Oakland Veterinary Referral Companies has a blood financial institution and supplies blood transfusions to canines and cats who’ve a pet emergency. We regularly ask canines to be blood donors and have cat house owners ask if we additionally want cat donors, however we all the time use canine blood. Can a cat obtain a blood transfusion from a canine, and if that’s the case, in what circumstances? Our information explains cat transfusions and when it’s okay to make use of canine blood in feline sufferers.
Blood Transfusions for Cats
Whereas feline blood is the very best sort of blood transfusion for a cat, cats can get blood transfusions from canines in an emergency. This process, also called a xenotransfusion, ought to solely be finished in a particular occasion, or in a life-threatening scenario. After receiving canine blood, cats ought to obtain one other transfusion with feline blood as quickly as doable.
Conditions for a Xenotransfusion
Whereas it isn’t excellent, there are a number of conditions through which a xenotransfusion might be carried out safely. These embrace:
- An inadequate quantity of feline blood provide.
- There is no such thing as a matching feline blood sort. Vets can use canine blood with out having to match it.
- Different transfusion choices have been unsuccessful.
- A cat has an acute transfusion response to feline blood.
There are specific medical emergencies that require an instantaneous blood transfusion. If an emergency veterinarian believes a cat will die with out blood, she or he will use canine blood.
How a Xenotransfusion Can Assist
In an emergency, canine blood might be helpful to a feline affected person. On high of offering a life-saving provide of blood, it additionally brings sure advantages that may assist a cat heal. These embrace:
- It’s straightforward to provide canine blood to a cat
- The process might be finished rapidly
- It eliminates the necessity for blood typing
- It usually prices lower than a feline blood transfusion
- It is not going to transmit feline leukemia
If a physician asks for permission to carry out a xenotransfusion in your cat, you possibly can really feel assured granting it.
Why It’s Not a Lengthy-Time period Resolution Although
Canine blood can solely survive in a feline physique for a number of days earlier than the cat’s immune system begins to destroy it. Some cats may also have antibodies that reject canine blood, which might trigger a foul response to a transfusion. As with every transfusion, a xenotransfusion might additionally switch sure parasites or infections from a canine right into a cat’s system. A second xenotransfusion might be deadly for a cat, so if it doesn’t work the primary time, docs might want to strive one thing else.
Can a cat obtain a blood transfusion from a canine? The reply is sure however solely in an emergency and should be adopted up inside a few days with a transfusion of feline blood.
Oakland Veterinary Referral Companies has an in-house blood financial institution that operates 24 hours a day to make sure we have now entry to blood after we want it. Our emergency care providers are ready to deal with a variety of pet emergencies. If you need assistance in your pet quick, we’re right here for you. Name (248) 334-6877 to study extra about our providers or to schedule an appointment.
