Approach

Combing your dog’s coat for fleas is a great way to keep these pesky parasites at bay, but treating and getting rid of fleas takes diligence and different methods. Depending on where you live and your activities, you may need to use a flea comb multiple times a week. 

But when it comes to preventing a flea infestation, prevention is key. Use your comb to check for fleas after time spent outdoors in the backyard or when returning from hikes or the dog park. Vacuum areas in your home that your dog frequents, especially corners of the room and carpets. Wash bedding, toys, and blankets to remove any fleas and flea eggs, and bathe your dog if you do find fleas with your flea comb.

It’s also important to talk to your veterinarian about flea prevention medication for the best year-round flea protection.

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Dogs are visual communicators when it comes to broad cues, and tail wagging is one of the ways they can “speak” to others. Their vision is movement oriented, so the tail can play a big role in how they communicate with other pets and their owners. Some dog tails have even adapted over time to be fluffier or feature brighter colors to enhance tail wagging communication.

Learning to brush up on dog tail facts will help you better understand your dog’s body language and ultimately help you communicate better with your canine companion. Let’s cover everything you need to know about your pup’s tail. 

Dog Tail Anatomy: Understanding the Basics

Besides conveying happiness or other visual cues, dogs use their tails for balancing purposes and other athletic movements. The tail is essentially a continuation of the spine, with many of the same features.

What is a Dog’s Tail Made Of?

Dog tails are made of vertebrae, muscles, cartilage, and nerves. There are anywhere between 6 and 23 caudal vertebrae in a dog’s tail, with an average number of 20 vertebrae. 

A dog’s tail also consists of muscles that attach to the vertebrae that help to control the conscious movement of the tail. It is also innervated by nerves to help control the movement of the tail, ranging from 4 to 7 paired nerves.

Do Dogs Have Bones in Their Tails?

Yes, dogs do have bones in their tails. The vertebrae mentioned above is what we refer to as the bones in a dog’s tail. The tail has between 6 and 23 vertebrae composing it, but each dog breed can have many different variations. 

Between the vertebral bodies is cartilage, a flexible connective tissue, which helps cushion moving surfaces of joints, such as between the tail bones. This helps with the fluid movement when a dog wags their tail or curls it between their legs when they are scared.

Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails? 

Dogs generally wag their tails to communicate with other dogs on how they’re feeling as they approach one another. The wag of a dog’s tail may signal that they are:

• Happy
• Aggressive or agitated
• Curious
• Submissive or scared

While a dog’s tail can provide clues about whether they are happy or not to see you, it can be very difficult to know what a dog is thinking by looking at their tail alone. It is important to consider the dog’s overall body posture when evaluating their emotional state. Generally, a dog is considered relaxed and happy if they approach you with a relaxed, wagging tail that moves loosely from side to side or around like a helicopter. It’s important to interpret what a dog’s tail wag means in context. If you are unsure, let the dog decide to come to you instead of approaching them.

Aggression can be represented by dogs raising their tails to an upward or a curved position. The high tail position conveys “bigness” and dominance, and when the tail is raised, the scent markers (anal glands) can be released easier into the area.

Curious dogs tend to hold their tails in a neutral position or horizontal position straight out from their body.

Submissive or scared dogs lower their tail from a neutral position. They want to be perceived as unthreatening, so they make themselves seem smaller. If the tail is tucked under, they are fearful, and this prevents any of their scent from escaping into the area so they can go relatively undetected.  

Can Dogs Control Their Tails?

Dogs do have the ability to control their tail through muscle, but it can be somewhat involuntary like a laugh, smile, or frown in humans. We can control our mouths and voices, but sometimes it seems involuntary when a laugh escapes!

Nerves innervate the tail, and muscles attach to the caudal vertebrae to help with the conscious movement of the tail. This helps to convey what the dog is portraying to the outside world.

Dogs also control and use their tails as part of balancing or during agility exercises.  

Why Do Dogs Chew Their Tails?

