A comparison of health parameters in two different canine populations. Part 1: Haematological data.

ABSTRACT

Blood samples were collected on a random basis from two canine populations. The haemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte count, haematocrit, leucocyte count and differential leukocyte count were investigated in a population of kennelled dogs and a population of dogs of a rural township in a developing country. The means of five of the nine haematological parameters evaluated were found to be statistically significantly different between the two groups. It is postulated that these differences were due to the difference in diet, type and severity of disease, parasites present in the population, and to a lesser extent to breed and age differences.