Hematological Profile of Apparently Healthy Dogs in Sokoto Metropolis, Northwestern Nigeria: Influence of Age and Sex

Hematological parameters is an important tools for investigating the physiological and health status of animals. However, hematological indices may differ based on the age, sex, breed, environmental conditions, nutrition, management, and other physiological factors of an animal. This study assessed selected hematological profile and influence of age and sex of apparently healthy dogs in Sokoto Metropolis, Northwestern Nigeria. Blood samples were collected aseptically from the jugular veins from dogs presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. Complete blood count was performed using an automated hematology analyzer. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, while Student's t -test was used to compare age and sex groups. The overall mean values for WBC (11.37 ± 2.91), lymphocytes (2.82 ± 1.67%), mixed cells (2.46 ± 1.03%), neutrophils (6.10 ± 3.39%), RBC (4.90 ± 1.80), HGB (10.55 ± 3.57 g/L), HCT (31.69 ± 10.65%), MCV (49.51 ± 13.21 fL), MCH (49.00 ± 10.16 pg), MCHC (1116.47 ± 373.25 g/L), PLT (117.23 ± 104.63), MPV (12.17 ± 15.69 fL), PDW (21.47 ± 6.20 fL), and PCT (0.085 ± 0.071) were observed. No statistically significant differences were observed between age and sex. The findings provide preliminary hematological data for apparently healthy dogs in Sokoto Metropolis. These findings may provide useful baseline information for veterinary clinical assessment in the region, although interpretation should consider breed, nutrition, environmental conditions, and other sources of biological variation.