How Blood Transfusions Saved Two Very Poorly Cats.

Blood transfusions have long been an important part of veterinary medicine, particularly for dogs. However, transfusing cats presents some unique challenges. Careful blood typing and close monitoring are essential to help make these life-saving procedures as safe as possible.

Recently, we treated two very poorly cats, Dobby and Violet, who both arrived suffering from severe anaemia. Their stories highlight just how critical prompt diagnosis and treatment can be — and how remarkable the results of a blood transfusion can be.

Why is blood typing so important in cats?

Unlike dogs, cats naturally develop antibodies against certain blood types during the first few months of life. This means that a cat can experience a serious transfusion reaction even if it has never received a blood transfusion before.

Cats have three main blood types: A, B and AB. Type A cats generally have lower levels of antibodies against type B blood, whereas type B cats often have strong antibodies against type A blood. Giving incompatible blood can therefore cause a potentially life-threatening reaction.

For this reason, cats must have their blood type checked before every transfusion, including their first. Blood typing is a vital step in selecting compatible blood and reducing the risk of complications.

Certain infectious diseases can also affect a cat’s red blood cells and complicate the picture, making thorough investigation particularly important.

To learn more about feline blood typing, visit the Pet Blood Bank UK website.

Why might a cat need a blood transfusion?

There are three broad reasons why a cat may become severely anaemic and require a blood transfusion.

1. Blood loss

Significant blood loss can occur following trauma, including road traffic accidents, or as a result of parasites, bleeding disorders or problems with blood clotting.

For example, exposure to certain rodenticides can interfere with normal blood clotting, potentially leading to severe internal bleeding.

Cats that have been injured, have a heavy parasite burden or are experiencing unexplained bleeding may therefore need urgent assessment and, in some cases, a transfusion.

2. Destruction of red blood cells

Sometimes, red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them. This is known as *haemolytic anaemia*.

In cats, possible causes include infectious diseases such as *Mycoplasma haemofelis*, a blood-borne organism that can cause feline infectious anaemia. Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and other underlying diseases may also contribute to anaemia.

Toxic substances can cause serious problems, too. Everyday items that may seem harmless to us, including onions, garlic and paracetamol (acetaminophen), can be highly toxic to cats.

Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may involve supportive care, appropriate medication and, in severe cases, a blood transfusion.

3. Reduced production of red blood cells

Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow. If the body cannot make enough new cells to replace those that are naturally lost, anaemia can develop.

This is known as *non-regenerative anaemia*. Possible causes include chronic kidney disease, certain cancers, bone marrow disorders and some viral infections, including feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

These conditions may be more commonly encountered in older cats, although cats of any age can be affected.

Dobby and Violet: two cats in desperate need of help …

We recently saw two cats whose presentations were particularly concerning.

Dobby, just 15 months old, was brought in after her owner reported that she had fallen. Violet, aged five, was unable to walk properly and kept collapsing.

Both cats were weak, had very pale gums and had sunken-looking eyes — worrying signs that prompted us to investigate urgently.

We took blood samples from both cats to assess a range of health indicators. Of particular concern was a measurement called the packed cell volume (PCV).

PCV tells us what proportion of the blood volume is made up of red blood cells. These cells contain haemoglobin, which carries oxygen around the body. When the PCV falls dramatically, the body struggles to deliver enough oxygen to its tissues.

A typical PCV reference range for cats is approximately 30–45%, although the precise range can vary between laboratories.

– Low PCV: Indicates anaemia and a reduced proportion of red blood cells.
– High PCV: May indicate dehydration or, less commonly, an abnormally increased red blood cell concentration.

Dobby’s PCV fell to an alarming 5%, while Violet’s was just 7%. Both values were dangerously low compared with the expected range.

At these levels, urgent treatment was essential.

A race against time

Although we had not yet established the exact cause of either cat’s anaemia, we suspected that red blood cell destruction was playing a significant role.

We decided that blood transfusions were a critical part of their immediate treatment while further investigations continued.

Both cats were started on medication, including corticosteroids to help suppress an inappropriate immune response that may have been contributing to red blood cell destruction. They were also given doxycycline, an antibiotic used to treat certain infections, including Mycoplasma haemofelis.

