Thrombocytopathies in Cats
Thrombocytopathic animals are those which typically have normal platelet counts on examination, but have spontaneous or excessive bleeding due to a failure of the platelets to bind to each other, or clot normally. Thrombocytopathies are defined as disorders of the blood platelet and abnormal functioning of the platelets. Bleeding from the mucous membranes – nose, mouth ears, anus – is the most common sign. Thrombocytopathies may first become apparent in young animals when excessive bleeding occurs with the loss of baby teeth.
Thrombocytopathies can be acquired or hereditary; they affect the main functions of platelets: activation, adhesion and aggregation. That is, they lack the ability to group together and adhere to each other, an important function for sealing wounds. This can result in severe bleeding from even the smallest wound. Animals having a low blood platelet count with concurrent thrombocytopathia will bleed more excessively than expected for the existent platelet count. Any breed of cat can be affected by acquired thrombocytopathies.
Symptoms and Types
Spontaneous bleeding
Nosebleeds (epistaxis)
Bleeding is often from mucosal surfaces (nose, mouth, gums, etc.)
Prolonged bleeding in some animals during diagnostic or surgical procedures
Acquired thrombocytopathy
May occur in response to some drugs
Painkillers (e.g., aspirin), anesthetics
Antibiotics
Nonesteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Secondary to systemic disease
Kidney disease
Inflammation of the pancreas
Liver disease
Parasitic disease
Cancer
Hereditary thrombocytopathy
von Willebrand disease
Aggregation (platelet clumping) defect
Chediak-Higashi syndrome
Diagnosis
Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam on your cat after taking a full medical and background history, and a description of the onset of symptoms from you. Your veterinarian will order a biochemical profile, a complete blood count, a urinalysis and an electrolyte panel. The complete blood count may show a condition of anemia if bleeding has been severe. Platelet counts are often normal in cats with inherited thrombocytopathies.
A von Willebrand disease assay can be performed if your cat is suspected of having this disease. Platelet function testing can also be done in select laboratories. Coagulation tests (prothrombin time [PT] and activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT]) should be ordered to eliminate coagulopathy (a disease affecting the blood’s ability to clot) as a cause of the excessive bleeding.
Mucosal bleeding time can be measured by making a small incision on the inside of the cheek (buccal) in the mouth. The amount of blood and length of time it takes for the incision to be sealed with a clot of blood will either confirm or rule out a clotting disorder.
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platelet
A cell that aids in clotting
prothrombin
One of the proteins in plasma used for clotting
urinalysis
An in-depth examination of the properties of urine; used to determine the presence or absence of illness
pancreas
A gland that aids in both digestive and insulin functions
systemic
Something that is related to the whole body and not just one particular part or organ
epistaxis
A bloody nose
anemia
A condition of the blood in which normal red blood cell counts or hemoglobin are lacking.
anus
The end of the gastrointestinal tract; the opening at the end of the tract.
assay
A type of test that is used to count the number of organisms in a particular sample.
adhesion
Fibers that bond items together that would not normally be combined.
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