Alimentary Anemia in Young Stock

Alimentary Anemia in Young Stock 

(Anaemia alimentaris), iron-deficiency anemia, a disease of agricultural animals, with primary involvement of the hematopoietic organs. The disease occurs everywhere, mainly during autumn, winter, and early spring; it is especially common in young pigs five to 35 days old and less common in other young animals. The main cause is the insufficient intake of iron—necessary for hemoglobin formation—into the rapidly developing organism. The disease is promoted by housing young animals in dark, damp, stuffy quarters and by depriving them of exercise and sunlight.

For all animal species the general signs of alimentary anemia are pallor of the mucous membranes, hurried breathing, and quick fatigability.

Treatment consists in the administration (in the feed or by intramuscular injection) of preparations containing trace elements (iron, cobalt, copper), and, for young animals, the prompt use of a supplemental diet of foods rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. Housing animals in light, clean quarters and allowing them to exercise regularly in the fresh air will prevent the rise of this disease.

REFERENCE

Alikaev, V. A. “Alimentarnaia anemiia molodniaka.” In Veterinarnaia entsiklopediia, vol. 1. Moscow, 1968.