Iron deficiency anemia and seizure in a kitten

Document Type : Scientific report

Authors

1 Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Institute of Immunology: Laboratory Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria

3 Clinic for Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria

4 Division of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Intensive Care, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria

Abstract

The aim of this article was to describe the clinical management of a case with seizure, possibly due to
iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in a kitten. A 38-day-old female European shorthair cat was presented with
acute onset of impaired consciousness, seizures and lateralised upper motor neuron tetraparesis. Haematology results showed severe microcytic hypochromic anaemia with marked anisocytosis and thrombocytosis, while a low plasma iron concentration (<0.9 μmol/L) was the most remarkable biochemical alteration encountered. Iron deficiency anaemia was suspected and oral iron therapy was started together with supportive treatment. The cat responded to therapy and clinical signs started to improve on the second day and returned to normal eight days after referral to the clinic.

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