You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Haptoglobin concentrations in serum and in tissues (eg liver) may prove to be useful as an aid in diagnosis

Haptoglobin is a plasma protein synthesised mainly in the liver of mammals. It appears to have several protective roles in the body including :

• Haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex formation during hemolytic crises
• It is an antioxidant and binds with free radicals
• Inhibits neutrophils
• Inhibits granulocyte activity
• Inhibits immune-system activation through receptor-ligand stimulation

The cytokine Interleukin-6 which is released during inflammatory, immune-mediated and neoplastic diseases stimulates the production of haptoglobin. In dogs there appears to be only one form of haptoglobin and it's serum concentrations may increase or decrease with various diseases :

• Increased serum concentrations are seen in 
  • Autoimmune hemolyticanaemia
  • Inflammatory diseases
  • Cancer
• Increased liver tissue concentrations are seen in :
  • Liver disease
• Low serum concentrations are seen in :
  • Advanced liver failure

In addition, abnormal glycosylation patterns including fucosylation, sialic acid and N-acetyl-glucosamine changes may occur with specific diseases. Studies are underway to determine whether these variants may help in the identification of specific diseases in dogs.

References 

Andersson M & Sevelius E (2001)  Abnormal microheterogeneity of haptoglobin in serum of dogs with various diseases The Veterinary Record  148, 14-17

Andersson M et al (1998) Disease-related variations of the glycosylation of haptoglobin in the dog. Journal of Comparative Pathology 119, 227-238

Solter P et al (1991) Haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin as determinants of inflammation in dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research 52, 1738-1742

Last updated : January 2016