Canine Anemia can be a sign of a serious health condition.
I’ve always loved dogs, so when the vet told me Alfie’s condition was serious…I swallowed hard. When he said the word CANCER – I felt a trickle down my left cheek.

Alfie was a two and a half year old black lab I’d rescued 4 months earlier. In that time we had grown inseparable. When I adopted him I noticed his gums were almost white – but thought nothing of it.

Then, just a week ago …

His energy level plummeted – he wouldn’t get off the couch, even for food.

But that’s not all …

When I lifted him onto the floor, he stood for maybe 10 seconds before lying back down. I knew something was wrong and called the vet right away.

I didn’t know, however, how serious Alfie’s condition might be … so when the vet said he wanted to test for cancer, it came as more than a shock.

And then the tests came back …

Negative for cancer – but before I could breathe a sigh of relief … I saw on the vet’s face that the news was not all good. He pulled up Alfie’s chart on his computer monitor.

“For a lab like Alfie – this is where his Vitamin D level SHOULD be,” he pointed to a number on the monitor.

“Unfortunately, this is Alfie’s level. I rarely see a Vitamin D level so low.”

But he didn’t stop there …

Alfie’s Vitamin A and folic acid levels were in the basement, too.

“Alfie is extremely anemic. We’ve ruled out most of the common causes. One we haven’t ruled out – is diet.” He began writing on his tablet.

“We desperately need to get his red blood cell count up – fast. I strongly suggest you give him raw liver, 3 to 4 times a week. I’d like to see you guys again in one month.”

I left the vet’s office an emotional wreck …I went straight to the grocery store to pick up some liver.

Even though I can’t stand liver, Alfie gobbled it down.

After 2 weeks, Alfie’s gums were pink. I also noticed his coat was shinier.

We started going on walks again …

“You’re not Alfie – you’re an imposter!” the vet said as Alfie barked at the shih-tzu across the hall during our next appointment – He nearly pulled me down!

His levels were all normal, including his red blood cell count.

What’s the big deal with raw liver?

And yes, it has to be raw – cooking liver destroys many of the vitamins needed for maximum benefit.

Some experts claim liver is a dog superfood. There are many reasons for this:

1. It’s high in Vitamin A, which means it has a lot of antioxidants.

What’s the big deal about antioxidants?

When we exert ourselves, both humans and dogs, oxygen bombards the cells in our bodies. Normally this is a good thing …

Some cells, however, become what we call free radicals when the bombardment happens. These free radicals can do some pretty nasty stuff – think cancer, diabetes, heart disease.

Antioxidants neutralize these free radicals, lessening the chances of these things happening.

Vitamin A also helps keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy. Sometimes dogs who have low levels of Vitamin A have night blindness … and grow weak because they lose muscle mass.

2. Liver is high in Vitamin D

Vitamin D boosts your dog’s immune system. Like Vitamin A, it fights off cancer, but also protects your dog from infectious diseases as well.

The really weird thing about Vitamin D and dogs is, even though dogs need Vitamin D to stay alive, their bodies don’t produce enough of it for them to do so.

And that means …

They have to get most of their Vitamin D through their diet.

Vitamin D helps your dog’s bones grow strong, and is vital for her muscles and nerves to function how they’re supposed to.

Low Vitamin D levels can cause your dog’s bones to soften, and has been directly linked to heart disease and cancer.

Can dogs get too much Vitamin D?

Yes. Since it’s fat soluble, your dog’s body can’t get rid of excess amounts, like it does with water soluble vitamins. This means the excess Vitamin D is stored in the liver.

If too much Vitamin D is stored in the liver, it can cause toxicity – so, yes, your dog can overdose on Vitamin D. For this reason, it’s a good idea to talk to your vet before feeding your dog raw liver on a regular basis.

But research shows most dogs have issues with too little Vitamin D – not too much.

3. Liver prevents canine anemia

It does this because it’s high in folic acid – B Vitamins.

Canine anemia is not a disease, per se, but a symptom of something else … potentially something serious. Like cancer.

When your dog has anemia, his/her red blood cells and/or hemoglobin are decreased. Hemoglobin is what carries oxygen to the cells. That’s why anemic dogs have such low energy – their cells need oxygen!

Some signs that your dog may have canine anemia are pale gums, dark poop, and low energy.

Most of the time canine anemia can be remedied – Alfie is healthier than ever today. I credit a diet of natural ingredients (including treats) and exercise.

 

Editor’s note: If you want to make sure you’re giving your dog the nutrients he or she needs to stay healthy and happy, Puptastic Naturals now has 100% natural dog treats that will help you do just that. Their organic ingredients boost your dog’s immune system, support muscle and bone growth, and are easily digestible. They come in 5 flavors: chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, and of course, liver. You can find all the details here.