PPolicitemia em felino

Polycythemia in felines is a rare and often underdiagnosed condition characterized by an increased mass of circulating erythrocytes and a persistently elevated hematocrit. Its absolute form can be primary, as in polycythemia vera, or secondary, associated with hypoxic stimuli or inappropriate erythropoietin secretion. This condition predisposes to hyperviscosity syndrome, with varied and sometimes severe clinical manifestations. The initial treatment of choice is phlebotomy, due to its effectiveness in immediately reducing hematocrit. This article reports the clinical case of a mixed-breed cat diagnosed with absolute polycythemia, submitted to therapeutic phlebotomy. The report emphasizes the hematological response obtained and discusses the need for continuous monitoring and complementary therapeutic approaches for the management of the disease.