Iron Deficiency in Animals
Iron is necessary for animals in the formation of hemoglobin, myoglobin and iron containing enzyme (transferin).
Etiology
- Iron deficiency in animals mostly noticed in new born animals especially in piglets. Because milk is the poor source of iron.
- Iron stored in the liver. In young animals, the stored iron is insufficient to maintain normal hemopoiesis.
- Most of the fodder / feeds contains required amount of iron for the ruminants. The required iron is taken from the soil by ingestion during feeding. Hence, the primary iron deficiency is not common in the farm animals.
- Calcium carbonate and manganese are antagonist effect to iron.
- Villus atrophy of small intestine or GI infection impairs the acid and chloride level, which leads alteration of gastric flora and affects iron absorption. This may accompanied with diarrhea.
Iron deficiency most commonly noticed in confined or intensive rearing and also due to secondary to disease condition:
- Parasitic infection: Endo and ecto parasites
- Bleeding / hemorrhage
- Veal calf
Reason for iron deficiency anemia in new born piglets:
- Piglets do not have access to soil.
- Piglets grow rapidly and they require more iron. Because piglets increases their body weight 4-5 time at 3rd week and 15 times at 8th weeks of age.
- Sow milk is poor source of iron.
- Administration of Iron dextrin injection can prevent the iron deficiency anemia in piglets.
Clinical Signs
- In young animals– Anemia and poor growth is prime signs
- Pale skin and MM
- Diarrhea
- Dyspnea, lethargic, increased heart rate
- Edema of the head and forequarters– animal looks like fat, puffed up appearance
- Easy susceptible to infection
- Sudden death may occur
- Pregnant sow– still birth
Differential diagnosis
- Other causes of anemia
- Chronic parasitism
- Hemorrhage
- Coccidiosis
Diagnosis
- History
- Clinical signs
- Laboratory:
- Estimation of Hb, PCV, RBCs and serum iron
- Pig – microcytic hypo chromic anemia
- Post mortem:
- Carcass paler and watery blood
- Dilated heart
- Enlargement of liver and mottled tan yellow appearance
Treatment
- Correction of underlying causes
- Administration of Iron dextron, Iron sorbital citric acid, Iron saccharate or gluconate at 0.5-1g IM weekly
- Supportive with Vit B12 at 500 µg weekly
- Blood transfusion in acute blood loss
Prevention and control
- Piglets– administration of Iron dextron injection within 3-7 days of age.
- Sow– Painting of sow udder with ferrous sulfate combination (450g ferrous sulfate, 75g copper sulfate, 450g sugar and 2 litres of water.
- 4 ml of 1.8% ferrous sulfate daily
- Iron propionate at 300 mg/day for 7 days
- Oral iron supplementation.