Page 7 - Clinical Connections - Spring 2024

Transfusion medicine

RVC blood donor studies and welfare we give to cats after donation is necessary blood can be an effective method of treating
In 2017 we published the world’s first or whether they can go home shortly anaemic cats, but only in the short term,
description of cats donating without afterwards (as dogs do). as the cats will break down the canine red
sedation. This is now standard practice at In 2020 a veterinary student conducted blood cells quite quickly and you can’t give a
the RVC and vets globally are recognising a study looking at why dogs and cats leave second transfusion of canine blood.
that cats don’t need a general anaesthetic the Blood Donor Programme. She found We have performed high quality studies
or heavy sedation to give blood. that one in five of the cats that owners try looking at whether removing white blood
We’re always trying to ensure that we are to enrol as donors are not successful for cells from blood transfusions is helpful and
performing blood donation to the highest either medical or temperament reasons whether performing a crossmatch prior to
possible standard. We’ve studied for signs underlining how special and valuable our transfusion in cats is worthwhile. We’ve
of changes to the cardiovascular system feline donors are. helped really improve knowledge in these
in dogs after donating blood (and didn’t In 2020 and 2022 we published reports areas and the information we’ve learnt has
find any) and we’ve recently finished a on the use of canine blood in anaemic allowed us to develop how we work.
study looking at whether the fluid therapy cats (xenotransfusion). We found that dog
For small animal referrals, please call:
01707 666399
The programme expanded to Email:
enrol smaller dogs as serum qmhreception@rvc.ac.uk
donors, producing serum eye
drops for ophthalmic patients. The first unit of stored feline
plasma was transfused.
The first stored unit of feline The owner of the recipient
whole blood was collected (Meadow) went on to sign
(from Ricochet), using a novel her other cats as donors.
feline blood collection system Combined, her six blood
designed by Charlotte Russo. donor cats have donated
over 40 times.
The first recorded unsedated The unit of blood was stored
feline donation was performed for two days and then First xenotransfusion (dog to
by Robyn with a cat called transfused to Boo, a cat) performed on a Type B By the middle of February
Ricochet. Ricochet went on to Norwegian Forest cat involved cat where feline blood was this year the programme had
do 14 unsedated donations in a road traffic accident. unavailable. The donor was provided 132 transfusions and
He made a full recovery. a Labrador called Dylan. taken more than 60 donations.

2012 2015 2023

2014 2016 2024

The Animal Care Trust started The first unit of feline blood There were 479 canine blood
fundraising for the Blood Donor processed into packed red product transfusions and
Programme. The first purchase blood cells and plasma was 163 feline blood product
was a large blood bank freezer produced, extending the transfusions provided. There
for plasma products, which is shelf-life and availability of were 69 xenotransfusions
still in use. feline products. The donor, performed. 120 ophthalmic
Delilah, was owned by Susie patients received donor serum
Hunt, a veterinary nurse who eye drops. There were 468
later joined the TMS team blood donations undertaken.
and still owns feline donors.

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