Page 533 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

23 – THE BLEEDING CAT 525

● Anti-histamines: H1 and H2 blockers. H2 blockers ● Disturbances of platelet aggregation in vitro may
are frequently given to thrombocytopenic animals not have any clinical relevance in vivo.
with gastrointestinal hemorrhage because ulcera-
tion cannot be ruled out. Famotidine has less of an
Diagnosis
effect on platelets than either cimetidine or raniti-
dine. Sulcralfate will provide local gastrointestinal History of drug therapy.
protection without any effect on platelets.
If a cat receiving one of these drugs has abnormal
● The effect of these drugs on platelet function in cats
bleeding, another cause of the bleeding should be ruled
is not known, but they are unlikely to have any clin-
out.
ically relevant hemostatic effects.

RECOMMENDED READING

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Quedgeley, Gloucester, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, 2000.
Evans RJ. The blood and haemopoietic system. In: Chandler EA, Gaskell CJ, Gaskell RM (eds) Feline Medicine and
Therapeutics, 2nd edn. Oxford, Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1994, pp. 192–226.
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