Feline Pancytopenia: Why cat owners need to be concerned

Feline pancytopenia is a rare disorder in which the number of all types of blood cells (white cells, red cells and platelets) is reduced. This is a very serious condition in cats and can be rapidly fatal. This condition is normally extremely rare however there has been a surge of such cases in 2021. The cause has not been identified however it is suspected that the increase in cases may be due to certain diets (see below).

Cases of severe Feline Pancytopenia are on the rise in cats across the country with 443 confirmed cases in the UK – and growing as stated by the Royal Veterinary College. Read on to discover how to recognise the symptoms, the causes, and how to treat this frightening disease.

What is Feline Pancytopenia?

Pancytopenia is a term that describes that a patient has low numbers of all cell types. When a cat is affected with pancytopenia they can have a combination of anaemia (low red cell numbers), leukopenia (low white cell numbers) and thrombocytopenia (low platelet numbers).

It can be caused by a number of factors from viral infection (eg FeLV or FIV or Feline Panleukopenia virus), toxins, immune-mediated or bone-marrow disease.

It is suspected that the new cause of severe panleukopenia is likely as a result of certain diets (see below) but the exact cause has not been identified.

What are the symptoms of severe feline pancytopenia?

The symptoms can vary from weakness and breathing issues due to anaemia, blood clotting problems due to low platelets or infections and vomiting and diarrhoea.

The main symptoms are listed below –

🔸 Weakness and sluggishness

🔸 Inappetence

🔸 Pale gums

🔸 Vomiting

🔸 Diarrhoea or melena (black tarry stools)

🔸 Bruising and bleeding

If your pet has any worrying signs and especially if they have consumed any of the implicated diets then please attend the surgery as soon as possible.

How can feline pancytopenia be diagnosed and treated?

A full clinical examination by a veterinary surgeon may alert a veterinary surgeon to the condition. A blood sample can easily provide a definitive diagnosis. Please inform your vet of any history of consuming any of the diets listed. The blood sample will show marked reductions in blood cells.

Immediate treatment is needed which may require fluid therapy, antibiotics and possibly a blood transfusion. The disease is severe and the outcome even with aggressive treatment is guarded.

Worried your cat may have feline pancytopenia?

The best advice would be to book an appointment with one of our vets as soon as possible. At DNA Vetcare, we will endeavour to keep updated and keep you updated on any developments regarding this worrying illness.

Details of possibly implicated diets

Fold Hill Food voluntarily recalled a selection of its hypoallergenic cat food products due to a potential link to Severe Feline Pancytopenia as reported by Which? These foods include brands from Applaws, AVA, Wilkos and Sainsbury’s.

Here is the current full list of cat foods that have been recalled following links with Severe Feline Pancytopenia:

🔸 Applaws Cat Dry Chicken 400g, 2.5kg and 7.5kg. Best before: all date codes

🔸 Applaws Cat Dry Chicken & Salmon 400g, 2.5kg and 7.5kg. Best before: all date codes

🔸 Applaws Kitten Dry Chicken 400g, 2.5kg and 7.5kg. Best before: all date codes

🔸 Applaws Cat Dry Chicken & Lamb 400g, 2.5kg and 7.5kg. Best before: all date codes

🔸 Applaws Cat Dry Chicken & Duck 400g, 2.5kg and 7.5kg. Best before: all date codes

🔸 Applaws Cat Dry Ocean Fish 350g, 1.8kg and 6kg. Best before: all date codes

🔸 Applaws Cat Dry Senior Chicken 400g, 2kg and 7.5kg. Best before: all date codes

🔸 By Sainsbury’s Hypoallergenic Recipe complete dry cat food with Salmon 1+ Years 800g. All batches and best before dates

🔸 By Sainsbury’s Hypoallergenic Recipe complete dry cat food with Chicken 1+ Years 800g. All batches and best before dates

🔸 AVA Adult Fish 2kg. All batches and best before dates

🔸 AVA Adult Mature Chicken 7+ 2kg and 4kg. All batches and best before dates

🔸 AVA Senior Chicken 12+ 2kg. All batches and best before dates

🔸 AVA Sensitive Skin & Stomach 1.5kg. All batches and best before dates

🔸 AVA Weight Management 1.5kg. All batches and best before dates

🔸 AVA Hairball 1.5kg. All batches and best before dates

🔸 AVA Oral Care 1.5kg. All batches and best before dates

🔸 AVA British Shorthair 1.5kg. All batches and best before dates

🔸 AVA Persian 1.5kg. All batches and best before dates AVA Maine Coon 1.5kg. All batches and best before dates

🔸 AVA Kitten Chicken 300g and 2kg. All batches and best before dates

🔸 AVA Adult Chicken 300g, 2kg and 4kg. All batches and best before dates

🔸 Wilko meaty feast cat rabbit/chicken/veg 950g. Item code 0267053

🔸 Wilko best salmon & tuna dry cat 800g. Item code 0463508

🔸 Wilko best beef & chicken dry cat 800g. Item code 0463507

🔸 Wilko cat food active health salmon 800g. Item code 0470811

🔸 Wilko active health cat food chicken 2kg. Item code 0481421

🔸 Wilko active health cat food salmon 2kg. Item code 0481422

🔸 Wilko dry cat food active health 7+ 800g. Item code 0470808

🔸 Wilko cat food active health hairball control 800g. Item code 0470809

🔸 Wilko dry cat food active health 800g. Item code 0470807

🔸 Wilko cat food active health chicken 800g. Item code 0470810

What if cat food bought from the above retailers has been recalled?

It can be caused by a number of factors from viral infection (eg FeLV or FIV or Feline Panleukopenia virus), toxins, immune-mediated or bone-marrow disease.

It is suspected that the new cause of severe panleukopenia is likely as a result of certain diets (see below) but the exact cause has not been identified.

WARNING: If your cat has collapsed, or exhibits any signs of bleeding from the gums, eyes, mouth, anus or vagina, or bruising – contact our Vetcare team immediately on 0208 674 3525.  Our professional team is on-hand to advise you on the next steps regarding your cat’s well-being.