HEMATOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS IN KITTENS INDUCED BY 6-PERCENT AND 12-PERCENT DIETARY PROPYLENE-GLYCOL

Soft-moist cat foods containing 6-13% propylene glycol (PG) induce Hei nz body formation and decreased red blood cell (RBC) lifespan in adult cats in a dose dependent manner. Since kittens eat relatively more fo od/kg of body weight and must expand their blood volume in addition to replacing senescent RBC, the hematologic dyscrasia associated with co nsumption of PG-containing diets may be exaggerated. To test this hypo thesis 21 kittens were divided into 3 groups of 7 each and fed diets c ontaining, 0,6 or 12% PG for 13 w. A dose-related increase in Heinz bo dies occurred in the 6 and 12% PG groups within 2 w and persisted thro ughout the study. Although only slight changes occurred in hematocrit, hemoglobin and red blood cell (RBC) count, punctate reticulocytes inc reased significantly in the 6 and 12% PG groups indicating accelerated erythropoiesis. Mean RBC survival was decreased in the 6 and 12% grou ps by 44% and 63% respectively when compared to the control group. The increase in reticulocyte count and reduction in RBC lifespan was grea ter than observed in adult cats. The greater effect in kittens may be due to greater PG intake and not to an inate susceptibility of kitten RBC to PG.