Because feline blood compatibility is so important, we typed each cat’s blood before obtaining a suitable blood product.

The transfusions were administered gradually over several hours, with a dedicated veterinary nurse monitoring each cat closely throughout the procedure. Careful observation allowed us to watch for any signs of a transfusion reaction and assess how they were responding to treatment.

Once a blood product has been prepared for use, it must be handled and administered according to strict storage and safety protocols. Any remaining product that cannot safely be retained must be discarded.

The remarkable difference a transfusion can make

The photographs tell the rest of the story.

Dobby’s photographs were taken three weeks after her transfusion, when she returned for repeat blood tests to check whether her red blood cell levels had remained stable. It was encouraging to see her back for that important follow-up assessment.

Violet’s photographs were taken during her transfusion — and they capture a particularly memorable moment.

Halfway through the procedure, Violet began to feel noticeably better. She started rolling around, playing and showing an interest in food again.

Seeing such a change in a cat who had arrived unable to walk properly and repeatedly collapsing was a wonderful reminder of how important timely treatment can be.

A transfusion does not necessarily resolve the underlying cause of anaemia, so continued investigation, treatment and follow-up are essential. However, it can provide vital support while the veterinary team works to address the problem.

A huge thank you to Dobby and Violet’s owners

We are incredibly grateful to both owners for seeking veterinary care and giving their cats the chance to recover.

Dobby and Violet’s cases are a reminder that anaemia can be life-threatening, sometimes developing with surprisingly subtle signs before a cat becomes critically unwell.

If your cat seems unusually weak, has pale gums, collapses or is struggling to walk, seek urgent veterinary advice.

Blood transfusions require careful preparation, compatible blood products and close monitoring, but in the right circumstances, they can make a life-saving difference.

We’re delighted to have been able to help Dobby and Violet — two very special cats whose stories show just how much a timely transfusion can matter.

When you take on a pet they quickly become part of the family and you want to keep them happy and healthy and part of the family for as long as possible,

This dog is Calimay who was a rescue. The top photo shows her around 4 years of age. Fast forward and the second photo is her at 14 and a half- bet you are thinking doesn’t she looking amazing and what if we said the photo is taken after her walk up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) wow even more amazing but what if we said that day was to celebrate her going into remission 15 months after being diagnosed with lymphoma a blood and lymph node cancer.

Calimay is a fantastic success story for the practice and whereas many practices shy away from cancer and offering treatment we are proud to say we didn’t. Working with experts in their field we could provide on site recommendations to giving the chemotherapy and were able to provide the majority of life saving treatment at Mochdre Vets.

It should be noted that Cali did experience treatment-related side effects. However, these were successfully managed through inpatient hospitalisation when required or with close support and guidance provided to the owners for home-based care. This approach allowed the adverse effects to be effectively controlled, even when they persisted for several days.

Although we don’t know how long Calimay will stay in remission we already have protocols in place if she comes out of remission.

So far we are talking 15 months which is almost 9 years in doggy years which is definitely worth the chance and although we can’t every dog into remission we are proud to offer service that can hopefully prolong the life span of animals with cancer.

From the whole team its been a privilege to get Calimay to this point and with her dedicated owners feel we were all a team.

A few months ago, the Welsh Mountain Zoo sadly lost Aranya, a female spider monkey, who passed away suddenly. A post-mortem revealed she had suffered from a perforated ulcer. So when their male, Smokey, began vomiting, it understandably caused a lot of concern. We were very pleased to be involved in his care and were able to get him examined with a CT scan. Fortunately, the results showed a severe gastroenteritis rather than something more serious. With treatment, Smokey has made a strong recovery and is now back on display, doing well.

From our perspective, being able to CT scan Smokey brought many advantages.

Firstly, the procedure was very quick, which meant Smokey was only asleep for a short time — something that carries obvious benefits for his safety and recovery.

Secondly, the scan provided us with an incredibly detailed and definitive diagnosis. We were able to rule out tumours, foreign bodies, and even ulcers. This allowed us to manage Smokey medically without the need for surgery. Operations in spider monkeys are always complex, and in Smokey’s case, there was an added concern: during the COVID lockdowns, he became stressed without visitors and pulled fur from his arm, so having a healing wound could have been a real temptation for him.