Dogs chew their tails for a variety of reasons ranging from fleas and allergies to pain and injuries. If a dog is chewing their tail, it could be caused by one of the following conditions:

• Fleas
• Hot spot
• Anal gland irritation
• Neurologic issue
• Pain 

Fleas tend to congregate around the tail base, and usually the telltale sign is frantically turning around and biting that area.  The skin could appear red or inflamed, and you may see flea dirt or even fleas when parting the hair around the tail base.

Hot spots are another reason that your dog could be itching their tail base. Some dogs have folds (Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, Shar Peis) around their tail base that can trap moisture and create a yeast and bacteria haven that turns into a hot spot. The dogs will do anything to itch and scratch that area.

If your dog has full anal glands, they may scoot on their butts on the ground or carpet, since full anal glands creates an itchy and uncomfortable feeling. Some will even try to lick and scratch that area but won’t be able to reach the rectum, so they get their tail instead! If they scoot a lot on their butt, they can create irritation underneath their tails, which can turn into a hot spot.

Nerve damage or degeneration can cause pain, tingling, or an uncomfortable feeling leading into the tail. Dogs will lick to soothe or bite if they feel tingling or uncomfortableness.

If trauma or pain is the cause, many dogs will lick to soothe the pain. Dogs can get their tails caught in doors, stepped on, hurt in fights, or bit or stung by insects (like bees), all which can cause tail pain and inflammation.

Dog Tail Language: Cues and Communication Guidelines

A dog’s tail plays a key role in body language communication. Here are some tail signs to look for that will help you understand how your dog is feeling.

Free, Loose Tail Wagging

When a dog is freely wagging their tail, they are relaxed and happy. They might be excited about greeting someone, ready to go for a walk, or realizing they’ve arrived at their favorite spot. This type of tail wag is loose and easy. It looks effortless and signals that your dog is zen and content about whatever is happening. 

Tucked Tail

If a dog’s tail is tucked, they are nervous and scared. They are trying to remain small and undetected by any threat. If they have done something naughty, and know they are about to get in trouble, many dogs will sense this and tuck their tails in order to convey they are not a threat, and will hopefully go unnoticed.

Tail Standing Straight Up

If the tail is standing up straight or seemingly the dog is trying to look bigger, this could be used as a threat. They are showing they are ready to defend or fight, and want to be an alpha in the situation by exposing their scent glands when lifting their tail.

Dog Tail Speed: What to Watch For

The speed in which dogs wag their tails can also communicate a lot. If they are wagging their tail very fast with a little bit of hip wiggling, it can indicate the increased level of excitement when greeting their pet parent or favorite friend.  

If a dog is a little more tentative when approaching someone new, but they want to appear friendly, they may wag their tail a little more slowly. They want to convey friendliness, but still have their guard up a bit. 

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Let’s take a closer look at what hackles are, how they work, what it means when they are raised, and what pet parents can do if they notice raised hackles on their pups.

What are Hackles?

Hackles are the group of hairs that stand up along a dogs neck and back caused by a fear response or to show dominance over another animal. 

Dogs aren’t the only species that have hackles. Birds have hackles around their necks and erect their feathers when they are asserting dominance. Roosters have brightly colored hackles, or erectile plumage, to be more visually loud. Cats have hackles along their backs and tails. This is the typical image we see of the “Halloween” cat with arched back and fur standing up to make them look larger. We see this often when the cats are fearful or feel threatened.  

What is Piloerection?

Piloerection is the bristling or raising of hairs. A dog’s hackles that stand up along their backs have a specialized muscle called arrector pili muscles that cause piloerection. 

Piloerection is due to a reflexive trigger of the sympathetic nervous system—the fight or flight response. When an event triggers the nervous system, such as contact with another animal, the sound of a doorbell, the dog’s nervous system goes on high alert. The arrector pili muscles contract around the hair follicles to make the hairs stand up and the dog appear larger. This is a visual warning to other animals that the dog is ready to fight and defend his territory.

Piloerection can happen in humans, too. Ever get a nervous, excited, or chilling feeling and goosebumps appear? Your sympathetic nervous system causes the tiny muscles in the skin to contract, raising the hair follicles, creating your hairs to stand straight up. This is our sympathetic nervous system triggering us to get ready for a fight or flight response.

