Use of Canine Fresh Frozen Plasma Xenotransfusions Administered to Eight Cats With Clinical Coagulopathy (2017-2024)

To describe a population of cats with clinical signs of coagulopathy that were treated with the administration of canine fresh frozen plasma (cFFP). A secondary objective was to assess whether cFFP xenotransfusions influenced serum total protein concentration.

Retrospective, single-center study conducted in cats receiving cFFP xenotransfusions between 2017 and 2024.

Private referral hospital.

Eight privately owned cats that received cFFP xenotransfusions to treat clinical coagulopathy were identified in the electronic medical records system.

None.

A search of computerized records was performed to identify feline patients that received cFFP between 2017 and 2024. Clinical notes were examined to determine the reason for and dose of cFFP xenotransfusion, the therapeutic effects of the cFFP xenotransfusions on the reported coagulopathy, and any adverse events related to transfusion. A total of eight feline patients were identified that received a total of nine cFFP xenotransfusions. The dose of cFFP administered ranged from 20 to 40 mL/kg. Seven of nine cFFP xenotransfusions (78%) resulted in successful correction of the reported coagulopathy both clinically and based on normalization of either thromboelastography or coagulation times (prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times). Eight of the nine cFFP xenotransfusions were well tolerated, but one recipient, which had received another cFFP transfusion within the preceding 3 months, died during the transfusion.

Administration of cFFP to xenotransfusion-naïve cats appeared to be well tolerated and effective in the treatment of clinical coagulopathy in this study population. Repeat cFFP xenotransfusions should be avoided, as with canine RBC xenotransfusions, but further studies are needed to more definitively assess safety.