Thus, a cat with both a high MCV and low MCHC has red blood cells that are larger and have less hemoglobin in them than normal, suggesting the presence of many reticulocytes, i.e., a regenerative anemia. Reticulocytes also have less hemoglobin in them, which will lower the MCHC. Reticulocytes are larger than mature red blood cells, and this is reflected in the MCV a cat with a high MCV has larger than normal red blood cells. These reticulocytes aren’t fully mature, but they can still carry oxygen.Ī non-regenerative anemia is an anemia in which the bone marrow is not responding to the blood loss and not releasing reticulocytes in an attempt to replace the missing red blood cells. The first step in trying to elucidate the cause of a cat’s anemia is to determine whether the anemia is “regenerative” or “non-regenerative.” A regenerative anemia is one in which the bone marrow responds to the anemia by releasing immature red blood cells, called reticulocytes, into the bloodstream. Evaluation of MCV and MCHC can give strong hints as to the possible cause of the anemia. The MCV is a measure of how large or small the red blood cells are, while the MCHC assesses the amount of hemoglobin in the red cells. Other important parameters on the CBC are the MCV (mean cell volume) and MCHC (mean cell hemoglobin concentration). First and foremost, the CBC measures the hematocrit, an assessment of the severity of the anemia. This test measures several important parameters, and provides both diagnostic and prognostic information. The most important test to run when assessing an anemic cat is the complete blood count (CBC). One particular splenic tumor - a hemangiosarcoma - frequently bleeds into the abdomen. An enlarged spleen felt during physical exam might indicate a splenic tumor. Muffled heart or lung sounds may suggest bleeding into the pericardium (the membranous sac around the heart) or the chest cavity. The presence of a fever may indicate an infection or inflammation. Finding Possible Causesįindings during a physical examination can provide valuable information regarding potential causes for the anemia. Middle-aged cats are most likely to develop immune-mediated anemia, while older cats have a higher likelihood of developing kidney disease or cancer, two common causes of anemia. Young cats - with their small blood volume - are more susceptible to blood-sucking internal parasites like hookworms, or external parasites, like fleas. Although cats have fewer breed-related red blood cell disorders in comparison to dogs, some Abyssinians and Somalis have been reported to have excessively fragile red blood cells, making them prone to anemia. Firstly, attention should be paid to the breed and age of the cat.
By approaching an anemic cat in a systematic fashion, a definitive diagnosis can be achieved in most cases.
It is a laboratory finding - not a diagnosis.
The task of making a diagnosis now begins.Īnemia is a decreased amount of red blood cells.
This finding immediately sets off alarm bells in my head: This cat is anemic. Occasionally, however, I’ll note with dismay that the gums are pale, or even white. I expect to find nice pink gums, and most of the time, I do. Like every veterinarian, I evaluate the mouth and gums of my patient whenever I’m performing a physical examination.
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