Evaluation of Iron Deficiency Using Reticulocyte Indices in Dogs Enrolled in a Blood Donor Program.
BACKGROUND
People donating blood more than twice annually are at risk of developing iron deficiency. Little is known about the iron status of dogs enrolled in blood donor programs.


OBJECTIVE
Dogs donating blood ≥6 times annually will show evidence of iron deficiency based on their reticulocyte indices.


METHODS
Thirteen dogs enrolled in a blood donor program donating ≥6 times over the preceding 12 months and 20 healthy nondonor control dogs.


METHODS
Prospective observational study. Mature red blood cell (RBC) indices, reticulocyte indices, serum iron, serum ferritin, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) were compared between groups.


RESULTS
Packed cell volume (median 47%, range 40-52%, P < .01), hematocrit (median 46.4%, range 40.3-52.5%, P < .01), and reticulocyte count (median 16,000/μL, range 9,000-38,000/μL, P < .01) were significantly lower in the blood donor dogs. No statistically significant differences were noted in the mature RBC indices between groups. Both reticulocyte mean corpuscular volume (median 88.8 fL, range 83.4-95.5 fL, P = .03) and reticulocyte hemoglobin content (median 24.6 pg, range 23.1-26.6 pg, P < .01) were significantly lower in the blood donor group. Serum iron and ferritin were similar between groups; however, TIBC was significantly higher in the control group (median 403 μg/dL, range 225-493 μg/dL, P = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings in dogs donating ≥6 times annually suggest the presence of iron-deficient erythropoiesis in this population.
Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI.
D S
DS
Foy
Deptartment of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI.
K R
KR
Friedrichs
Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI.
J F
JF
Bach
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004285:Dogs; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D017701:Reticulocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary*
Canine; Deficient; Donation; Hemoglobin content