The human body is no stranger to malicious agents attacking it, and desperately trying to enter it to cause a ruckus that will have us confined to the bed for a long time. Every part, every organ and every element in the body is vulnerable to disorders, be it the kidneys, lungs, heart, and even blood.

Of all the diseases that plague the world, blood disorders are one of those which need to be detected and treated right away. Blood performs the primary function of carrying nutrients to the different parts of the body, and blood disorders tend to cripple this function. Blood disorders affect the three main components of the blood, namely, the Red Blood Cells (RBCs), the White Blood Cells (WBCs) and the platelets.

Canine blood disorders are classified into two forms genetic (or co genetic) while other is acquired through some pathological factors such as viruses, tumors, bacteria etc. Just like humans, canine blood also has many parts like blood cells, plasma and platelets. Deficiency or defect in any of these can lead to a form of blood disorder, which can be life threatening in some ways.

Hemolytic disease is one of the blood disorders that is found in newborns, or in a fetus. In some cases the disease can be life threatening. The normal timeline of RBC (red blood cells) is of 120 days. In case of hemolytic disease, the red blood cells are destroyed earlier than 120 days.

Bilirubin is produced by the conversion of hemoglobin when the liver breaks down red blood cells that are no longer required by the body. High bilirubin levels in the body are caused due to an increase in toxicity in the liver, malfunction of the liver or the gallbladder. High levels of bilirubin can also be caused due to diseases such as cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, gallstones, leukemia, Gilbert syndrome, pancreatitis, cancer or inflammation of the gallbladder.

Found in bile produced by the body, bilirubin is produced when old red blood cells are broken down by the liver. The hemoglobin in the red blood cells is converted to bilirubin. Bilirubin is brownish yellow. It is ejected from the body through stools. Bilirubin circulates in the bloodstream in small amounts.