Why Is My Dog Or Cat’s Red Blood Cell MCH Value Low Or High?
Your Pet’s Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin = MCH = The Amount Of Hemoglobin In Each Of Your Pet’s Individual Red Blood Cells
This blood test tells your veterinarian the average amount of hemoglobin in each of your pet’s red blood cells (erythrocytes). It is calculated from your pet’s blood hemoglobin level divided by its red blood cell numbers. Although it is still often included in your pet’s blood work results; abnormal results tell your veterinarian very little other than that your dog or cat’s total hemoglobin level and red blood cell counts were abnormal – something he/she already knew.
A test called MCHC (the amount of hemoglobin per volume within the red cell) and MCV (the size of your pet’s red blood cells) give your veterinarian considerably more information in sorting out the cause of anemia problems. Read about them by following the links below.
Asiatic Dogs
Dog breeds that originated in Asia (Asiatic breeds) can have naturally low MCV, MCH and high-end RBC (red blood cell = erythrocyte) numbers. But not all of them do. Husky and arctic breed crosses that sometimes are mistaken for Asiatic breeds do not share this genetic peculiarity. Asian breeds can also have higher blood potassium levels than non-Asian canines. Neither of these features seem to affect their general health.
About The Author:
Dr. Ron Hines DVM PhD
My name is Dr. Ron Hines, and I am a retired veterinarian in Brownsville, Texas, who provides low-cost or free online consultations to pet owners worldwide.
A trusted veterinarian you can see in person in your town is as important to your pet’s health as a good airplane mechanic is to the success of your next flight. Please use this information wisely to inform yourself – not to diagnose and treat the pets you love. Don’t try to be your own mechanic.
Help Support Us
Dear reader, Besides your donations, visits to the products that Google and others display on this website help defray some of the costs of keeping my articles online to keep you informed. As you already know, sites like mine that intentionally use no AI robots and are not written to Sell You Things are getting harder and harder to find., Best wishes to you and all the little furries that depend on you. Ron Hines