The mean corpuscular volume and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration reported are descriptive of a hypochromic, macrocytic anemia. This does not describe an iron deficiency anemia, which is hypochromic, microotic. The iv fluid therapy, even though changed to Lactated Ringers', did not have very much potassium. The food that the cat consumed after receiving a blood transfusion would probably have provided some potassium. The cited literature does not indicate the type of clay that the hypokalemic, anemic humans ingested.
Anemia causes pica in cats.
This well-known fact is not acknowledged or discussed in the report. While every veterinary practitioner regrets the financial and personal realities that limit the thoroughness with which some cases are investigated, in this situation, the lack of documentation renders this case report worse than valueless. Because confirmation of bentonite toxicosis was not possible, we entitled this case report a suspected case of toxicosis, recognizing that the clinical findings in this case are subject to interpretation. Nevertheless, as Dr McDonough has chosen to comment on our report so vigorously, we shall attempt to address her numerous remarks regarding this case. Information on this product was obtained from a computerized database called Poisindex, published quarterly by Micromedex Inc, Denver, CO, commonly used by poison information centers.