According to a recent study from the University of California, Davis, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, cats that experienced burns and smoke inhalation in urban California wildfires are in danger of developing lethal blood clots.
The research, which was just published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, builds on prior findings that cats harmed in urban wildfires had a high frequency of cardiac issues.
Cats being injured by wildfire
(Photo : The Lucky Neko/Unsplash)
Cats being treated for burns from the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, served as part of the study's models.
Platelets are blood cells that circulate in the circulation and assist stop bleeding or forming blood clots.
They discovered that cats with wildfire injuries had higher levels of hyperactive platelets than healthy cats or cats with cardiac illness, namely preclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM.
HCM is the most prevalent cardiac condition in cats, resulting in heart muscle thickening.
Cats with HCM are hypercoagulable, which means they are more prone to develop clots, according to lead co-author Ava Tan, a veterinary research fellow in Li's laboratory.
That is why researchers utilized them as a control group to compare to cats in the study.
Microvesicles, minute membranous bubble-like formations packed with proteins that are related to cardiovascular disease and an increased risk of clotting, were also found in the platelets of wildfire-injured cats.
Platelets, in addition to clot formation, play an important role in overall cardiovascular health and illness.
The research also led to the identification of a new receptor in cat platelets called Toll-Like-Receptor, which may play a role in clotting and might be the focus of future therapies.
"These findings might have far-reaching ramifications for our feline patients, highlighting the critical role that platelets play in coupling inflammation with the coagulation system," Li added.
Read more: Accused Cat Wins $125,000 Settlement Against Illegal Trespassing Charges in Bellevue, Washington
Wildfire and animals
Pets are particularly sensitive to the smoke that spreads after a wildfire, such as the one in California.
According to Preventive Vet's chief medical officer and veterinarian Jason Nicholas, cats and dogs that already have respiratory disorders are more vulnerable to developing weaker tracheas as a result of the smoke. Older pets, as well as puppies and kittens, are more vulnerable to air pollution due to their age.
According to The Oregonian, one approach to detecting an unhealthy respiratory system in a dog or cat early on is to keep an ear open for any typical sounds made by your pet.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, wildfires are also hazardous to the eyes of cats and dogs.
The flames and resulting smoke can cause eye discomfort and watering. These animals are also prone to excessive nasal discharge.
The group also said that the flames might cause swollen throats and burned lips in animals.
Furthermore, pets with a compromised cardiovascular system may suffer weariness, exhaustion, and confusion throughout their daily activities.
For example, kids may have trouble walking or playing, and their appetites may suffer.
Furthermore, if there is smoke in the air, specialists advise avoiding prolonged physical activity for dogs and cats.
Additionally, keep clean and fresh water available for your dogs at all times, as the danger of dehydration during or after a wildfire is generally significant.
If you don't have a cat or dog but want to help animals harmed by the California wildfires, you may do so by giving to groups such as the Butte Humane Society and the North Valley Animal Disaster Group.
Both groups are looking for financial assistance in order to perform surgery, deliver medicine, and perform other chores in order to care for injured animals.
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