Hereditary diseases of cats

Hereditary form of hemolytic anemia caused by impaired activity of the enzyme pyruvate kinase. It develops as a result of a violation of the stability of mature erythrocytes. The age of development of the disease varies quite strongly from 6 months to 5 years, often leading to the death of the animal. Symptoms The main clinical symptoms are: lethargy, diarrhea, pale mucous membranes, lack of appetite, poor coat quality, weight loss, jaundice, and in some cases splenomegaly. A biochemical blood test can reveal anemia, an increase in reticulocytes, hyperglobulinemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and an increase in liver enzymes. The disease is difficult to diagnose due to the intermittent manifestation of symptoms. In most cases, the body manages to compensate for some of the signs of anemia, therefore, severe cases are most often detected in older cats, but there are cases of acute manifestations of anemia.