My cat is anemic. Why?

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by charliewarlie, Mar 28, 2020.

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  1. charliewarlie

    charliewarlie New Member

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    Mar 26, 2020
    I'll have to go into the vet anyway for more tests but my mind keeps going to the worst situation. I've had Charlie less than a year but I already love him so much. I really don't want to lose him. Is it common for cats to be anemic? Could it be somehow related to his diabetes? Will he be okay? Whenever I google it I come up with leukemia, FIV, just a lot of awful things... I can't focus on any of my online classes, I can't stop worrying over Charlie.
     
  2. Wendy&Neko

    Wendy&Neko Senior Member Moderator

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    Feb 28, 2012
    First it would be interesting to see the bloodwork, and see how anemic he is. It's not usually related to diabetes. It could be something as simple as parasites. Chronic kidney disease can also cause anemia - which it did in my girl years after her diabetes diagnosis. When you are in to the vets, see if you can get a paper or electronic copy of the blood work results. There is a labs tab on our spreadsheet you can use to enter the data. I find it hand to track trends over time.

    It will ultimately be up to your vet to figure out why the anemia. We aren't vets here (well, except for one or two members we've had).
     
  3. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

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    How old is Charlie? Can you post the labs from his blood work? How the anemia is treated depends on how sever it is, and what the cause is. My cat Zimmy was boarderline anemic die to kidney disease. We resolved it with b12 and iron supplements. But if the cause of Charlies is something else he may need a different course of action.
     
  4. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

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    Also is the anemia regenerative or non-regenerative? Regenerative anemia means that the body is responding to the low number of red blood cells and is producing more but the the cells are either being destroyed early or there is bleeding, especially internal bleeding. Non-regenerative means that the body is not responding. One example is in late stage kidney failure the kidneys do not signal the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells in response to low number of red blood cells. To tell the type of anemia the number of immature red blood cells (reticulocytes). to be determined. A lot of vet labs will do that count as part of normal blood work if the blood work shows anemia (low HCT/PCV).
     
  5. Sienne and Gabby (GA)

    Sienne and Gabby (GA) Senior Member Moderator

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    Dec 28, 2009
    Another common cause of anemia is fleas.

    At this point, I wouldn't jump to thinking the worst. You need more information and your vet should be able to provide some insight and direction.
     
  6. charliewarlie

    charliewarlie New Member

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    Mar 26, 2020
    Will go in tomorrow to further discuss bloodwork with vet tomorrow... He's an indoor kitty and has been his whole life so I don't think it is fleas or parasites. His age is reported to be 10 years old but he could be slightly older, the family of his previous older said she adopted him when he was a kitten but they can't place the exact year she adopted him. His previous owner is dead, she was really old and had died of cancer.
     
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  7. Susan & Claudio

    Susan & Claudio Member

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    YOU could have unknowingly picked up a flea or two and brought them inside. Squirrels have fleas as other creatures outside. Or you could have picked them up from someone else's house. Or someone else could have unknowingly brought them when they came to visit you. I know someone who even had them in their car.
     
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  8. charliewarlie

    charliewarlie New Member

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    How is Zimmy now? Was he diagnosed with CKD? Is he on a special diet or anything? Also what supplements did you use
     
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  9. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

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    He died three years ago. He was ckd. He was actually doing well in that department but died of a stroke. Our some other internal bleed. He wasn't diabetic though.

    CC, my diabetic is ckd but currently isn't anemic. I give her b12 methylcobalamin several times a week to keep her blood levels ok.
     
  10. charliewarlie

    charliewarlie New Member

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    @Wendy&Neko @JanetNJ @Larry and Kitties
    So my vet just ended up sending me the lab results and I have them attached below. I'm not sure what any of this means and she hasn't responded to me :( Sorry to bother you all
     

    Attached Files:

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  11. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

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    No bother at all
    The anemia is not bad at all. the HCT (hematocrit) is 27.8% while rdange is 28.2-52.7%. Reticulocytes show moderate response to the low HCT.
    The urine specific is 1.025 is kinda low for a 9 year old cat with low creatinine (0.9-2.5) and a SDMA of 11 (0-14).

    Did the vet say anything about the need for additional testing or other actions? To me it is not clear if any action is required at this time.
     
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  12. charliewarlie

    charliewarlie New Member

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    Mar 26, 2020
    @Larry and Kitties Thats what I was thinking but I wasn't sure.. So many numbers lol. She didn't so I guess he's in the clear? She just said to keep on with the insulin
     
  13. Wendy&Neko

    Wendy&Neko Senior Member Moderator

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    Feb 28, 2012
    Glad Larry answered your question and sounds like the vet did too. My vet always wanted to see two blood works in a row with numbers out of range before worrying, especially if it was only mildly out.
     
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  14. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

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    I would give b 12 methylcobalamin supplements. It can't hurt anyway... Add a little too the food. It may help build up the hct before it's way too low. I'd give 1/2 a zobaline sprinkled on food every day. Is she going to retest in a few months?
     
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  15. Lisa and Witn (GA)

    Lisa and Witn (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    Also, liver or gizzards have lots of iron to help reduce anemia. You can cook these and add it to her food or give as a treat a few times a week.
     
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