A prospective study of the association of anemia and thrombocytopenia with ocular lesions in dogs

Abstract

This prospective study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and severity of ocular lesions in dogs with anemia (packed cell volume < or =20%) and/or thrombocytopenia (platelet count<150,000/microL). Dogs were divided into four groups: (1) anemic (n=17); (2) thrombocytopenic (n=36); (3) anemic and thrombocytopenic (n=24); and (4) healthy controls (n=26). The prevalence of ophthalmic lesions in these four groups was 12%, 42%, 42% and 0%, respectively. Anemia was not associated with the presence of ocular lesions (P=0.41) or their severity. Thrombocytopenia was significantly associated with the presence of ocular lesions (P=0.0016) and with their severity (P=0.017). We conclude that thrombocytopenia, but not anemia, is associated with ocular lesions in dogs.