Dog Breeds With Pronounced Hackles

Dogs with longer hair tend to have a more pronounced effect when hackles rise, especially when the hair is longer around the neck region.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks look like their hackles are always raised. However, this perception is just due to the growth of their hair in a forward motion along their backs.

Some dogs, such as Poodles or Poodle mixes (Labradoodle, Bernedoodle, Goldendoodle) have less pronounced hackles due to their curly coat. It harder to decipher raised hair follicles versus the normal hair around the arrector pili muscles.

Dogs With Raised Hackles: What Does It Mean?

Raised hackles in dogs mean they are on high alert. They can result from fear, dominance, surprise, insecurity, or uneasiness about a situation. The nervous system automatically causes piloerection along the neck and back. 

When you see raised hackles on a dog, be aware of what the trigger is. Sometimes it could be the ringing of the doorbell, other times it might be meeting a new dog or person.

Some younger dogs raise their hackles more often because they are still getting to know their environment. Their sense of security might be a little less solid than an older dog who is more confident. 

By having the hairs along their neck and back stand up, dogs appear larger to whatever threat they are reacting to. Dog communication research shows that hackles are more of a visual cue to their trigger that they are big, dominant, and ready to defend themselves if necessary.

Although rare, some report raised dog hackles without any stimulation by an outside trigger. Dogs with neurologic diseases can have “malfunctioning” autonomic nerves, causing the arrector pili muscles to contract when not stimulated.  

What if a Dog’s Hackles Are Up When Playing?

Sometimes dog hackles can be raised during times of play.  Overstimulation, excitement, and surprise can cause piloerection. Ensuring that the dog isn’t showing other signs of aggression is key to having safe playtime. 

What Should You Do If Your Dog Hackles Are Raised?

Most of the time, pet parents don’t need to do anything in particular if they notice that a dog’s hackles are raised. 

When new dogs meet each other, or a dog enters a new environment, some pups will show raised hackles. It’s similar to “stranger danger” mode. Once they sniff and get to know the other dog or environment they are in, they will likely relax. Why do your dog’s hairs stand up while barking? It’s the same reason: Dogs sometimes want to appear bigger and tougher, just in case they need to defend or fight for their territory.  

Most of the time, after the initial sniffing and introductions, the dog will relax and therefore their nervous system will, too. The arrector pili muscles will relax, and the hair will go back to their normal position. Dogs who were socialized early are less likely to develop this fear response later in life.

If your dog’s hackles are raised for an extended period of time, or if they are barking, growling, in a rigid position, or not listening to your commands, it’s time to separate them from the inciting cause (other dogs, people, animals). This situation could escalate into aggression, which could be harmful to you or other people and pets.

Be careful when you intervene with a potentially aggressive situation, as you do not want to put yourself in harm’s way. By knowing your own dog’s cues for escalation, you can prevent potential problems. 

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Anemia is caused by many different factors, ranging from trauma to cancer to immune-mediated diseases. 

Knowing what to look for to catch early signs that your dog is anemic can be a helpful tool in at-home monitoring. This can help prevent the need for blood transfusion, multiple days in the hospital, and, ultimately, create a better outcome for your dog.

What is Dog Anemia?

Anemia in dogs is when the red blood cells circulating in the body are decreased. This lack of red blood cells affects body function, organ systems, and everyday health and is not specific to breed, age, gender, or size.  

When veterinarians see low red blood cells on lab work, there are three reasons that come to mind that could be causing anemia: 

• Blood loss
• Increased red blood cell destruction
• Lack of red blood cell production 

Blood loss can happen due to trauma (e.g., being hit by a car), bleeding tumors, or even an overload of fleas, called flea anemia. 

Destruction of red blood cells can be caused by dog’s immune systems attacking and destroying red blood cells. This might happen due to Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA), or with blood parasites that attack red blood cells. 

Lack of production of red blood cells can be due to cancer, kidney disease, toxins, or viruses.

Categories of Anemia in Dogs

There are two broad categories when classifying anemia in dogs: regenerative anemia and non-regenerative anemia. These classifications refer to whether or not the bone marrow is making (regenerating) new red blood cells in an appropriate response to the decrease in red blood cells circulating in the bloodstream.

