Bone Marrow Aspiration is carried out to investigate suspected bone marrow failure by obtaining a small sample of the core of the bone marrow for detailed examination. With dogs, samples are usually taken from the shoulder (proximal humerus), top of rear leg at hip (proximal femur) and the wing of the ilium (part of pelvis). A large gauge specialised needle is used & is pushed through the skin, though the bone & into the marrow cavity. Local anaesthetic & sedation or general anaesthetic are used as this would otherwise be a painful procedure. It is advisable to find a veterinarian who is experienced in this field as it is a skilled technique to obtain a sample which is not over-contaminated with blood. Once a sample has been obtained, a microscopic evaluation of any abnormalities is undertaken. This can determine what course of treatment to give according to which cell lines have been affected & what form of disease is present.
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