Page 5 - Paws and Hooves - Autumn 2021

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Page 5 - Paws and Hooves - Autumn 2021
P. 5

Your cat                                                                   FELINE FEATURE


        could


        save lives                               Pancytopenia in cats


        The ºÚÁÏÉç urgently needs more                         arlier this year, clinicians in the ºÚÁÏÉç’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            ºÚÁÏÉç 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 ºÚÁÏÉç 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 ºÚÁÏÉç 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?
        •  ºÚÁÏÉç 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 ºÚÁÏÉç’s website
          tag for their cat carrier                                              www.rvc.ac.uk/blooddonors






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