Thirdly, the process caused minimal stress. Smokey was darted, anaesthetised quickly, and cared for using our ambulance’s anaesthetic facilities alongside the CT scanner. By the same afternoon, he was safely back in his pen and eating again.

Finally, it was a real privilege for our team to be part of his care. Jess Nettleton, our Head Nurse, monitored the anaesthetic, while Deputy Head Nurse Robi McAffrey led the CT scan. We believe Smokey may now be the only red-faced spider monkey in the UK, which makes us fairly confident in saying we are among the very few teams to have ever performed a CT scan on a spider monkey!

A Devastating Turn

Sam, a spirited 7-year-old cocker spaniel, was living his best life, adventuring through mountain trails and basking in the great outdoors. But everything changed when he suddenly lost the ability to stand on his front legs, experiencing unbearable pain without an obvious cause.

A Sudden Emergency

Sam was rushed to us as an emergency case, where his condition rapidly worsened. Paralysis spread to his back legs, his breathing became strained, and his discomfort was evident. The veterinary and rehabilitation team immediately initiated a thorough assessment, suspecting a neurological or spinal issue. To pinpoint the cause, Sam was rushed to our in-house CT scanner and within minutes the scan was completed and the images sent to the Radiologist for interpretation and diagnosis within 4 hours.

The Diagnosis: Spinal Compression

The CT scan revealed a severe compression on Sam’s spinal cord in his neck region. As seen on the images the material within the red circle is from a ruptured spinal disc. This has entered the spinal column, causing spinal compression which is a time-sensitive condition. The longer the pressure on the spine remains, the more damage it can cause—possibly leading to permanent paralysis. Sam’s case was urgent, and the decision was made to transfer him to Chester Gates Referral Hospital for immediate treatment.

A Critical Transfer

Transporting Sam safely was paramount. He was carefully stabilized with pain medication and securely stretchered to prevent any further spinal damage. A veterinary nurse and rehabilitation team member accompanied him in our ambulance, ensuring his condition remained stable en route.

Meanwhile, the CT images were sent ahead to Chester Gates, the quality of the images were to such a good standard and level of detail that the specialist surgical team were able to use them to formulate a precise treatment plan. This allowed them to make adjustments to the surgical approach, ensuring the most effective spinal decompression procedure. Enabling the specialist team to view these images and plan whilst we were in transit allowed Sam to go straight into surgery on arrival, reducing the time of the compression and improving Sam’s chance of recovery.

Emergency Surgery and Immediate Relief

Upon reaching Chester Gates, Sam immediately underwent the emergency spinal decompression surgery. Surgeons removed significant amounts of blood and disc material that had been pressing on his spinal cord. The operation successfully alleviated the pressure, bringing Sam much-needed relief. His breathing stabilized, his neck regained some mobility, and his pain became more manageable.

Despite the success of the procedure, post surgery Sam remained paralyzed in all four limbs and required catheterization due to loss of bladder control which is quite common for this type of spinal injury. After two days of intensive monitoring, he was stable enough to return home, with strict post-surgery care instructions emphasizing cage rest and pain management.

The Road to Recovery: Rehabilitation

The road to recovery wasn’t easy, but Sam had a dedicated team working with him every step of the way. The veterinary team has been instrumental in managing Sam’s case post surgery when complications arose. The rehabilitation team was involved from the start, offering advice to Sam’s owners on how to adapt their home to better suit his needs. They also provided a personalized rehabilitation program, which included physiotherapy exercises for the family to perform at home, as well as massage and laser treatment to help reduce pain, swelling, and muscle tension. His owners have also been extremely committed throughout his treatment and working hard with him between his sessions.

As soon as Sam was able to stand, hydrotherapy became a pivotal part of his recovery. Underwater treadmill (UWTM) therapy played a crucial role in helping him regain his natural gait while minimizing stress on his body. While he initially showed delayed reflexes in his hind legs, consistent therapy yielded noticeable improvements. His left hind leg, weaker than the right, gradually regained strength with targeted exercises and weekly rehabilitation sessions.

