Cats experience chronic renal failure (CRF) when their kidneys have deteriorated and can no longer process waste products or electrolytes. The kidneys are also responsible for stimulating the production of red blood cells and regulating blood pressure, so cats suffering from CRF can also become anemic and have difficulty maintaining blood pressure.
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Causes
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The most common cause of feline CRF is age. Most cats diagnosed with CRF are over 7 years old. Occasionally, cats can develop CRF if they are exposed to poisons or toxins, or have structural problems with their kidneys or chronic urinary obstructions.
Anemia
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Chronic renal failure decreases the production of erythropoietin (EPO), which is a hormone produced by the cat's kidneys that causes the bone marrow to create red blood cells. A decrease in red blood cells can cause anemia. Anemic cats may have pale or bluish-colored tongues, gums or nose pads. They may also be weak, breathe rapidly or seem less hungry.
Blood Transfusions
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Blood transfusions can ease the symptoms of anemia, and the results can last for four to five weeks, but they can be stressful for your cat and the results are not permanent. Cats have naturally occurring antibodies against the blood group they are lacking and, unlike humans, cats do not have a universal blood donor. If the wrong blood type is used for the donor blood, your cat can have a severe reaction to the transfusion.
Blood Types
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According to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, there are three feline blood types: type A, type B and type AB, which is rare. Most non-purebred cats in the United States are type A, but non-purebred cats that are type B are common in other parts of the world. Depending on the breed, purebred cats can be type A, type B or type AB.
It's best for a type A cat to receive type A blood and type B cats to receive type B blood. Type AB cats can receive blood from either type A or type B donors.
Transfusion Reaction
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Type B cats have strong antibodies against other blood types and may have an acute reaction to a transfusion from the wrong donor. Signs of a reaction include lethargy, cardiac arrhythmia, a slow heart rate, rapid breathing, vomiting, defecation and urination. A type B cat may die from an incompatible transfusion.
Type A cats have weaker antibodies than type B cats, so they will exhibit mild forms of rapid heart rate, rapid breathing and restlessness. However, the transfusion will be inefficient because the cat's antibodies will destroy the donor red blood cells.
Lesser Risks
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It is possible for your cat to become infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or feline leukemia (FeLV) from a blood transfusion, but the risk of this occurring is low because of the availability of FIV and FeLV diagnostic tests, and because it is standard practice for cats to be tested for these diseases before they are used as donors.
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