Reference values of red blood picture in Beagle, German Shepherd dog and Golden Retriever puppies

In the present study, blood samples were taken from clinically healthy pupp ies of the breeds Beagle, German Shepherd, and Golden Retriever between day s 1 and 3 (n = 146), 8 and 10 (n = 137), 28 and 33 (n = 151), and 50 and 58 (n = 129) post natum. Measurements for red blood cell count, haemoglobin c oncentration, haematocrit, mean erythrocyte volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) we re performed by a semi-automatic blood cell counter; the normoblast number was counted visually. Between the 1(st) and 3(rd) day of life, the erythrocyte number of the pupp ies was 4.57 +/- 0.68 10(6)/mul and, as such, was clearly below the referen ce range for adult animals. It further decreased by the 2(nd) measurement ( 8(th) to 10(th) day of life) to 3.59 +/- 0.41 10(6)/mul, and then increased again to 4.75 +/- 0.68 10(6)/mul (reference range: 3.73 - 6.25 10(6)/mul, 2.5 % to 97.5 % percentile) by the final measurement (50(th) to 58'h day of life). The measurement values of the haemoglobin concentration (13.5 +/- 2 ,0 g/dl) and haematocrit (41.0 +/- 6.5 %) after birth were only insignifica ntly below or around the lower limit of the reference range for adult anima ls. Both parameters decreased to a more pronounced extent than did the eryt hrocyte count. They reached a minimum of 8.4 +/- 1.0 g/dl and 26.8 +/- 3,2 %, respectively; between the 28(th) and 33(rd) day of life. Even at the end of the examination period (50(th) to 58th day of life), the values of thes e parameters (10.1 +/- 1.1 g/dl, reference range: 7.5-11.8 g/dl; 32.1 +/- 4 .2 %, reference range: 24.8 to 40.8 %) were remarkably lower than the minim um of reference range for adult dogs. At the 1(st) sampling (between 1(st) and 3(rd) day of life), MCV (89.8 +/- 6,7 fl) and MCH (29.6 +/- 1.9 pg) were distinctly higher than the reference values for adult dogs. Both parameters decreased with increasing age. Thus , from the 50(th) - 58'h day of life, the results were comparable to those of adults. No considerable age dependence was found for MCHC. During the fi rst days of life a relatively high number of normoblasts (8 +/- 7/100 Leuko zyten) was Found; it decreased rapidly. The study revealed significant differences between the breeds, e.g. German Shepherd dogs had lower initial values of erythrocyte count, haemoglobin co ncentration, and haematocrit when compared to the other breeds. Puppies of this breed also had higher normoblast numbers than the Beagle and Golden Re triever puppies at the 2(nd) and 3(rd) samplings. No clear sex differences in the studied parameters were observed. The results of this study reflect the replacement of fetal erythrocytes by postnatal erythrocytes. Moreover, they illustrate the need to use age as well as breed-specific reference ran ges.