Steady Progress

Thanks to consistent weekly rehabilitation sessions, including underwater treadmill therapy and laser treatments, Sam’s condition continued to improve. His hind limb muscle mass, which had been 3 cm smaller on his left leg, is now only 1 cm different from the right. Most importantly, Sam’s personality began to shine through once again. Though he’s not quite back to his mountain adventures, he’s slowly regaining his strength and mobility.

Now, Sam has advanced to the pool, a crucial step in restoring joint flexibility and further strengthening his hind limbs. His recovery, while ongoing, is a testament to his resilience, the unwavering support of his owners, and the dedication of his veterinary and rehabilitation team.

Looking Toward the Future

Sam’s journey from paralysis to recovery is a testament to resilience, expert veterinary & rehabilitation care, and the unwavering support of his loving family. Keep going, Sam—you’ve come so far!

As the New Year is upon us, we would like to share and end of year success story that we hope everyone will carry with them into 2025. Throughout the year, we have helped pets that have ingested something they shouldn’t have from chocolate to socks and everything in between, including a fish hook!
On a beautiful weekend morning when the sun is out, what better thing to do in North Wales than go for a long walk on the beach with your beloved dog. We all love watching our dogs running carefree… until they catch the smell of something… and the next thing we know they have picked up an offending object and swallowed it before we can get to them! Even the best trained pooches can fall victim to foreign body ingestion. This, unfortunately, is what happened to Tia and her owners when she found a fish hook and swallowed it in seconds. Luckily for her and after realising there was no way of getting the hook out safely themselves, her owners acted quickly and brought her straight to us! Tia was feeling quite sorry for herself when she arrived and was in obvious discomfort. After safely sedating her, x-rays of her head and neck were taken, revealing exactly where the culprit was! The fish hook had become lodged in her oesophagus. Specialist care was needed to remove the fish hook by endoscope, so we contacted a referral hospital that was able to take and treat Tia the very same day!

She was back home quicker than you could say “Let’s go fishing!” and has recovered superbly.
We understand that it is difficult to keep our pets safe and prevent them from eating things they shouldn’t. Even the best trained dogs can still end up eating things they shouldn’t, and we are here to help when accidents happen. The only way to ensure that we can keep our animals safe is by storing foods out of reach and by properly disposing of rubbish, especially in public places where owners take their dogs for walks. If you are concerned that something similar may happen to your pet, we are happy to advise you on different ways you can keep them safe.

There was suspicion that Rex had been playing with a stick and we thought that was how the injury was caused. We needed to explore the wound to see where it went and what damage had been done. It was a complete surprise when we found this still in the wound.

No wonder he was so uncomfortable. We suspected that Rex had landed on the stick with force and as the stick was wet and rotten it had snapped. This left us with other worries how far had the stick gone, what actual damage had it done and were there any other bits of stick present. Any little splinters could cause future problems. Thankfully after flushing the wound continuously for several minutes we able to perform a CT scan. The results were excellent and exactly what we hoped for. We were able to rule out any damage or any lingering pieces.

And in case you want to know what the specialist saw on the CT?

There is a poorly defined region of hypo attenuation and focal swelling within the root of the tongue on midline (Figure 1, red arrowheads). Numerous small gas foci are present within the tongue and geniohyoid/mylohyoid muscles with subjective enlargement and presumed contrast enhancement of rostral aspect of the layer. There is fluid accumulation in the le retropharyngeal space and overlying subcutaneous space (Figure 2, green arrowheads). Rostrally, numerous small gas foci are seen between the le aspect of the tongue and digastricus muscle (Figure 3, yellow arrowheads)

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition where the cartilage in the affected joint deteriorates, leading to pain and lameness. This can be especially debilitating for dogs. Stem cell therapy is a novel and cutting-edge treatment that is showing increasing effectiveness in combating osteoarthritis.

What are stem cells?

Stem cell therapy is relatively new in both veterinary and human medicine. However, its use for treating osteoarthritis (OA) is more advanced, especially in cats and dogs, where arthritis is very common. It is estimated that 20% of dogs suffer from OA, and globally, tens of thousands of dogs have been treated with stem cells. In successful cases, the stem cells are injected into the joints, alleviating pain and allowing pets to walk without lameness.

How do stem cells work?