Regenerative anemia is usually caused by blood loss, or destruction of red blood cells in the body. The bone marrow—where red blood cells are made—responds to the lack of red blood cells and will start to produce new ones in response to the low count.

Non-regenerative anemia means that the bone marrow is not responding adequately to the need for more red blood cells. This can be caused by cancers, toxins, or lack of hormone response that signals the marrow to make red blood cells.

What Causes Anemia in Dogs?

As previously mentioned, there can be many causes of anemia in dogs, ranging from blood loss and destruction of red blood cells to toxins or chronic disease. 

Blood Loss

Blood loss may happen as the result of a sudden event, such as being hit by car, a dog fight, surgery, a ruptured tumor, or other trauma. A loss of about 25 percent of a dog’s blood volume can result in shock. Dogs in this state need to be treated by a veterinarian right away, as a blood transfusion could be warranted.

Blood loss could be due to intestinal parasites like hookworms, external parasites like fleas, or chronic bleeding ulcers or tumors. In newborn puppies, a hookworm infection can cause severe anemia as early as one week following birth. 

Destruction of Red Blood Cells

Hemolytic anemias—which are categorized by the destruction of red blood cells—are mainly regenerative, meaning the body responds appropriately when there is a low number of red blood cells, and regenerates red blood cells when the levels get too low.

The most common hemolytic dog anemia we see is Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA). IMHA is when the body doesn’t recognize its own red blood cells and develops antibodies against them. IMHA can result from infections, medications, vaccines, tumors, or sometimes it develops on its own.

Toxins

Toxins are another cause of regenerative anemias in dogs. If your dog has ingested acetaminophen, onions, heavy metals such as zinc, naproxen, penicillin, or other recent administration of medications or anti-parasitic drugs, be sure to tell your veterinarian. This information can help decipher the cause of your dog’s anemia. 

Many of these toxins cause oxidative damage to a dog’s red blood cells, which results in something called Heinz bodies. Heinz bodies are formed when toxins damage the hemoglobin inside the red blood cells, and therefore the red blood cells become marked for destruction and cleared by the body. This can result in what is known as Heinz-body anemia in dogs.

Chronic Diseases

Chronic diseases in dogs can cause a decrease in the amount of iron available for red blood cell formation. Examples of chronic diseases that interfere with iron availability are tumors, infections, adrenal gland issues, low thyroid, or liver disease.

Dogs with chronic kidney (renal) disease can also develop anemia. The kidney produces a hormone called erythropoietin that sends a signal to the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. If the diseased kidney isn’t functioning properly, it doesn’t send out the signal to produce more red blood cells, which results in a non-regenerative anemia. 

Cancer or suppression of the bone marrow can cause a lack of production of all blood cells, such as white blood cells, platelets (used for clotting), and red blood cells. 

Other Causes of Anemia in Dogs

Some other potential causes of anemia in dogs include:

• Tick-borne diseases (like Babesia or Ehrlichia)
• Medications (like Chloramphenicol)
• Certain estrogens
• Some chemotherapeutic agents

Symptoms of Anemia in Dogs

Your dog may show a variety of signs depending on if the anemia is chronic or acute (comes on quickly). Pets that have chronic anemia may have milder signs compared to acute cases, as their body may have compensated for the lack of red blood cells over time. 

Signs that could indicate your dog is anemic include: 

• Low energy 
• Fainting or collapsing
• Pale or white gums
• Yellow tinge to skin, gums, or whites of the eyes
• Increased heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Labored breathing
• Black tarry stool
• Vomiting
• Unsteady on their legs
• Dehydration
• Decreased appetite
• Distended belly
• Generally not feeling like themselves

Diagnosing Dog Anemia 

Diagnosing your dog’s anemia is done at the veterinary clinic or hospital starting with a physical exam of your dog and a complete blood count (CBC). Low levels of red blood cells on blood work is the first indication that something is wrong.  

