Fleas are not just a nuisance, they can be a life-threatening problem in cats. Fleas ingest blood, and severe flea infestations can lead to anemia. Indoor cats are not immune to these dangers, and often, can be more affected as they are confined to a single environment.
Part of why we choose to live in Southern California is for the mild climate. However, those mild temperatures mean that we have fleas year-round…
Bu-Buh is a strapping 7 year-old boy who is primarily indoor but with access to an enclosed patio. He was brought in to The Cat Doctor Ventura for decreased appetite and energy level. His mother had noticed the fleas on him, but was not aware how dangerous they could be… On examination, Bu-Buh was found to be very pale. Blood work showed that his red blood cell count (packed cell volume, or PCV) was 19 %, with normal PCV for adult cats being 29-45%.
Bu-Buh was given Capstar, which is a pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. At least 100 fleas started to fall off of him!
In addition to removing the fleas, Bu-Buh was given an injection of Vitamin B-12 and Iron so that he could start replenishing his red blood cells. We applied topical Revolution so that he would be protected for the full month, and gave his mother instructions on how to clean up her home to prevent further problems. Within 4 days, Bu-Buh’s PCV had increased to 23%, he was eating and much more comfortable.