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We Have A Match: Tranfusion of Canine Blood Saves Cat

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Meet Buttercup, an orange tabby who faced a serious health crisis: anemia.  According to veterinarians, Buttercup had 7% red blood cells compared to the 35% seen in healthy cats. 

The cause of Buttercup’s severe anemia is unknown but the solution was clear: transfusion. 

However, living in the Florida keys posed a hurdle: it would take hours to fly in donor cat blood but canine packed red blood cells were on stand-by.  So, in a procedure dubbed “xenotransfusion” Buttercup was infused with canine red blood cells over four hours. 

Following the transfusion, Buttercup was back on her paws and showing not signs of canine behavior.

KeysNet

(Buttercup back to normal

To date, this procedure has been performed on 63 other felines to positive outcomes.  Why cats are able to sport cross-species blood transfusion is unknown.

Sources: KeysNet via the Daily News

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Kristen E. Strubberg is the Editor-in-Chief for TGNR. Kristen founded TGNR in 2013 - seeking to create a high quality platform for original, eclectic and substantive positive news journalism by attracting expert contributors in many varying subjects. Kristen also works as a clinical medical researcher in Cardiology, with an original background in Neuroscience. Her passion for science has translated to her science-fiction specialization, with her highly adept published insights into the best of sci-fi’s popular culture. Kristen has served as TGNR’s Editor-in-Chief since 2013.

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