In a message dated 1/27/2007 9:26:47 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
If anyone has any ideas or information about how cats normally look and act when needing a transfusion (i.e. just tired, or not eating and almost nonresponsive?), I would appreciate it. Just saw this. Be very careful. From the 4 experiences I had with my cat, the first was when I had just gotten out of the hospital myself, and it was obvious he needed help. But the next 3 times, he was at 13, and once he had a minor respiratory infection to boot. At those times he wasn't obviously in any distress. The thing that alerted me was his faster heart rate after any real activity, and a bit of panting. He paradoxically has never stopped eating, his appetite has been fairly constant all along. You want to deal with it before it gets too bad, because most cats will hide sickness like that well (if it's only gradual onset of pernicious anemia). I think it's more of a case of watching the individual cat, and if he/she is acting out of the norm as far as energy and/or breathing, be safe rather than sorry. It would be great to find a way to get a quick PCV without committing to a transfusion if you suspect the anemia is getting bad.