The process involves taking a small fat sample from your pet under general anaesthesia, from which stem cells are isolated and cultured into millions of cells. These cultured stem cells are then returned to your vet for injection into the arthritic joints. Additionally, some cells are stored frozen for future use, ensuring they are always available if needed.

Stem cells offer natural anti-inflammatory pain relief for your dog, with noticeable effects within a week to 10 days after injection. These benefits include improved mobility, reduced stiffness, and pain-free movement. The relief typically lasts for a few months and can last for up to a year, after which a follow-up injection may be necessary. Following stem cell treatment, dogs can often live pain-free with reduced or even no medication for an extended period of their lives.

Is it safe?

Yes, the stem cells are isolated from the same dog, making the procedure safe and eliminating the risk of rejection or adverse reactions. However, there may be risks associated with the injection process itself, and pet owners should discuss these potential risks with their veterinary surgeon.

If you want to know more about stem cell please visit The Veterinary Tissue Bank

Testimonial from Brody’s mum and dad …

Brody is now 2 days post stem cell injections and he is happy and his usual cheeky self! He’s just having short lead walks to help the stem cells settle and do their job.

Brody was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and elbow dysplasia at 8 months old. At the time we were told it was so severe that if we did nothing, he’d be lucky to get to 6 years old. Last month we celebrated his 11th birthday! He’s been having stem cell therapy for about 5 years and it’s been truly life changing for him. It gives him the ability to be active again and enjoy life pain free.

We want to say a massive thanks to everyone at Mochdre Vets for looking after him so well and for being able to carry on this amazing treatment for him.

Debbie, Phil & Brody

In a literal sense it means Abnormal development

Dys – abnormal, impaired, difficult,

Plasia – from Greek plasis a moulding or formation, from plassein to mould

But what does to a pet? sadly it can men a lifetime of pain and difficulty with normal movement.

With our CT scanner we have been lucky enough to actually see a four view picture and explain exactly how this condition becomes a problem. We were asked to CT scan a 5 year old labrador that had suddenly gone lame.

These are the pictures and explanation oooo fancy but what does it actually mean. Well Sadly it means that the dog in this case has an elbow that works as a mortar and pestle as the fragments rub in the joint. The word incongruity means the normal joint does not sit in the correct location and as the CT defines in this case is moderately out of place. Therefore as you can imagine this is a disease process that will progress.

The bad news is that well as elbows animals can get dysplaias in many areas but also most predominantly the hips. Factors such as excessive growth rate, types of exercise, improper weight, and unbalanced nutrition can magnify this genetic predisposition. Although there are some good breeders that check the disease state of hips and elbows and how likely it is to be passed on to future offspring it is not compulsory and therefore in buying a puppy you may not know how bad its joints are going to be as the disease process manifests as they get older and bigger

The good news For the dog in the scan we sought advice from specialists. In some case surgery is an option but was though not to be the best case here. The great news was that all advice given were things Mochdre Vets could offer. The best news though was that we implemented the advice and we had reports of an amazing response with the odg being able to return to exericse and enjoy his life.

This is the advice from the specialists

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT: It would be important to prevent Milo from getting overweight as this would put more pressure and cause more inflammation on his abnormal joints. It he was already overweight, then I would recommend he loses weight.

ANALGESICS: Prescription of NSAIDs for at least 3-4 weeks initially would be recommended. You could add other drugs, such as gabapentin, paracetamol (pardale), amantadine or amitriptyline to see if he responds. Galliprant, which has a different mechanism of action than NSAIDs could be tried to see if it is effective, although generally this is not as effective as NSAIDs. Librela could also be beneficial for long-term management of OA.

NUTRACEUTICALS: I would recommend Milo is prescribed joint supplements containing omega 3 fatty acids as they have been reported to clinically help dogs with osteoarthritis. The use of cannabinoids could also be helpful in the management of chronic pain, although I do not have experience with this therapy.

EXERCISE MODIFICATION: Milo´s joints are not normal and the osteoarthritis will progress with time. Although exercise is beneficial for the correct nutrition and movement of the joints, high impact activities, such as jumping, running or playing with other dogs, are detrimental to degenerated joints. I would recommend he is kept active, but mostly with low impact activities, such as walking on the lead and on soft/padded surfaces. We generally start with 5 minute slow walks on the lead, 2 – 3 times a day, for 2 weeks. Then, and provided he is improving, the length of his walks could be progressively increased by 5 minutes every 2 weeks. The length of the walks would need to be adjusted to his tolerance and decreased if he becomes stiff.

