These medications promote iron absorption in the red blood cells but may also cause side effects, which can be minimized by dividing the dose into multiple smaller doses. Adults with normal intestinal function have very little risk of iron overload from dietary sources of iron [ 2]. However, supplements containing 25 mg iron or more can reduce zinc absorption and plasma zinc concentrations [ 3, 87, 88]. High-dose iron supplements can also cause gastrointestinal effects, including gastric upset, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea [ 5, 89]. Taking iron supplements with food can help minimize these adverse effects. Case reports, some involving doses of 130 mg iron, suggest that some people develop even more serious gastrointestinal effects, including gastritis and gastric lesions (along with iron deposits in the gastric mucosa in some cases) [ 90-93].

However, if the 6 g of lamb kidney is replaced by lamb spleen, the diet would contain 5.77 mg of iron and the requirements would be covered. A recommended amount of 20 mg of iron per 1000 kcal, which is equivalent to 80 mg of iron per kg of DM. This requirement takes into account the lower bioavailability of iron in kibbles because of the presence of anti-nutrients such as fiber or phytate.

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Calcium might interfere with the absorption of iron, although this effect has not been definitively established [ 4, 31]. For this reason, some experts suggest that people take individual calcium and iron supplements at different times of the day [ 32]. Iron Intakes and Status The WHO recommends universal supplementation with 2 mg/kg/day of iron in children age 6 to 23 months whose diet does not include foods fortified with iron or who live in regions (such as developing countries) where anemia prevalence is higher than 40% [ 44]. Paleness or pallor– A common sign of anaemia in cats is paleness of the mucous membranes (these are the membranes – or ‘skin’– lining the mouth and around the eyes etc). However, this is not an entirely reliable sign as pale membranes can also be seen for other reasons. As we have seen, the whole foods that are richest in iron are spleen and blood. If you can’t find them fresh an alternative would be freeze-dried or dehydrated spleen or blood, which are often easier to find. PETTONIC 100 ML. Tonic Pet Booster Liquid Dog Blood Support Iron Supplement for Dogs & Cats Puppies Kitten Food Multi-Vitamins Folic B6 B12 Promotes Red Blood Cell, Fast Increasing Energy & Immunity

Supportive treatment may include the use of blood transfusions when the anaemia is severe as this can be a life-saving procedure. Just as in humans, it is important in cats to know what blood group the donor and recipient are to make sure the blood is compatible. With severe anaemia, a cat may need to be hospitalised and monitored closely.

With chronic blood loss, the primary purpose of treatment is to prevent future blood loss. For milder cases of iron deficiency anemia, vets usually prescribe oral iron supplements in the form of ferrous sulfate, as well as ferrous gluconate and fumarate.

Store the tablets at room temperature between 59°F to 86°F (15°C and 30°C), and store the liquid forms at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C and 25°C). Protect from light and moisture.Knowing whether the anaemia is regenerative or not will help in narrowing down the likely underlying cause of the anaemia. Regenerative anaemias are usually caused by either an increased breakdown of the RBCs (termed haemolysis) or by blood loss (eg, from bleeding excessively). Non-regenerative anaemias are usually caused by an underlying problem in the bone marrow preventing or interfering with the normal production of RBCs. Specific causes include: Blood loss anaemia: Iron deficiency progresses from depletion of iron stores (mild iron deficiency), to iron-deficiency erythropoiesis (erythrocyte production), and finally to iron deficiency anemia (IDA) [ 8, 9]. With iron-deficiency erythropoiesis (also known as marginal iron deficiency), iron stores are depleted and transferrin saturation declines, but hemoglobin levels are usually within the normal range. IDA is characterized by low hemoglobin concentrations, and decreases in hematocrit (the proportion of red blood cells in blood by volume) and mean corpuscular volume (a measure of erythrocyte size) [ 2, 10].