Clotting and coagulation disorders in cats: a clinical review of causes, diagnosis and management

Practical relevance: Hemostatic disorders in cats, while uncommon, can be life-threatening. In general, they can be diagnosed by utilizing a combination of history, physical examination findings, point-of-care assays and a basic understanding of hemostasis. This review aims to provide a general overview of hemostasis physiology, discuss common hemostatic disorders, diagnosis and interpretation of hemostatic testing, and summarize treatments of hemostatic disorders. Clinical challenges: The underlying cause of hemostatic disorders can often be diagnosed by a combination of history, physical examination and directed testing. Based on the information obtained during the work-up, a management plan can be constructed tailored to the individual patient. Aim: This article aims to review the literature surrounding the pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of hemostatic disorders in cats. By the end of this article, readers should be able to: understand the basic physiology of hemostasis; understand common primary and secondary hemostatic disorders in cats and their pathophysiologies in relation to clinical signs and diagnostic findings; compare and contrast common diagnostic tests to assess hemostasis and apply those that are appropriate; and list the appropriate therapeutic and management strategies for common primary and secondary hemostatic disorders in cats.