Blood is a very important organ which contains corpuscular elements such as red blood cells and white blood cells (and plasma of course), capable of allowing the correct functioning of all vital functions.
But what if the blood can’t carry enough oxygen to the tissues? Here’s what you need to know aboutanemia in the cat and autoimmune haemolytic anemia.
What is anemia in cats?
Anemia in cats is rather the symptom of something wrong and not a pathology in the strict sense of the term.
It is a condition that develops when the cells that make up your cat’s body do not receive a sufficient amount of oxygen, as the Red blood cells for some reason they can’t transport it properly to the tissues.
How to see if the cat has anemia?
The reduced amount of red blood cells circulating in the blood or their inability to carry oxygen to the tissues results in the typical symptoms of an anemic cat, characterized by:
- Pale mucous membranes: the gums and mucous membranes of the eye do not appear the usual pink color, but are pale and whitish (anemic).
- Felling: Kitty will be weak, reluctant to move;
- Tachycardia or heart problems;
- Jaundice (in haemolytic forms): the mucous membranes, the sclera of the eyes and sometimes even the skin, take on a yellowish colour.
The severity of these symptoms is highly variable based on the rapidity of the pathological course that determines the adaptability of the feline’s metabolism to a condition of reduced amount of available oxygen. If your cat exhibits these symptoms, you should seek veterinary attention immediately.
What can cause anemia in cats?
Animal anemias can be grouped into 3 main categories depending on the triggering cause:
Hemorrhagic anemia
Resulting from heavy blood loss, such as trauma, accident, surgery, but also parasites and acquired coagulation disorders.
Hemolytic anemia due to accelerated red blood cell destruction
In these cases the red blood cells are destroyed before their time. Some causes can be traced back to the use of certain drugs (such as antibiotics or paracetamol), unsuitable foods (onion, garlic, etc.).
To this category also belongs theautoimmune hemolytic anemiawhich we will discuss later.
Anemia due to reduced or absent red blood cell production
Due to inflammatory or infectious diseases (FeLV, ehrlichiosis), but also to renal insufficiency, chronic liver disease and nutritional deficiencies, such as Ferro attributable to lack of intake or chronic loss of the element.
Cat anemia diagnosis
A correct approach to the diagnosis of an anemic cat must include a careful reconstruction of the patient’s history, combined with a clinical evaluation and laboratory tests.
The test for the detection of feline anemia lies in a simple blood test associated with a reticulocyte count and blood film.
By comparing the different parameters obtained, the veterinarian will be able to recognize the type of anemia in the cat.
In particular we consider:
- Anemia mildwhen the HCT (hematocrit) is between 15-19%;
- Anemia moderatewhen the HCT is between 10-14%;
- Anemia very seriouswhen the HCT is less than 10%.
How to cure cat anemia?
Treatment is based on the underlying cause of the anemia, usually in people where the anemia is thought to be very severe or when the patient has lost a lot of blood, a transfusion is needed (blood transfusion).
To carry out a transfusion, the blood must come from a donor cat (no more than 6 hours old) that has a blood group compatible with that of the acceptor.
Therefore it will be necessary to provide the your pet’s blood typeor alternatively carry out the test at the reference veterinary clinic.
Treatment for hemorrhagic anemia
In this particular case it will be necessary to intervene on the causes of the haemorrhagic event by administering an adequate drug therapy or by means of surgery, if necessary.
In case of poisoning bleeding, the Vitamin K it constitutes the “antidote” to restore blood parameters. In the case of ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract, however, drugs will be administered that protect the gastric mucosa by reducing its acid secretion.
Treatment of haemolytic anemia in cats
Non-immune-mediated haemolytic anemias should be treated by eliminating the cause (drugs, infectious or toxic agents) and establishing adequate supportive therapy. In the case of FeLV and other infectious diseases, a therapy based on antibiotics of various levels is foreseen.
Treatment for anemia due to reduced or absent red blood cell production
Here too the therapy can vary a lot according to the triggering cause, which can also concern the treatment of chronic, infectious and other pathologies.
It is a frequent anemia found in pets, including our felines. Immune-mediated haemolytic anemia in cats is due to destruction of red blood cells by the immune systemfor this reason defined “autoimmune”.
If associated with thrombocytopenia, it is defined as Evans Syndrome.
It can be of two types, primary and secondary.
Primary (idiopathic)
It has no triggering causes and is the most frequent form in domestic animals. It can affect all cats, but its frequency increases in middle-aged females.
Secondary
Associated with numerous pathologies already mentioned above, such as viral or bacterial infections, parasites, drugs, etc.
The secondary can be resolved by treating the primary cause, while the primary is generally treated with cortisones that lower the inflammatory activity determined by the immune system.
The success of anemia will depend on the speed of diagnosis and the complications that may arise: we always pay attention to the signals of our 4-legged friends!