Catching up with Vet Candy: The hidden truth about blood transfusions in cats
Blood Transfusions in Cats: A Vital Procedure with New Guidelines
In the latest episode of "Catching up with Vet Candy," Melissa Evans, an experienced veterinary technician and emergency specialist, dives deep into the crucial topic of blood transfusions in cats. Joining the conversation are two esteemed veterinarians from Vetique Chicago, Dr. Jessica Trice and Dr. Jen Remnes, who shed light on CareCredit credit cards and offer expert tips for navigating cost conversations with pet parents.
Blood transfusions, a routine medical procedure extensively used in human medicine to replace lost blood due to injuries, surgeries, or severe medical conditions, have been relatively uncommon in veterinary care for cats, despite their life-saving potential. But with the advent of feline blood banks, the procedure is poised to become more accessible and widely adopted.
International Society of Feline Medicine Guidelines
Acknowledging the need for authoritative guidance on best practices and crucial considerations beyond the clinical procedure, the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) has recently released consensus guidelines in the highly esteemed Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS). These guidelines, authored by a panel of expert veterinarians with diverse experience in infectious disease, anesthesia, critical care, and medicine, are based on their vast clinical experience in handling blood transfusions for feline patients.
Blood, a precious resource, benefits the recipient cat without any direct advantage to the donor. The ISFM emphasizes that the clinician's responsibility extends to caring for both parties involved in the transfusion process, ensuring utmost care and safety.
Managing cases
Managing a patient in need of a blood transfusion presents significant clinical challenges. Identifying the necessity for a blood product is just the beginning; the clinician must establish clear benefits for the recipient and ensure the administration of type-compatible blood. Cats have different blood types—A, B, and AB—with varying prevalence among breeds and geographic locations. While type A is the most common worldwide, type B is less prevalent but not uncommon in non-pedigree cats from Australia and British Shorthair breeds. Type AB is a rare occurrence.
Unlike dogs, cats possess naturally occurring alloantibodies against foreign alloantigens on the surface of red blood cells, complicating the transfusion process and potentially leading to fatal reactions. Even the first blood transfusion carries a risk of a reaction, which further increases with subsequent transfusions. The guidelines strongly recommend "cross-matching," a process where blood from both the donor and recipient cat is mixed to test for a reaction before proceeding with the transfusion. This precautionary step is particularly vital for recipients with an unknown transfusion history or those who have experienced previous transfusion reactions.
Embracing these new guidelines, the veterinary community aims to make blood transfusions in cats more accessible, safer, and ultimately save more feline lives.