Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia or AIHA is a medical condition that can affect your pet in several different ways. Red blood cells are vulnerable and get destroyed in this autoimmune disorder. This means that the dog or cat will have a lack of red blood cells and develop anemia, similar to how humans lack iron and can become anemic.

Due to the levels of RBC being low, there is not enough oxygen transported to the ECS (Endocannabinoid System) which is the internal system that keeps the body of the pet going, it can cause a few things such as fatigue or extreme cases of tiredness, lethargy in the animals and also an unhealthy appearance. Information regarding the causes of such an ailment can be found online on this page.

There are two types, namely Primary and Secondary. The former being the most common one where antibodies are produced in the body to fight against the RBC while the latter kind, undergoes surface changes that are brought about by associated toxins present in the system of the animal.

Things to notice may be some indication of your pet having it include an increased heart rate, gums that look pale instead of pink or red, fainting and lethargic behavior, heavy breathing and increased respiratory rates, poor appetite, and vomiting.

Is Prevention an Option?

If you're wondering whether you can prevent this from happening, the answer is yes. Mortality rates have been as high as 70% but recently it has dropped to around 40%because of the greater awareness of the disease and catching it in its earlier stages, which is key. Also, supportive care and better products have contributed to this as well.

Treatment is usually aggressive for this type of thing so that the medical professionals can make sure to stop it in tracks because sometimes there can be adverse side-effects to medications and such. Because many of these types of antibiotics are very strong, there are a few things we as pet owners can do to counteract these effects they have on the pets.

There are a few of these natural and herbal home remedies that you can choose to give it, which can be bought at the health food store or pharmacy. These options include:

Licorice Root. This has the benefit of protecting the dog’s digestive tract.

Milk Thistle. Also known as silymarin. It has been known to boost liver function and it may be good to supplement it with food to help your pooch’s liver and any damage that may have been done to it as a result of the medication it’s on. Other useful health benefits of this natural flower can be found on other resources https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320362#ten-health-benefits-of-milk-thistle

Aloe Vera. They call this one nature's miracle because it has a variety of benefits when taken internally and put on the skin. It can be great when mixed with his drinking water to help provide hydration and reduce nausea, plus it helps to heal any ulcers, quickly.

Slippery Elm. Another option to aid his digestion is slippery elm. This is a type of elm tree native to North America and the inner bark has been used for decades as a medicinal herb to treat gastrointestinal conditions as well as wounds.

Cannabidiol or CBD Oil. It has the benefit of helping to improve any animals’ overall quality of life due to its numerous benefits, both studied and researched by medical experts in the field. One of the things seen to act as an anti-inflammatory when ingested, and can help suppress any internal swelling caused by AIHA.

When we mentioned that CBD has the potential to not only help towards relieving the symptoms of the autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) but can also improve your canines or felines overall health, some of the things we were referring to were the benefits that this hemp plant extract has.

These all include improving its appetite, reducing any stress or anxiety he may have, it may enhance his brain function as well and reduce any pain in the body.

All in all, the most you can do is try and keep your canine companion as comfortable as possible through it’s healing and recovery times, and the closest thing to nature is the best and safest thing for him.