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534429 
Journal Article 
Transfusion of blood and blood substitutes in the cat 
Weingart, C; Kohn, B 
2009 
54 
9 
502-+ 
German 
Transfusion of blood and blood substitutes in the cat Blood transfusions have become an important component of feline intensive medical and surgical care. The most common reason for transfusions is severe anaemia. The AB system with the blood groups A, B, and AB is the most important feline blood group system. In European and American short- and longhaired cats, the blood type A is predominant. In purebred cats, the frequency of blood group B varies. The third blood group AB is very rare. Recently, a new blood group has been described, the so-called Milk antigen. Cats possess, unlike dogs, naturally occurring antibodies against the blood type they are lacking. These alloantibodies are responsible for transfusion reactions. Donors should be healthy, adult, large in-house cats with no history of a former blood transfusion. Regular vaccination, endo- and ectoparasite control are important. After clinical examination, a CBC and clinical chemistry should be performed before blood donation. Donors have to be free of infectious diseases. Taking blood from cats (approx. 7 ml/kg) is best performed from the jugular vein after clipping and disinfection. Sedation is necessary in most cases. Due to their naturally occurring alloantibodies, cats with blood type A should only receive A-blood and cats with blood type B receive only B-blood. Type AB cats should receive AB- or A-blood, Crossmatching is performed to detect serological incompatibility outside the AB blood group system. Transfusion reactions are rare in cats and may be immunological or non-immunological. If a compatible donor is lacking, this is an indication for the use of Oxyglobin (R). This haemoglobin solution has a storage life of three years at room temperature and can be infused without blood typing. However, the administration of Oxyglobin (R) can lead to a life-threatening volume overload, especially in cats with cardiac disease. 
blood groups; blood transfusion; haemoglobin solution; Oxyglobin (R); oxygen-carrying solution; group system; clinical-use; b-blood; hemostatic disorders; non-pedigree; whole-blood; feline; ab; prevalence