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Blood Transfusion in Cats
What is Blood Transfusion?
Blood transfusions are often life-saving procedures. By intravenously introducing new blood into an animal, a vet can compensate for blood that has been lost due to injury, or replace blood cells that have died off due to infection or illness. In cats, however, there are some specific factors that need to be considered before a transfusion is conducted, in order to minimize the potential risk of complications.
Blood Transfusion Procedure in Cats
If the blood type of the cat in question is unknown, the vet will first take a blood sample for testing. This will allow them to determine the blood type of the cat and administer the correct blood. Doing this will prevent a hemolytic reaction, which can be potentially fatal for already weakened animals. The cat is then given a mild sedative to prevent it from damaging the transfusion equipment. The next step is to shave a small spot over the vein that has been targeted for infusion - this will allow the vet a good view of both the vein and the surrounding area. Next, the vet will insert a needle, followed by an IV catheter into the vein and connect it to an IV bag filled with fresh blood. The drip is then taped in place and the blood bag is elevated to allow the blood to drain naturally via gravity into the cat. Once the transfusion is complete, the vet simply removes the catheter from the cat.
Efficacy of Blood Transfusion in Cats
The results of the blood transfusion should be apparent to the owner of the cat immediately after the sedatives have worn off. If it had been suffering from anemia, the animal will appear visibly more energetic and lively than before the transfusion. If blood loss was the problem, the cat's heart rate and breathing should stabilize as the body has more blood to work with. The duration of the effects of the blood transfusion will depend on the precise nature of the condition. In injured cats, they should return to their old selves as their body naturally produces more blood to replace that which was lost. Anemic cats may, dependent on the type of illness affecting them, require longer-term treatment. Cats with autoimmune diseases, meanwhile, might never fully recover.
Blood Transfusion Recovery in Cats
Cats affected by blood loss should immediately begin to produce new blood, meaning that owners should be primarily concerned with tending to their injuries. In addition to administering antibiotics, open wounds should be monitored, the use of an E-collar may be needed to prevent the animal from pulling out sutures, and painkillers may be prescribed to treat discomfort. Whilst simple lacerations can heal in a few weeks, broken bones and deeper injuries can take months to fully recover from. The treatment plans for cats suffering from low red blood cell count or a low platelet count can vary drastically depending on the exact cause. While many conditions can be resolved in a matter of months with the proper medication, more serious problems such as autoimmune diseases can require lifetime management.
Cost of Blood Transfusion in Cats
Depending on several factors (including the blood type, age, and overall health of the cat), the price of a blood transfusion can vary quite drastically. Most healthy cats can expect a cost of roughly $500 for the full service of blood type determination, sedation, and transfusion, whilst the price for more infirm animals can be much higher.
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Cat Blood Transfusion Considerations
While a blood transfusion can be a critically important factor in saving an animal's life, there are some potential drawbacks that owners should be aware of. The first is the risk of the transmission of infections from a donor animal to the recipient. Although rare and avoidable with proper screening, there is a small chance of cross-contamination occurring. Second is the risk of an immune system reaction to new blood, such as a fever or digestive discomfort - though unusual, this can have a large impact on the health of an animal that is already sick.
Blood Transfusion Prevention in Cats
Whilst autoimmune diseases are by and large hereditary, there are some methods that cat owners can use to prevent a situation in which a blood transfusion may be necessary. One of the main things that owners can do is to feed their animal a rich and healthy diet. Most anemia is caused by iron deficiency and by ensuring their pet is getting good quality, nutritious food, owners can prevent most forms of the condition from setting in. The other big factor is to properly train and socialize the cat other animals live on the property. By preventing rivalries with larger animals (i.e. dogs) from developing, owners can mitigate much of the risk of serious injury from animal attacks.
Blood Transfusion Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Shorthair
Khol
5 Months
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Anemia
Lethargy
My kitten was diagnosed with FIP, but has so far defied the odds of his prognosis; he eats well, has no vomiting or diarrhea, has short bursts of energy, is in good spirits, all weeks past his projected survival date. However, signs of anemia persist. We are treating him with CBD oil for inflammation and a multivitamin. Would a blood transfusion benefit him for any significant length of time?
Feb. 24, 2018
1 Recommendations
In some cases of feline infectious peritonitis, nonregenerative anaemia is a possible symptom which isn’t normally treated; a blood transfusion may help in the short term but you may need to keep administering blood since the type of anaemia is nonregenerative, you would need to speak with your Veterinarian about this. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
www.msdvetmanual.com/generalized-conditions/feline-infectious-peritonitis/overview-of-feline-infectious-peritonitis
Feb. 24, 2018
Very helpful. I paid $3,000 for treatment. No blood transfusion and no explanation. This was at an animal ER.
