This is a Blood condition.
May-Hegglin Anomaly
What is May-Hegglin Anomaly?
A rare, benign disease of platelets, this is characterized by abnormally sparse, large platelets. Your vet may also notice blue blotches known as "inclusion bodies" in some white blood cells (neutrophils). Affected dogs do not usually display signs of platelet or neutrophil dysfunction.
What are the signs & symptoms that develop in affected dogs?
You should not notice any clinical signs at home.
When do signs and symptoms develop?
Dogs are born with this disorder, but it is often not recognized unless your veterinarian performs certain blood tests.
How do vets diagnose this condition?
Your vet will likely be concerned because of the reduced number of platelets on a routine blood panel (CBC). Genetic testing and a blood smear evaluation will diagnose this disorder. However, as this is a rare disease, most veterinarians will first recommend a number of diagnostic tests and medications to rule out an underlying cause of the macrothrombocytopenia, including diseases of infectious, inflammatory, autoimmune, or toxic origins.
How is this condition treated?
No treatment is required.
What actions should I take if my dog is affected?
- Genetic testing for this benign disorder saves you (and your dog) the time and money that these diagnostics would require.
