The maximal output ceiling for
hemoglobin in
anemia due to blood loss is about 60 gm. per week-the dog receiving a rich
protein diet plus high
iron intake. Ferrous and ferric
salts are equally effective.
Iron intravenously plus a rich
protein diet may push this level up to 90 to 100 gm. per week. Evidently
iron absorption is a limiting factor. Maximal output for
hemoglobin plus
plasma protein in doubly depleted dogs may reach 120 to 130 gm. per week and using intravenous
iron may reach 140 to 160 gm. per week. Maximal output for
plasma protein alone in
hypoproteinemia due to
plasmapheresis reaches 60 to 70 gm. per week but this is not the true ceiling. Technically we cannot remove the new
plasma protein as fast as it is formed and the
hypoproteinemia is not maintained in the face of a rich
protein diet intake. Furthermore the evidence points to the
protein circulating pool contributing to the accretion of tissue
protein in such dogs with a strong positive
nitrogen balance and
weight gain. Maximal figures for
hemoglobin production in
anemia run close to 1 gm.
hemoglobin per kilo per day. Maximal figures for new
hemoglobin plus
plasma protein production in
anemia and
hypoproteinemia using
iron given intravenously, may reach 1.5 gm.
blood protein per kilo per day. The actual maximal
plasma protein production equals about 1 gm. per kilo per day but the true production ceiling cannot be reached by this technique, for reasons given above.