Your dog’s doctor will also look at young red blood cells called reticulocytes. These can be measured on blood tests to see if the body is trying to produce more red blood cells to compensate for the anemia. If these levels are increased, then the bone marrow is churning out, or regenerating, new red blood cells. By looking at this value on the CBC, we can tell if it is a regenerative or non-regenerative anemia. 

Other diagnostic steps will be aimed at figuring out the root cause. This could include but is not limited to blood chemistry, imaging (X-rays, ultrasound, MRI/CT), endoscopy, viral testing, bone marrow aspirates, and further lab tests.

How to Treat Anemia in Dogs

Treatment will depend on the severity and underlying cause of the anemia. If it is extremely severe, then many dogs will need a blood transfusion. Blood transfusions are given over a few hours, and dogs need to be monitored throughout the process and afterward to make sure there is no adverse reaction, and that they maintain their red blood cell count following the procedure.  

If the cause is a ruptured tumor, then stabilizing the dog and surgically removing the tumor, if possible, is the next step.

IMHA or other immune-related hemolytic anemias can be treated by suppressing a dog’s immune system with medications and steroids. Dogs may need to stay a few nights in the hospital to initially stabilize, and then veterinarians will likely recommend follow-up appointments to test blood counts for the next couple of months.

For flea anemia, treating the dog for fleas and eliminating fleas in the environment is key. Flea anemia is most common in puppies, senior dogs, or immunocompromised dogs.

Cost to Treat Anemia in Dogs

The cost to treat anemia in dogs will depend on the severity of the condition and the cause. Pet parents will need to pay for physical exams, diagnostic testing, and blood work. 

Additionally, blood transfusions and surgeries can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. Overnight hospital stays may also be costly. 

How to Prevent Dogs From Becoming Anemic

Annual exams with your veterinarian and running blood work can help prevent and catch disease or causes of anemia early on. 

Year-round flea and tick control can ward off external parasites from causing blood loss or destruction of red blood cells through tick-borne diseases.  

Taking note of your dog’s energy level, gum color (they should be nice and pink!), and general disposition will help you pick up on any changes at home.

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In 1895, a German scientist named Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered X-rays, and forever changed the way we diagnose and treat both humans and animals. He realized that electromagnetic radiation in the form of X-ray beams created an image of internal structures when passed through objects and were absorbed at different rates.

Today, veterinarians use X-rays to diagnose a variety of diseases and conditions. Let’s take a closer look at dog X-rays and explain what they are, how they work, what they’re used for, and what they generally cost.  

What is an X-ray?

A radiograph, which is commonly called an X-ray, is a two-dimensional black, white, and grey image that gives us an internal view of the body. In veterinary medicine, we can see bones, organs, and other internal structures. (Editorial note: It is a common misconception that the pictures taken are called X-rays. They are actually called radiographs that are taken using an X-ray beam. However, for the purpose of this article, we will default to the more commonly used term “X-ray” when describing images.)

An X-ray beam passes through the subject and the electromagnetic waves of the beam get absorbed by different structures at varying degrees (1). Bone absorbs X-ray beams much more than air, therefore bone shows up as white on X-ray images and air shows up as black. Organs all vary with the degree of absorption, which helps outline each structure displayed on the X-ray.

If your dog ate a rock, or even a rubber duckie (true story), you will be able to see those objects outlined on X-rays of a dog’s abdomen due to the different absorption rates of the objects versus the organs.

Difference Between a Dog X-Ray and Dog Ultrasound

X-rays differ from other imaging modalities, such as ultrasound, which is used to look inside soft tissue structures of the body. Ultrasound uses soundwave technology to create an image of the organ of interest. It is used to look mainly at soft tissue structures versus bone. Veterinarians perform ultrasounds to get a picture of individual organs in better detail, and can help decipher between soft tissue structures, masses, and fluid. It is used in conjunction with X-rays to get a full picture of what could be going on with your pet.

An echocardiogram is similar to an ultrasound, and has the ability to look inside the heart at the different chambers, vessels, and heart values that are working in real time.

Why Do Dogs Need X-rays?