May 20, 2018
Vicki D.
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Cat
Tiddles
11 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Stomach Pushing On Lungs
Anaemia
Hello,
I am based in the UK and my tabby has recently been diagnosed as anaemic, however she has issues with her stomach pushing on her lungs, the vets are pushing for me to either have the operation to fix this which she is guaranteed to not survive because of her condition, or put her to sleep. However, she is still interested in her food and I am currently feeding her by hand to ensure that she eats, she is drinking water (not too much just her normal amount) and she is still indicating to me when she needs to use her litter tray, as he energy is very low and she is weak I am currently carrying her about to ensure her safety although she can still stand, sit and has shown interest in moving around a little. Her age is a guess as she is a rescue cat that was abandoned by people who left no details of her or themselves, we think she may be around 10/11 years old. I have asked if we could try a blood transfusion on her to see if we could build up her psychical strength before considering the operation but I got a lot of "there doesnt seem to be much point" from my vets. Do you think having a blood transfusion is an option that could at least work in building her strength up? I understand the risks of a blood transfusion as well, but currently she is still responsive to noises and visuals, eating, drinking, has bowl control etc. I have senior wet and dry food, vitamins, immune system paste, a medication to up her red blood cells from the vet, a liquid vitamin to give her kidneys extra strength as I'm hoping extra support for her kidneys will help her produce more potassium therefor more red blood cells as we did an all over check and her organs are in working condition, I've been feeding her fresh fish such as Salmon, and she is eating fresh Ox Liver, and I have introduced a little nutritional yeast and coconut oil into her food. Do you think I should push for a blood transfusion? Thank you for your time.
Feb. 10, 2018
0 Recommendations
Without examining Tiddles, I cannot say whether or not a blood transfusion would be suitable for her or not; there are different types of anaemia and if the anaemia is due to an increase in destruction of red blood cells, then a blood transfusion may only be beneficial for a matter of hours which wouldn’t help build her up for surgery or the recovery. It is difficult for me to weigh in on this as I haven’t examined her and I don’t know the type of anaemia that she has; if you are dead set on trying everything, I would recommend visiting another Veterinarian for an examination to get their input but ask your original Veterinarian for blood work etc… and indicate to them that you are seeking another opinion since there is a strict code of professional conduct laid down by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in the UK (unlike other countries), see link below. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/supporting-guidance/referrals-and-second-opinions/
Feb. 10, 2018
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DOMESTIC
Salem
9 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargy
My 9 year old cat has been diagnosed with a large tumor in the stomach area and he has anemia. My Vet said the anemia is the most problamtic thing right now. I was given several options, one-blood transfustion,(estimated cost 1200-2500 2. More testing to see what kind of cancer after the blood transfustion. 3. pallative care with predisone. I do not have have thousands of dollars to treat the cat and still have poor end result.
Jan. 14, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. I'm sorry that that is happening to Salem. Without knowing more details about Salem's condition, I cannot comment on how things might go for him. It would be best to discuss with your veterinarian the expected outcome of each treatment, what results you might get, and what the costs will be. They may be able to give you a better idea as to his prognosis, as they have examined him and know more about his condition. I hope that he does well.
Jan. 14, 2018
Thank you for responding back. I appreciate it.
Jan. 15, 2018
Salem's Owner
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tabby
Rosie
14 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Weakness
Loss Of Appetite
Loss Of Mass
White Gums
Very Low Energy
Eats In Very Small Increments
Difficulty Standing Up
Seldom Small Bursts Of Energy
My elderly female cat was recently taken to the vet. She's anemic, and the vet couldn't draw blood due to how low her blood level is. Her muscle mass is extremely low, you can feel every bone. She's hooked up to a catheter with IV fluid. With the IV fluid, would it be safe to try again to draw blood?
Dec. 27, 2017
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. I'm sorry that Rosie is having such problems. There are less stressful ways to draw blood from cats, which I am sure that your veterinarian is aware of, and without blood work on her, your vet is going to have a hard time diagnosing what is going on with her with any certainty. She is being taken care of, is hospitalized, and you should probably trust that they know whether or not she can handle the blood draw. Most of the time, blood collection is quite stressless for animals, and there are techniques that can be used to minimize stress in those that get upset by it. I hope that she is okay.
Dec. 27, 2017
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