Any cat who has concentration levels of 40,000 platelets or less per microliter of blood is suffering from abnormally low levels of blood platelets. This condition is known as feline thrombocytopenia. Blood platelets are responsible for coagulation (clotting of the blood), so if left untreated, thrombocytopenia can have serious complications.
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Causes
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Underlying conditions are often the main cause of thrombocytopenia. Causes can include feline leukemia or lymphoma, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, excessive blood loss from a hemorrhage or a failure of the bone marrow to produce new platelets.
Symptoms
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Symptoms of feline thrombocytopenia include bruises, sclera (red spots on the whites of the eyes), nosebleeds, lethargy, urinary bleeding, fever, heart murmur, excessive coughing or nasal mucus and, in severe cases, collapse.
Diagnosis
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Diagnosing thrombocytopenia involves a physical exam, blood tests, urinalysis, serum biochemistry tests, bone marrow or immune system tests and X-rays.
Treatment
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Treatment of the underlying condition is important to aid in treating thrombocytopenia. Options include platelet or blood transfusions, corticosteroids (to halt the destruction of platelets by the immune system) or antibiotics to treat bacterial infections such as ehrlichiosis.
Home Care
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Cats suffering from thrombocytopenia should be monitored. Activity should be limited to prevent injury such as bleeding or bruising until blood platelet levels return to normal.
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