What should I do if my cat has mild anemia? Is there a home remedy?

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.

No, that is very unlikely. A severe infestation of fleas can cause anemia, and if Corbin had a number of fleas prior to using the flea and tick treatments that could lead to the anemia. Anemia can also be caused by kidney failure and cancer, both of which are unfortunately common in senior cats. I would have Corbin seen by a vet for a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, complete blood count, and urinalysis. The cause of the anemia needs to be diagnosed so he can be treated.

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.

While kittens can take vitamin supplements they shouldn’t need one if they have been fed a commercial diet. The most common cause of anemia in a kitten would be parasites or other infectious causes - I would recommend having your kittens examined by a vet who could identify the cause and prescribe medication.

The amount of time it takes for an animal to recover from anemia depends on the cause. There are multiple types of anemia and many causes of anemia. Infection, decreased production, destruction and hemorrhage. Diagnosis of anemia can sometimes be a bit tricky. However, that being said I would at least check for some of the most common infectious diseases that lead to anemia. There are infectious disease blood panels I can be sent out to the laboratory that test for a multitude of infectious organisms that can potentially cause anemia. If an abdominal ultrasound has not been performed, I would consider having this done as part of a full workup as well as a urinalysis. Without seeing her for an examination and not having the blood work in front of me, it is difficult to guide you in the exact direction that you should go. These are just some suggestions four cases that I commonly see. A reticulocyte count may also help in ruling out causes. A reticulocyte count tells us if the anemia is regenerative or non regenerative which helps us rule out certain causes of the anemia. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me with any other questions or concerns that you may have. If you would like to talk more in detail about her case so that I may look at blood work and other lab results I am available via text or phone console if needed.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mellow. This would only help if the anemia is due to an iron deficiency. This is not that common though. Most cases are due to an immune mediated disease. Kittens though can be affected with parasites leading to anemia. It is best to work with his veterinarian to determine the source of the anemia so that most appropriate treatment can be started. I hope this information helps!

The pale gums do signify anemia that could be related to kidney disease, cancer, bone marrow disease and other significant issues as well. I think your ideas are good and could be beneficial although they do not address the underlying problem. However good nutrition is always a good thing. Cats that are hard to handle are challenging and diagnostics are the only way to know what is the cause of the anemia. Certainly it is concerning that she did not do well with sedation. You may contact her vet and ask about an option of an oral light sedative called Gabapentin that tends to work well for aggressive cats without the side effects of stronger sedatives. It doesn’t work for every cat but I find it to be effective more often than not. Your vet will decide if this is an option based upon your pet’s overall health and previous medical history. I hope this helps!