Abstract
In this issue of JFMS we are pleased to publish the 2021 ISFM Consensus Guidelines on the Collection and Administration of Blood and Blood Products in Cats. This document, endorsed by the AAFP, appears on pages 410–432. It is the culmination of over a year of work, bringing together an international panel of experts who, between them, have collected blood and administered transfusions on thousands of occasions and have individual expertise in areas such as infectious disease, anaesthesia, critical care and medicine. We are grateful to them for their substantial efforts in producing what we hope is a useful and practical reference for clinicians when faced with a patient requiring therapy with blood products.
There are certain considerations when planning a blood transfusion in cats that are more of a concern than in dogs. The proportion of blood volume removed from the feline donor is higher than for medium to large donor dogs, and cats are also good at hiding illness, with the risk that subclinical disease can go unnoticed and could be worsened by blood collection. Moreover, cats are less comfortable in a veterinary clinic environment (having been removed from their home territory), so are likely to suffer from stress. Hence, the majority of donors are sedated, another factor to consider carefully for the benefit of donor health and wellbeing. Selection of appropriate agents for sedation is carefully detailed in the guidelines.
Managing a patient that may require a blood product is, without doubt, clinically challenging. For example, they may be fragile with severe anaemia, or they may present as an emergency with haemorrhage. Identifying the need for a blood product is just the first step – for feline patients, the presence of naturally occurring AB blood type alloantibodies complicates the process of transfusion, requiring careful matching of donor and recipient. Other questions must be asked before proceeding: Is this patient an appropriate candidate for transfusion? When should a transfusion be given? Which blood product? What volume and rate?
The presence of naturally occurring AB blood type alloantibodies in cats necessitates careful matching of donor and recipient
Blood transfusion is a procedure not without risk to both donor and recipient.
Providing a blood product transfusion to a sick cat, and seeing a clinical improvement, is immensely satisfying for a clinician, but is contingent on responsible use of this precious resource, and selection of the correct donor and recipient. We hope these guidelines will assist colleagues in well-informed decision-making around blood products in cats.
Cat Carer Guide
Information for owners of both donor and recipient cats – discussing what to expect, and questions and concerns – accompanies the guidelines as supplementary material, and is also available at: icatcare.org/advice/cat-carer-guides.