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Cats: Health, Disease and Physiology: Other Health Issues
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Feline cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy in the cat
source: Feline Advisory Bureau Volume 39 (1) 2001
starts page 21, 2 pages long
Cardiomyopathy is disease of the heart muscle and can be classified as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) where the heart is enlarged, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) where the heart muscle becomes thickened and restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) where the heart chamber cannot expand normally. Causes include taurine deficiency and hyperthyroidism, but previous viral disease and genetics may be factors, although the underlying cause may not always be known. Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump blood around the body efficiently and this leads to leakage of fluid in or around the lungs, which in turn affects lung function. Symptoms of heart failure include breathlessness, poor appetite and lethargy; high blood pressure and blood clots can be complications. Diagnosis is by x-ray, ECG and ultrasound as well as blood tests. Cardiomyopathy is usually progressive and treatment is aimed at removing fluid in or around the lungs with diuretics, and supporting heart function with therapies such as ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, beta blockers and digoxin. Low doses of aspirin may also be used to reduce the risk of blood clots, and a low salt diet will help sodium retention.
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Feline hypertension
High blood pressure in cats
source: Feline Advisory Bureau, Volume 39 (4) 2001
starts page 121, 2 pages long
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a significant medical condition of cats and is often secondary to other medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney failure, acromegaly and Cushing’s disease, although there may not always be an underlying disease. The eyes, brain and nervous system, heart and kidneys can all be affected by hypertension. Diagnosis is made using blood pressure measuring devices, examination of they eyes, and investigating underlying diseases. Drugs such as benazepril and amlodipine are used to reduce blood pressure and low salt diets may be helpful.
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Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)
Lower urinary tract disease in the cat
source: Danielle A. Gunn-Moore
Feline Advisory Bureau Volume 39 (1) 2001
starts page 23, 3 pages long
FLUTD is a collection of conditions affecting the bladder and causes include bladder stones, cancer, bacterial infection and behavioural problems, but often there is no known cause (feline idiopathic cystitis, FIC). There is also a suggestion that cats prone to FIC may have reduced levels of the protective glycosaminoglycan (GAG) lining of the bladder. It is commonly seen in overweight, sedentary, middle aged cats with restricted outdoor access and eating a predominantly dry diet. A complication of FLUTD is a urethral blockage, which is more common in male cats and can be fatal. Where a blockage isn’t a complication, FLUTD usually resolves in 5-10 days but it can recur, so treatment is aimed at reducing stress, changing the diet to increase water turnover by feeding a wet food, and repairing the GAG layer via supplementation with tablets, or injection with Cartrophen. Amitriptyline and painkillers may be used in severe cases.
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Urethral obstruction in a cat
Cat suffers urethral blockage
source: Martin Owen
Feline Advisory Bureau Volume 39 (3) 2001
starts page 90, 3 pages long
The case of a urethral blockage in a four-year-old male neutered cat, and the surgical treatment, is described. Although he cat had been fed an acidifying tinned diet for the previous 12 months it had suffered two episodes of urinary obstruction during that time. High levels of leucocytes, erythrocyte contamination and triple phosphate crystals were observed in the urine sample. Flushing cleared the obstruction and further x-rays showed a thickening of the bladder wall. A surgical perineal urethrostomy was undertaken to avoid further obstructions and the cat showed no signs of urinary incontinence or urinary tract disease four months after surgery. Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a complicated disorder with many possible contributing factors, such as diet, inactivity, infections and urinary pH.
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Feline parturition when to wait and when to worry
Pregnancy and birth in cats
source: Feline Advisory Bureau Volume 39(4) 2002
starts page105, 6 pages long
Pregnancy in cats lasts for 63-65 days, although shorter and longer times do occur. The first stage of parturition is when the cervix and vagina relax and uterine contractions begin. Cats may make several visits to the kittening bed and dependent cats may seek reassurance from the owner at this time. In the second and third stages, uterine contractions are stronger and move the first foetus to the pelvic opening. Fluid pressure causes the cervix and vaginal passage to dilate and normal delivery of the first foetus takes between five and 30 minutes, after which the placenta is expelled. Some cats will deliver one or more kittens and then rest, sometimes for 24-36 hours, before delivering the remaining kittens. Difficult births can be due to problems with either the queen or kittens. A ruptured uterus is a rare abnormality of the first stage. Methods of kitten revival and congenital defects are discussed. Photographs of a cat birth are included.
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Osteosarcoma in the hip, treated with surgery and carboplatin
Treatments for hip osteosarcoma
source: David Godfrey Feline Advisory Bureau Volume 39 (1) 2001
Starts page 29, 2 pages long
The case of a 10-year-old domestic shorthaired cat with severe osteolytic lesions in the proximal femur and the bones of the pelvis is discussed. Bone histopathology showed a malignant bone tumour (osteosarcoma) in the hip joint. A partial hemipelvectomy was undertaken but further histopathology revealed tumour cells in the pubic bone. As further surgery was not an option, the cat was treated with the chemotherapy drug carboplatin, which has fewer side effects than cisplatin. X-rays at 6, 12 and 18 months after amputation showed no tumour growth in the pelvis, although a mass observed near the heart was thought to be unrelated to the previous tumour. The cat has coped well with leg amputation and chemotherapy treatments.
