A little worried

misty went in for a mini blood panel before her spay on Friday, it didn't go well. She screamed and her blood didn't clot well.

Does anyone k ow about this kind of reaction? She was bery upset, could her heart have been pumping so fast she couldn't clot? What else could it be?

I'll hear from the vet lste tomorrow or Tuesday.

Did you ask the Vet these very questions?  I know stress can play a huge part in things with cats,including bloodwork, so I would say anything is possible.  Best not to dwell on it and just wait until you talk to the Vet.  Probably noting to worry about, but if it is, you'll deal with it when you know what you're dealing with

I did, ghey are waiting for the test results *sigh*

Hello Newmomtomisty,

I am a human doctor, not a Veterinarian, but I do know that blood clots the same way in cats as in humans.  There are several points about blood tests: 

1. Stress has no effect on clotting.

2. Blood taken for red blood cell tests - haematology  (looking at the red blood cells etc). - is taken into a tube with citrate in it (so that this blood does NOT clot).

3. Tests for biochemistry including thyroid, liver function tests etc. are taken in a tube without citrate (so this blood IS allowed to clot.)

4. If the blood in both tubes fails to clot, this may be due to a fault in the platelets in the blood.  The full blood count will show the platelets and demonstrate whether there are enough of these for health. 

5. It may be that you were looking at the tube of blood that had citrate in it - and this cannot clot.

6. Your vet will tell you whether the blood tests were taken correctly and whether they should be taken again, so you should know when you see him/her - so don't worry.   You should ask the vet if he/she does not mention the blood not clotting.

With all best wishes,

Geoffrey