Rare procedure: Cat on the brink of death saved by blood donation from a dog

A two-year-old cat from South London, Rollo, was saved by an emergency blood donation from a dog after his red blood cell count dropped to seven percent due to anemia from a flea infestation. Veterinarian Paige Walker used her personal dog as a donor, and the rare procedure succeeded.

A two-year-old cat from South London, named Rollo, was saved by an emergency blood donation from a dog after reaching a critical condition due to severe anemia caused by a flea infestation. His red blood cell count dropped to just seven percent, while the normal level is around 30 percent. The attending veterinarian, Paige Walker, discovered that the clinic's cat blood bank was empty, so she used her personal cocker spaniel, Jean, as a donor. About 60 milliliters of blood were transfused into the cat's body overnight under medical supervision. The procedure succeeded, and red blood cell levels began to rise. The next day, his condition stabilized, and he was transferred to his regular clinic and then home. His owner, Louise Wood, shared her distress and fear of losing him. The article notes that cross-species blood transfusion is a rare and exceptional procedure, performed only in extreme cases.