PHYSIOTHERAPY: Leo would benefit from physiotherapy and hydrotherapy performed by a certified physiotherapist to improve his clinical signs. Laser therapy and acupuncture have also shown positive effects on osteoarthritic and painful joints so it would be worth trying to see if he responds. Hydrotherapy is a very helpful therapy to try to build up the atrophied muscles, maintain/improve joint range of motion, relax the musculature, etc. while not supporting 100% of the weight through the joints. This may also help him do some exercise and be less depressed. We just need to find what works for Leo. Regenerative medicine with intraarticular injections of platelet rich plasma or stem cell therapy could also be considered. Unfortunately although the use of MSC is a promising therapy for OA, results from different studies are contradicting. Generally evidence would say dogs may improve with the IA administration of MSC and/or PRP, but in very degenerated joints, this beneficial effect may not be that evident. Other IA injections could be tried, such as arthramid vet. I generally leave IA injection of steroids as a last resort, as this would improve the clinical signs but could also cause more joint degeneration.

One of our most positive stories during lockdown was meeting Gloria.  Gloria is a beautiful black cat that was brought in as a stray by the RSPCA. Even to the untrained eye Gloria’s back leg was swinging freely in the wind after she suffered a fracture.

She was called Gloria after the song I will survive …

“I will survive
Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I’ll stay alive
I’ve got all my life to live”

This summed up Gloria no matter how much pain she must have been in she just wanted a big cuddle, some fuss and some food and was just adorable.

Being a charity the RSPCA was limited to what funds they had available for Gloria so it was agreed that we would take her on and be responsible for her treatment. Thankfully we have a good relationship with the RSPCA and they were on board so we arranged for her leg to be fixed. Here are her before and after x-rays.

We kept Glroia at the practice for 6 weeks to let the leg heal so she became a great friend to the staff constantly miaowing for attention when they walked past. Thankfully she had no complications so at 6 weeks we re x-rayed her, spayed her, microchipped and vaccinated her.  We have two good frrends of the practice Katy and Petra and they had a suggestion of who would Gloria a fantastic new home and she was off.

It was great to be able to help Gloria in such a tough time as corona but Gloria showed us that even when things aren’t going your way being happy and making the most of life gets you a long way!

EVERYONE KNOWS FROZEN AND HOW ELSA SANG LET IT GO WELL THIS ELSA SANG EGGGGG IT GOOOOOOO!!!

Elsa is a four year old gecko and her mum noticed that she was putting on weight even though she wouldn’t eat her food. When Elsa was examined it was seen that she was physically swollen in her abdomen and an x-ray confirmed why. As you can see from the x ray and the invert contrast Elsa appeared to be egg bound.

It could easily be seen from the x-rays the area that appeared to be egg shaped was far bigger than the area of the pelvis that Elsa could pass.   We did have medical options which were not successful so we were left with one option to spay her.

I had never spayed a gecko before so I was honest with the owner and said I would give it ago – hey, I never spayed a cat until I did my first one so after a lot of research, advice from peers and even old fashioned book reading we were ready.

Thankfully the op went well amazingly Elsa had four large eggs removed and she was spayed so hopefully no future problems. After the spay we weighed the eggs and they were 1.6g and Elsa weighed 3.4g so nearly half her body weight in eggs (see in the above photo how skinny Elsa was and then swollen in her belly).

From the x-ray I was only expecting to remove two large eggs so had a surprise when there were more of them.

The eggs are outlined in blue (I know who knew the other side was worse!). The shaded yellow part is Elsa’s lungs which meant that not only were they occupying all her abdomen meaning she didn’t want to eat they were starting to compress her lungs so she was struggling to breath.

As more of Elsa’s reserves would go into her eggs it was only ever going to get harder for her.

We don’t make any claims to be exotic experts but we do believe every animal deserves a chance and will happily work with you to provide the best for your creature great or small. If you would like any advice you are welcome to contact us