Effects of blood collection for transfusion on arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and PCV in cats

BACKGROUND: Collection of 50 mL of blood (standard unit) in cats is a common procedure. There are several studies on the health status of donors, but to our knowledge there are no reports on the effects of blood collection on the feline donor. HYPOTHESIS: Collection of a standard unit of blood from cats does not significantly change arterial blood pressure (BP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), PCV, and heart rate (HR) in healthy blood donor cats. ANIMALS: Twenty-six healthy blood donor cats (6 spayed females and 20 castrated males). METHODS: An oscillometric method was used to measure MAP, SAP, DAP, and to quantify HR before and after blood collection; PCV was obtained before and immediately after blood collection. RESULTS: Despite a significant decrease (P < .05) in all variables (ie, BP, PCV, HR) after blood collection, no adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The collection of a unit of blood for transfusion from healthy donor cats weighing more than 5 kg appears to be safe, but this procedure leads to a decrease in arterial BP, PCV, and HR.