FACTOR-X DEFICIENCY IN A CAT

Severe congenital deficiency of factor X was diagnosed in a 3-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat with clinical signs of generali zed seizures and prolonged bleeding after venipuncture. Heritability o f factor X deficiency was suspected because of a prolonged Russell's v iper venom time in the dam and reductions in factor X activity in the dam and 1 sibling. To our knowledge, factor X deficiency in cats has n ot been reported previously. Definitive diagnosis for animals with cli nical signs of coagulopathy may require repetition of coagulation scre ening tests using different assay methods or specific coagulation fact or analyses.