Blood smear from a dog with vitamin B₆ deficiency and sideroblastic anemia

Blood smear from an eight year old Belgian Mallinois with sideroblastic anemia due to vitamin B₆ deficiency: The dog was presented with clinical signs associated with peripheral neuromuscular disease (reduced reflexes, proprioception, muscle atrophy). On a hemogram, there was a microcytic hypochromic moderate anemia (29% hematocrit) with moderate hypochromasia, numerous siderocytes (14-16%) in mature red blood cells and polychromatophils (arrows), many keratocytes, moderate schistocytes and a few acanthocytes. The clinical signs hematologic abnormalities after weeks to months of vitamin B_{6 therapy, respectively. Modified Wright stain, 100x objective.}