Persil at ER last night - anaemia

Persil went into hiding yesterday, but I didn't worry at first as she does not like my friend's dog, who is staying with us. At suppertime I went to search for her, and finally found her inside the base of my bed. She yowled when touched, and couldn't walk properly. By 10.30 we were at the emergency vet.

Blood tests showed normal kidney function and a negative for FIV. Her gums are very pale and her temperature is only 36C. Her red blood count is way down at 16, and her blood flow levels are low. She got a corticosteroid shot and an oral iron boost. At one point she collapsed and we had to giver her oxygen for 10 minutes. The vet said she could keep her there but she would be unsupervised, so I brought her home. She slept all night tucked into me, and ate a mouthful or two of kitten food this morning. I also gave her 10cc of milk. I have more iron to give her but want to be sure she keeps down what she has had first.

But this morning she peed on my bed (I can't blame her for that) and yowled horribly while she was doing it. Her pee is clear, but there must be something wrong there.

We left it that I would take her in tomorrow morning for another blood test and ultra-sound, and possibly a transfusion, and would call today if I felt it necessary. But today it will only another emergency vet who cannot do anything other than basic blood tests, so unless she collapses again I will try and deal with her at home, and get as much into her as I can. But I cannot connect the anaemia with the pain in urinating, normal kidneys and clear pee.

I have had a look for any posts here but cannot find anything especially relevant. I am sick with worry. The vet was definitely very grave in her prognosis, and actually said she might die overnight.

Oh no! I'm so sorry... How could you not be sick with worry?

I'm glad she's home with you, there has to be some comfort in that for her. Sending positive vibes and thoughts for Persil's return to health. I'm thinking of you both [emoji]10084[/emoji]️

Oh, @JennyR sending you massive healing vibes for Persil.

I cannot think of anything that would cause anemia, no infection, but painful urination.

Totally sending positive thoughts that your Persil makes it through the night, without any pain or collapse.

I think that it is good that you brought her home, and can be with her.

Can you put her litterbox near her, and some extra towels under her, in case she cannot hold her urine. As well as water, and food dish.

Hopefully, you can get an ultrasound done, and that transfusion will help with the anemia. Maybe B12 shots for energy, too.

The collapsing makes me think heart related, but then I'd think that her breathing would be rapid.

Sending prayers, too, for you both.

Her heart and lungs are OK, according to the exam last night. She is now having episodes of open-mouth breathing. I have just spoken with the emergency vet who says I can take her in for more oxygen, but the effects will not last, and it is better that I keep her at home in the warm until they can do the proper tests tomorrow. The breathing difficulties are because she is not getting enough oxygen from her blood. If she gets worse then I can take her in today. She also told me to bring my dog with me, as they can do a blood transfusion much more easily from a dog to a cat than from another cat. I had no idea that that was compatible.

Wow, I did not know that blood transfusions can be done from dog to cat, either.

I wish there was a plasma type boost shot they can give for anemia, but besides iron or transfusion, I have not heard of anything.

Did they send out the blood to the lab, to analyze the type of red blood cells that she has?

Knowing if it is regenerative, or not, is important for anemia, if I remember correctly.

Ugh, it's so difficult when it's and ER vet, and not your normal vet. Our animals always seem to get ill after-hours or weekends.

But I do think our animals are strong, and give it their all, in these kinds of situations.

I wish there were portable oxygen tents available to be sent home.

You being with her, is what she needs the most. Get some rest, too, when you can.

cat nap said:

Wow, I did not know that blood transfusions can be done from dog to cat, either.

I wish there was a plasma type boost shot they can give for anemia, but besides iron or transfusion, I have not heard of anything.

Did they send out the blood to the lab, to analyze the type of red blood cells that she has?
Knowing if it is regenerative, or not, is important for anemia, if I remember correctly.

Ugh, it's so difficult when it's and ER vet, and not your normal vet. Our animals always seem to get ill after-hours or weekends.
But I do think our animals are strong, and give it their all, in these kinds of situations.

I wish there were portable oxygen tents available to be sent home.
You being with her, is what she needs the most. Get some rest, too, when you can.

Click to expand...

No, they do not know yet - another test has to be done tomorrow. All the labs are closed over the weekend, and although the vet |I go to has its own test facility, there was no-one on duty who could do it.

