quote:

It looks like hemolytic anemia killed my kitten. It is rare in cats.
Has anyone had this ever happen to them? It sounds like an autoimmune
response in which the immune system attacks and destroys the red blood
cells. Blood transfusions are usually not successful from what I
understand as this condition usually re-occurs.

Thanks for those who have already responded. It is comforting to know
that people understand how devastating it is to lose a kitten at 6
weeks of age.

Thanks!

Konnie

---------------------------------------------------------------


Re: Hemolytic Anemia [long]


Hi, so sorry about your kitten.
I would just like to tell the list about the treatment one of my girls had,
which worked very well for immune mediated haemolytic anaemia.
It was New Years Day this year, when I found her collapsed, obviously very
unwell, she only seemed 'off colour' the night before, not unduly sick.
I took her straight to the emergency vet, who thought it was pyometra and
wanted to spay there and then, but I refused and asked for antibiotics to
hold her until I could see my own vet after the holiday. Well, by that
night she was very, very sick, laboured breathing, just collapsed. Back to
the emergency vet, this time a male vet who seemed much more in command, he
took blood immediately as her gums were white, almost blue, and her ears
were almost yellow, packed cell volume [PCV] was 7, he had never seen a cat
live with such a low count, and gave a very bleak outlook. He did suggest a
product called Oxyglobin, [remember this stuff] it was extremely expensive
for one bag, almost £200, but it was the only answer, it carries oxygen
around the body in lieu of red cells.IV fluid was NOT an option, all that
does is dilute the blood even further, and possibly cause fluid overload.
She was put also on to prednisolone immediately, also antirobe, in case it
was FIA, and oxygen to help her breathing. Within 24 hours PCV was 15%, she
only needed one bag of Oxyglobin thank goodness.
She continued on Antirobe and Prednisolone for 3 weeks, then just
prednisolone for a further 2 weeks, her PCV climbed slowly back to normal,
and prednisolone was weaned off slowly, and she has been off medication for
several months, and fit and healthy, and argumentative as ever.
We have several cats who could have given blood for transfusion, but the vet
felt that, with her immune system in disarray, it may also start fighting
the transfused blood, so this option was kept as a last resort, and was not
needed.
I hope this tale will help someone else if needed.

PS Venus had been treated with Synulox a couple of weeks before, after
absorbing kittens around 6 weeks gestation, then at full term she produced
some blood and tissue, which was why she had the Synulox.

Regards Kaeren and the Kagoza Maine Coons
www.kagoza.com

----------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry had a senior moment in my earlier post about Venus and her treatment
for immune mediated haemolytic anaemia, the antibiotic was Doxycycline, not
antirobe, I should have remembered that, because it is very important to
either wash it down with a syringe of water, or, as I did, because the
steroids made her very hungry, I followed the pills with her favourite wet
food, and other antibiotics should not be given around the same time.

Regards Kaeren and the Kagoza Maine Coons
www.kagoza.com

-----------------------------------------------------

RE: [FAN-H] Mysterious kitten death - Hemolytic Anemia


Thanks to all those writing to me during this trying time. I really
appreciate all your kind thoughts.

I had chance yesterday to talk to the vet who treated little Trooper and she
confirmed that penicillin can indeed cause hemolytic anemia. She could see
how this may very well be missed as it is rare and little kittens like my
Trooper are not prime candidates for this.

The blood taken before he walked across that Rainbow Bridge was sent in and
the results are back negative on hemobartonella, FeLV/FIV (not that this was
a surprise), all values are within norm - nothing suggests possible FIP (I
specifically asked given some of the comments here). They did a so-called
Coomb test that looks for evidence that the immune system attacks the red
blood cells and that came back confirmed. The PVC test confirmed that he
had almost no red blood cells left.

My vet said she is certain that this is what he died of. I was very
concerned about a possible hereditary connection and was told not to worry.
She believes given the time frame when Trooper was presented to that same
vet hospital for his abscess and treated with pencillin and amoxicillin and
the onset of the symptoms make a drug induced hemolytic anemia the diagnosis
of choice.

They were very apologetic at the vet hospital and matter of fact this is the
first case they have ever encountered. It is unfortunate little Trooper had
to give his life, but from now on they will put far greater emphasis on
telling patients to watch for the typical signs of hemolytic anemia after
the use of pencillin and other drugs known to be a possible cause.

I sure will never look at that quick acting pencillin shot they give you
cat/kitten to jump start the healing process quite the same.


Konnie

quote:

Op dinsdag 5 juni 2007 18:00 schreef tbs-johny het volgende:
En chocolade?

quote:

Op dinsdag 5 juni 2007 18:13 schreef senesta het volgende:
Was het rond de zelfde tijd vorig jaar?
En komt ze buiten?
Misschien een plantje die dit kan veroorzaken?

quote:

Op dinsdag 5 juni 2007 18:17 schreef beefcake het volgende:

[..]

Ja vorig jaar was het een maand eerder en ja ze komt buiten. Dat weten ze bij de dierenarts ook, denk je dat ze dat niet onderzocht hebben? Zou wel slordig zijn, ik zal het eens navragen!

quote:

Op zaterdag 9 juni 2007 09:02 schreef beefcake het volgende:
Gisteren zijn we weer bij de dierenarts geweest en de rode bloedcellen waren niet gestegen. Wat wel had gemoeten na een week medicijnen Ze denkt nu toch aan een vorm van leukemie (vorig jaar was de test negatief) en ze gaan dus nogmaals testen. Wat ze dan nog kan doen is een beenmergpunctie. Maar Shady is te zwak voor een algehele narcose en te fel voor een plaatselijke. We moeten nu beslissen of we de punctie willen, dat is echt zo moeilijk Ik heb gegoogled op beenmergpuncties bij een kat, maar kan niets vinden.

Maybach, ik denk dat je EPO niet op lange termijn kan gebruiken? Wij hebben iets nodig waardoor de bloedcellen op peil blijven, op peil brengen is voor Shady niet voldoende.