My cat has anemia. Can EPO injections help and are they worth it?

Using EPO is definitely an option since your cat is so anemic. Over time, some cats will develop resistance but I have had good success with using EPO. Talk to your vet about the exact protocol and if he/she thinks it is an appropriate option for your cat. I am not sure of his kidney values but it definitely might be the best option to improve his anemia and increase his quality of life.

Hi there. Unfortunately, it's not likely that liver or any other food will make much difference in his red blood cell count. Anemia in chronic kidney disease is due to the body not producing erythropoietin, which is the hormone that drives the production of new red blood cells. This type of anemia can be treated with erythropoeitin injections, so I would recommend talking to your veterinarian about this option. I have had several kitties with chronic kidney problems and anemia who responded well to this treatment.

I am sorry to hear about your dog! I am attaching an article here with information on erythropoietin for you http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1728 We most commonly use this drug in patients who are anemic due to chronic kidney failure. We don't often see an allergic (such as anaphylactic) reaction to the injection but the body can develop antibodies against the drug and this leads to destruction of the erythropoietin and can cause increase of anemia, so the dog must be monitored closely while administering the drug to be sure this isn't happening.

If the anemia is from parasites then his bone marrow should make new red blood cells and the anemia will resolve with time. If he is severely anemic he could die before this can happen. If the anemia is from a viral infection or cancer then even a transfusion would be a temporary fix. You can continue to keep him warm and tempt him to eat, but if he is having trouble breathing or seems to be suffering euthanasia would be the most humane option.

Hi there. To answer your question, we would need quite a bit more information - such as the specific condition that caused the anemia originally, and copies of his lab results and dates of testing so that we can see what kind of "up and down" values you're talking about. Feel free to post again with more details - we would be happy to try and help.

Poor Newt! Ultrasounds are wonderful tests that are non-invasive that can give you a ton of information as to what is going on internally. It may be that that is the best next step for her to figure out what is going on. I would also make sure that you have tested her for feline leukemia as well as FIV to rule those out as causes for her anemia. Transfused blood doesn't last as long in the body as the cats normal blood, so it is not uncommon to have the red cell count drop a little. Depending on how her numbers were before and where she is now, it may or may not be a significant drop in her numbers. I am more concerned that she is not feeling well again. I think more tests are warranted to figure out what is going on. However, if you are unable to afford the tests or do not want to pursue the next recommended step, I would talk to your vet about doing a trial of treatments to see if Newt improves based on what your vet thinks is going on. There are risks with this as we often are guessing as to what is going on, but sometimes it is what we have to do. Occasionally we don't get to the bottom of what the underlying cause is exactly, but supportive care can help significantly and these animals will improve. Good luck! I hope Newt starts improving soon!

Goodness, I am so sorry for your loss. Based on this bloodwork and on what you’re telling me, I think that euthanasia was a very reasonable and humane decision. Not only were the red cells low, but the white blood cells and platelets as well, and there isn’t any evidence of the body trying to “regenerate” these cells on the bloodwork you’ve attached. A transfusion may have given a temporary “Bandaid” to the situation, but I’m afraid that a cure was likely impossible. I know how difficult these decisions are. Please rest assured that you did the best thing for your kitty. I’m afraid continuing to treat would likely have only prolonged your cat’s suffering. You have my sincere sympathy for your loss. Please let us know if you have any other questions we can help you with.