Mega for Persil, Jenny! Has she been or will she be tested for heartworm and Ehrlichiosis? How have the ticks been this year? This article mentions increased thirst and urination in connection with Immune Mediated Anemia

This article talks about the tests (including for Mycoplasma haemofelis, aka Haemobartonella felis) and treatment, including blood transfusions:
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in Cats

Oh no!! I am so sorry to hear this....(((hugs))) to you and Persil... 

I never knew about a dog to cat blood transfusion.. wow.. learn something every day...

Could she have gotten into something and eaten something bad?

I am glad you have her at home where you can love and watch her. Can you put some puppy pads underneath her?

hopefully she will be comfortable.. OMG... ((Hugs)) again..

please keep us updated...

jcat said:

Mega for Persil, Jenny! Has she been or will she be tested for heartworm and Ehrlichiosis? How have the ticks been this year? This article mentions increased thirst and urination in connection with Immune Mediated Anemia

This article talks about the tests (including for Mycoplasma haemofelis, aka Haemobartonella felis) and treatment, including blood transfusions:
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in Cats

Click to expand...

She has been tested in the past for heartworm. She had erlichia when she was a kitten but it is very uncommon here, and she never goes ou. The vet mentuioned auto-immune anaemia as a possibility and we will test for it tomorrow. Meanwhile I am keeping her warm, giving her fluids by syringe every hour and staying near her. SHe meows when I say her name. But she hurts when she moves - it all makes me think more towards an accident of some sort - a cat fight, a fall. I was out of the house much of yesterday so I did not see everything that might have happened. If she has damaged her spleen that would affect her urinary system and cause internal bleeding. I have been phoning around but there is no vet hospital with anyone who could see us today, only the emergency locums who can do no more than the person I saw last night.

How horrible! She may have a tumor somewhere that may be causing pain, hopefully benign. I will pray for that sweet little soul to recover, you are such a good person to care for her like you have. to you and her. The steroid shot should start to reduce any swelling going on, please keep us posted as to what you find!

If it is IMHA ask the vet about using Depo shots for the steroid.  I ordinarily don't like the medications that stay in the system for a long period of time but for some reason this seems to work better than other steroids.

I hope you can find out what's going on with her. It's such an awful feeling watching them suffer and not knowing what to do to make it stop.

I am very sad to say she has gone. This morning she was suffering so much and could not bear to be touched on the body. She took liquid from me in a syringe but then howled immmediately after taking it. I could not stand by and watch her like that, and my own vet could not offer me anything till tomorrow afternoon. So I phoned around again, and found a 24/7 vet about an hour from here who could take us this afternoon. He looked at her, smelt her breath and said 'cancer', which was confirmed 10 minutes later by the Xray. She had a massive tumour in her stomach, and he said she would never survive surgery, given her blood levels, and it was too big to consider anything else. He offered to hospitalise her for a couple of days, but I felt she had gone through enough, and I wanted my last memories not to be of a crying cat in pain in a cage, and for her to die when I was not there. So I let her go, and her last experience was me stroking her head. She was a very special cat, had been with me through thick and thin, one of the most beautiful cats I ever had, and we will miss her terribly, especially the way she used to frown at anything she disapproved of. RIP, my sweet, sweet girl

Oh, I am so sorry to hear this... My most heartfelt sympathies.. I know you loved her beyond reason.. 

((hugs)) to you and your special little girl....

Jenny I'm so sorry My pain from loosing Sophie to cancer is still so fresh... It's so hard even when we know we've released them from their pain!

So many hugs to you! Fly free beautiful Persil [emoji]128149[/emoji]

I'm so sorry. Here are some hugs

I am so sorry, Jenny. Just sending lots of hugs to you. :nod:

My condolences for your loss of Persil, Jenny. 

Persil is such a beautiful name for a cat. Those special things our cats do, always stay with us.

It's kind of cute that she frowned her disapproval, taking a direct approach to her humans.

Run like the Wind, sweet cat.

I am so sorry.

I am so sad to read how things have gone over the last few hours Jenny, so hard to go through something like that.   It can be really difficult when something is sudden to come on like this, but also it indicates that Persil did not have to endure pain for a long time, and she had you with her, stroking her head.  

Run free Persil, and remember to frown sometimes to let your humans know when you disaprove of what they are doing.