There are many reasons that your veterinarian may recommend X-rays. These include:

• Trauma (being hit by car, other injury, or a dog fight)
• Abnormal blood work
• Coughing or hacking
• Upset stomach (vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, no appetite)
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Seizures
• Cancer staging
• Limping
• Metabolic disease (such as diabetes or Cushing’s Disease)
• Extreme lethargy
• Dental disease

For example, an abdominal X-ray is advised when your dog is vomiting or not eating. There could be a foreign object they ingested causing the stomach upset!

If your dog is coughing, taking X-rays may be part of the veterinary work up. Chest x-rays can reveal abnormalities of the lungs, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, or even a mass, which can help your veterinarian decide the best course of action for your dog.  

If your veterinarian hears a heart murmur during a routine exam, chances are they will advise taking chest X-rays to look at the size of the heart and associated structures.  

If a pet comes in limping, X-rays of the affected limb(s) are taken to look for broken bones, arthritis, hairline fractures, or other causes.  

For our older dogs, routine senior care includes bloodwork and X-rays to look for any change in size of organs, any masses, and arthritis. We can get ahead of issues if they are found early, and set up our dogs for a better quality of life in their golden years. 

Types of Dog X-rays

Each region of the body warrants a different view for a proper X-ray. The smaller the focal region of an X-ray image, the better detail it will show. This helps the veterinarian decipher abnormalities that are located in that area of interest. 

The most common types of dog X-rays include:

• Chest X-rays
• Abdominal X-rays
• Joint X-rays (hip, spine, wrists, elbows)
• X-rays of the limbs 
• Dental X-rays 

Dental X-rays use a specialized X-ray machine to take images of your dog’s teeth, tooth roots, jaw bone, and associated structures. Dental X-rays are usually digital, just like human dental X-rays. Dogs need to be sedated for dental X-rays because if they move at all it distorts the image. Dental X-rays are usually done during a dental procedure, when a dog is already asleep under general anesthesia.

Dental X-rays aid in assessing what’s below the surface of the tooth, which could reveal infection, bone loss, reabsorption of the tooth, cracked roots, dentigerous cysts, or even jaw bone involvement.  

What to Expect During a Dog X-ray

To obtain a dog X-ray, at least two veterinary team members will assist in getting the image.  Your dog will be brought into the X-ray room, and the team members will position your pet for the proper view. Positioning is very important for a correct and accurate view. 

For example, to do a full dog chest X-ray, we need two to three views of the chest to get a proper image. The dog will lay on their right side, left side, and in a soft padded v-shaped holder to obtain a front-to-back image of the chest. Taking the image itself only takes a few seconds, but positioning the animal and holding them can take a lot longer! Even the slightest movement can blur the x-ray.

There is a separate room in veterinary clinics designed specifically for taking X-rays. The room minimizes the exposure of electromagnetic rays to other personnel and animals in the clinic. The technicians and veterinarians performing X-rays wear lead vests, thyroid shields, and gloves to decrease their exposure to radiation.  

Pet parents are not allowed into the X-ray room at the time of taking the images due to safety regarding radiation exposure. Plus, many dogs are too excited with their parents in the room!  This prolongs the time it takes to get a quality image, so pet parents are kindly asked to wait outside while veterinarians or veterinary technicians complete the imaging.

Most X-rays do not require sedation, but if we are assessing any fractures, ligament tears, or painful conditions, the dog will benefit from sedation and pain control in order to get a proper look at what we are imaging. Sedation can also help an extremely anxious or aggressive pet get home sooner. The faster and clearer X-ray image we can get, the quicker the pet and their family can go home.

Dog X-ray Cost

Dog X-rays usually start around $200, and increase from there depending on how many images are needed. For example, chest X-rays and hip X-rays require multiple images. Each hip should be evaluated from the side and front view, and many times images of the hip in a flexed or extended view are needed to assess if the hip joint is working properly. 

Pet insurance can help cover the costs of tests and imaging, such as X-rays, ultrasound, CT scans, or MRIs, so be sure to check with your insurance company. Care Credit, a credit card you can apply for, is also sometimes used to help cover unexpected pet health costs such as X-rays.

I always advise pet parents to start a savings account for their pet’s care, so they have money saved up in case something unforeseen happens. It pays to be prepared!

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