My cat has anemia. Can EPO injections help and are they worth it?

Question

Our young cat (2 yrs) was diagnosed with non-regenerative anemia yesterday, with a hematocrit of 15. Would erythropoietin, by injection, possibly spurs the bone marrow into producing more red blood cells? Would this provide a short-term or long-term benefit? We are wrestling with the issue of quality of life and the finances that would be required to treat our cat. We want to do what is best. Thank you for your advice. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Male | neutered | 12.5 lbs

Dr. Strydom, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hi there. So sorry to hear that Pisces is having this issue. EPO can stimulate red blood cell production and in theory it sounds like a good idea however, it has it's own side effects and some are very serious. Also EPO is outrageously expensive so it is not a very cost effective treatment. Most cats will do well with blood transfusions and treating the underlying cause of the anemia (if one can be found). I hope this answers your question. If you have additional questions you are welcome to post again. Best wishes!

My cat has anemia. Can EPO injections help and are they worth it?

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