# Dog blood transfusion saves cat with severe flea-related anaemia

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/critically-ill-cat-named-rolo-is-saved-by-an-emergency-blood-transfusion-from-a-dog/
- Published: 2026-10-21T20:08:23+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-21T20:22:39+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16227865/cat-blood-transfusion-dog.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Health, Medicine, World

## Key points

- A dog’s blood helped save critically ill cat Rolo.
- Rolo’s red blood cell count had fallen to 7 per cent.
- Vets say some over-the-counter flea treatments may not work.

## Summary

Rolo, a two-year-old cat with life-threatening anaemia caused by a flea infestation, was saved after receiving an emergency blood transfusion from a dog. With feline blood unavailable, the vet used blood from her own cocker spaniel, Gin, in a recognised but risky one-off emergency procedure.

Rolo’s red blood cell count was just 7 per cent on arrival, compared with a typical level of about 30 per cent. Gin donated around 60 millilitres, and Rolo was monitored overnight as her count began to rise; she returned home after further veterinary care. Her owner said she had been using over-the-counter flea treatments, but the clinic warned that some can become ineffective and recommended modern prescription treatments.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.