Anemia is an absolute decrease in red cell numbers, hemoglobin or PCV. It is a finding, not a diagnosis, and in cats the first question is whether the bone marrow is responding. Acute blood loss or hemolysis can cause shock within hours, so the exam expects both a quick stabilisation plan and a logical diagnostic sequence.
Key facts
Acute anemia at a glance- Species and system: cat; hemic and lymphatic.
- Key test: count only aggregate reticulocytes; over 50,000/mcL indicates regeneration in cats.
- Timing: a regenerative response takes 3 to 5 days, so acute anemia may look nonregenerative at first.
- Regenerative causes: hemorrhage (trauma, parasites, GI bleeding, coagulopathy, ruptured mass) and hemolysis (hemoplasma, IMHA, oxidant injury, Cytauxzoon).
- Nonregenerative causes: kidney disease, FeLV and FIV, bone marrow disease, chronic inflammation, drugs.
- Before any transfusion: blood type and crossmatch.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Neonatal isoerythrolysis
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 1 figure, 3 self-test questions and 9 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.