Page 4 - paws-and-hooves-autumn-2024

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Page 4 - paws-and-hooves-autumn-2024
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Blood




       donors




       save Nyla





       When Nyla, a three-year old Pomeranian, came into
       season it lasted longer than usual. Nyla became lethargic,
       was passing blood clots and had red blotches on her
       belly. Referred to the RVC Queen Mother Hospital for
       Animals (QMHA) vets discovered that Nyla had immune-
       mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP), an autoimmune                                                    Nyla
       condition which prevents blood from clotting.
       Her owner, Jo, said: ֱNyla was severely anaemic and   Nyla needed eight blood transfusions during her treatment
       continually needed blood transfusions to keep her alive.    at the QMHA from four different dogs. These helped to
       We were desperately losing hope.ֱ                     restore her red blood cell count and allow more oxygen
                                                             to travel around her body. Sarah revealed: ֱWithout the
       As Nyla continued to bleed from her uterus and
       gastrointestinal tract, the decision was made to spay her   availability of these blood products Nyla wouldnֱt have
       to remove the hormonal source of the bleeding. Dr Sarah   survived. The blood donor team work incredibly hard with
       Tayler, Lecturer in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the RVC   our amazing blood donors and their owners to make sure
       explained: ֱPlatelets help the blood to clot. Without platelets,   we have blood available for patients at their time of need.ֱ
       animals are prone to spontaneous bleeding from many   Nyla also received immunesuppressant therapy steroids
       different sites. The surgery was risky as at this stage, Nyla   and a drug to kickstart her bone marrow to start producing
       still had no platelets, and therefore the surgeons had to be   platelets. It was a complex case and one that involved a
       careful to control any surgical bleeding. Thankfully due to their  multi-disciplinary approach. After spending 16 days in the
       expertise the surgery went smoothly with minimal bleeding.ֱ   QMHA, Nyla returned home to her loving family.

        Margaux                                                 Jo, Nyla's owner, reflected:
        one of Nyla's Blood donors
                                                                      When the vet rang and said
                                                                'I have good news, Nyla has

                                                                platelets in her blood I can't
                                                                describe how wonderful our family

                                                                felt. We'd gone through weeks of
                                                                heartbreak thinking we would lose
                                                                her. We owe her blood donors
                                                                so much. Theyֱve enabled

                                                                our beautiful dog to live and
                                                                come home to us. Nyla would

                                                                have most certainly died if this
                                                                service was not available.


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