Anemia em felinos: 498 casos

Abstract

Anaemia is one of the main hematologic alterations found in dogs and cats. Anaemia should be understood as a clinical sign, or a syndrome, since deficiencies in oxygen and carbon dioxide transport leads to multiple systemic signs. Although some studies about have been carried in domestic animals, few focused in incidence, causes and severity of anaemia in the cat. This study aimed to classify anaemia in felines referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; identify anaemia and evaluate its indices and correlate with sex, age and clinical condition; identify physiopathological alterations in anaemic felines; correlate the anaemia severity with etiopathogenesis and determine the relationship between clinical signs and established diagnosis. The study was retrospective and the information were obtained from the clinical records and hemogram requisition form, from November 2008 to October 2016. 4108 hemograms were analysed, and 498 (12,2%) showed anaemia. In regard to 55,42% (276/498) were considered mild, 31,53% (157/498) moderate, 8,23% (41/498) severe, 4,82% (24/498) intensively severe. Non-regenerative anaemia represented 80, 13% (399/498). The age of the cats ranged from one to 240 months (mean of 65 months). In regard of gender, 54, 62% (272/498) of anaemic cats were males, and 21, 89% (109/498) were spayed. Body condition score of anaemic cats were considered 6-7 (good, without weight excess) for 30, 9% (154/498), 4-5 for 19,4% (97/498), 3 for 12,2% (61/498), 1-2 for 4, 4% (20/498), and 2% (10/498) of the anaemic cats were overweighed, score 8-9. In 30,9% (154/498) there was no information regarding body condition. Most recorded clinical signs were: anorexia, 15,8% (79/498), progressive weight loss, 7,4% (37/498), emesis, 7,2% (36/498). According to the DAMNITV classification, trauma was the most prevalent cause with 23,09% (115/498), inflammation with 21,89% (109/498), non-hematopoietic neoplasia, 11,24% (56/498) and metabolic disease, 10,24% (51/498). Anaemia was mentioned in only 2,6% (13) clinical records of anemic animals. The identification and correct classification of anaemia is a valuable help to determine the primary cause, treatment choice and to establish prognosis.