Page 5 - Paws and Hooves - Autumn 2021
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Your cat FELINE FEATURE
could
save lives Pancytopenia in cats
The RVC urgently needs more arlier this year, clinicians in the RVC’s Small Animal
cat blood donors partly due E Referral Hospital noticed an increase in the number
to the recent surge in cases of cats presenting at the hospital with Pancytopenia
of cats with Pancytopenia. – a rare condition which they would usually only
So, if you are a cat owner see a handful of times at most each year.
local to Hertfordshire please RVC vets Karen Humm and Barbara Glanemann started
consider allowing your cat to gathering data from UK vets about affected cats and noted that
become a donor. If you think there was a very high percentage that were being fed a small
your cat meets these criteria, number of specific cat foods. The FSA subsequently issued a
please email the team on product recall notice for some batches of these cat food brands.
blooddonor@rvc.ac.uk It has not been definitively established that diet was the cause
of the pancytopenia outbreak, but case numbers have now
Criteria: markedly decreased since the recall. The RVC team is working
hard to try and determine the underlying cause.
• Aged between one and
ten years Hundreds of cats have been affected and understandably
• Weigh over 3.5kg owners have been very concerned so the RVC have prepared
• Not received a blood some Q&As to help.
transfusion themselves
• Be healthy and not on What is Pancytopenia?
medication This is a condition where the body has low counts of red blood
• Be up to date with cells, white blood cells and platelets. It is not a disease; it is a
vaccinations and flea problem with the bone marrow caused by an external factor. It is
treatment not yet known what is causing the condition in these cases.
• Comfortable and relaxed
with people What are the symptoms of Pancytopenia?
• Not have travelled abroad
Common symptoms include lethargy and loss of appetite and in
To show our appreciation to some cases there are signs of spontaneous bleeding or bruising.
our heroes, they are given:
How do I know if my cat’s food is one of those
• Free vet health check at every that has been recalled?
donation
• Free annual blood tests There is a full list of the recalled foods on the FSA’s website
• Delicious meal at at www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-
every donation prin-36-2021
• Free bag of premium
food at every What should I do if I think my cat has
donation eaten one of the recalled foods?
• RVC Blood Donor
bandana with Owners should immediately stop feeding their
collectable badges cats these foods and if concerned should
• Christmas present consult their local vet who may recommend
every year a blood test to monitor the levels of red
• Cats Only: Free heart and white blood cells and platelets in your
scan and FeLV/FIV cat’s blood.
tests For up to date information
• Cats only: Blood Donor please visit the RVC’s website
tag for their cat carrier www.rvc.ac.uk/blooddonors
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