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Lymphoma in the cat
Feline lymphoma
source: Andrew Sparkes
Feline Advisory Bureau, Volume 39 (4) 2001
starts page 111, 4 pages long
The high prevalence of lymphoma in the cat is linked to FeLV infection, although FeLV is not always the underlying cause. FeLV viraemic cats are at greater risk of developing lymphoma compared to an uninfected cat. Most FeLV positive lymphomas are T-cell and most FeLV negative lymphomas are B-cell. The common tumours are classed as mediastinal (thymic), alimentary, multicentric and extra-nodal. Diagnosis is made through examination of tissue samples and haematology. Treatments include the cyclophosphamide, vincristine Oncovin (COP) protocol. A study showed the drug Doxorubicin produced longer survival times and side effects were fewer, than with maintenance COP. Multiagent chemotherapy may induce remission more successfully. Studies have shown that mediastinal and multicentric lymphoma are more likely to respond to therapy.
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Study of factors that may predispose domestic cats to road
traffic accidents: part 1
Characteristics of cats involved in road traffic accidents
in Cambridgeshire, England
source: I Rochlitz
Veterinary Record vol 153, no 18, November 1 2003
starts p549, 5 pages long
Road accidents rank fourth among causes of death in cats in the UK. This
study uses data from six veterinary practices in Cambridgeshire, England,
to assess which cats are more prone to being involved in road accidents. There
were 117 cats in the study, all of which had been seen following road accidents,
and they were compared with cats allowed to go outside which had not ever
been in traffic accidents. Younger cats were found to be more prone to road
accidents, with cats being 16% less likely to be involved in an accident for
each increase of a year in age. Males were 1.9 times more likely to be involved
in accidents than females, regardless of whether they were neutered.
Entire males were overrepresented among cats that had suffered accidents,
as were neutered males. Tomcats are sometimes said to be at greater risk of
accidents because they travel over a wider range, but one study has found
that this applies more to older tomcats, especially those over two-years-old,
with tomcats younger than 18-months-old tending to stay within 50 metres of
their homes. Cats involved in traffic accidents tend to be young, with 46%
of them aged between seven months and two-years-old, so there may be some
other aspect of maleness in cats, other than whether they are neutered, that
predisposes them to accidents.
Non-pedigree cats were also more prone to being involved in accidents. This
could be because owners supervise pedigree cats more. A previous study found
that pedigree cats tend to spend more time near their owners, and owners tend
to interact more with Persian, and Siamese cats than with non-pedigree cats,
and that this was especially true for Siamese cats.
Black cats may be more at risk than lighter coloured cats, because drivers
may not be able to see them as easily, but the evidence from this study is
not conclusive. Cats that were black, or mainly black accounted for 44% of
the cats that had been in accidents, compared with 35% of the control cats.
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Study of factors that may predispose domestic cats to road
traffic accidents: part 2
Lifestyle characteristics of cats involved in road traffic
accidents in Cambridgeshire, England
source: I Rochlitz
Veterinary Record vol 153, no 19, November 9 2003
starts p585, 4 pages long
This is the second part of a study of cats involved in road traffic accidents,
that were seen by six vet practices in Cambridgeshire, England. The first
part of the study examined characteristics of the cats, and found that young,
male, non-pedigree cats were more likely to be involved in accidents than
those from a control group. This part of the study looks at the cats' lifestyles
and environments, such as whether the cats spent a lot of time outside, and
local traffic densities. The sample size is smaller than for the first study,
since the vets did not ask owners to describe their cats' lifestyles and environments
if the cats did not survive their accidents.
Cats involved in traffic accidents were more likely to spend more time outside
than cats that had never been in an accident, though younger cats are both
more likely to spend more time outside, and more likely to be involved in
accidents. Cats that had been involved in accidents were more likely to live
in areas where traffic density was high. Accidents were more likely to happen
at night than in the day time, and this may be because it is less easy to
see a cat in the dark. Surprisingly, cats wearing reflective collars were
more likely to be involved in accidents, though this may be because owners
were more likely to fit collars to cats that had already survived an accident.
A higher proportion of cats involved in accidents were allowed outside at
night, compared to cats that had never been involved in accidents, 83% compared
to 72%, however, this was not statistically significant. Further large-scale
research is needed on this topic.
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Changes in the thermal threshold response in eight cats after
administration of buphrenorphine, butorphanol and morphine
Comparison of three different opoid pain relievers in cats
source: S.A. Robertson et al
Veterinary Record vol 153, no 15, October 11 2003
starts p462, 4 pages long
There is not enough information on the best way to relieve pain in cats,
though they are the most numerous pets, both in the UK and US, and are likely
to be operated on at least once in their lives, since most are neutered. Doses
are often based on data for other species, and cats may not be given any painkillers
at all after surgery or accidents, due to fears of an adverse reaction. This
study examines the thermal threshold in cats, as a way of assessing acute
pain. The study assesses how long the painkiller takes to become effective,
how effective it is, and how long it lasts for. The three painkillers assessed
are: morphine, buphrenorphine, and butorphanol. Eight cats took part in the
study, five neutered females, two entire females, and one neutered male. The
cats were subject to a mild heat stimulus, and the cats' reactions were assessed.
All the cats involved were tested using a saline placebo, and with at least
two of the painkillers.
All three painkillers proved to be effective, though the timing of their
effects varied. Butorphanol took effect after five minutes, but lasted less
time than either morphine or bupreorphine. Morphine was effective from four
to six hours following the injection, and buprenorphine had an effect between
four hours and twelve hours following the injection. The cats also showed
signs of euphoria, lasting under half an hour with butorphanol, between two
and three hours with morphine, and for as long as 24 hours for some cats given
buprenorphine. The cats given morphine all vomited after their injections.
Butorphanol appears to be a poor postoperative painkiller for cats, while
buprenorphine apparently lasts longer than morphine, a result backed by a
previous study as well as this research. Pethidine has also been tested, and
found to be effective for longer than butorphanol, but less time than either
morphine or buprenorphine. There is a need for further research, though it
is heartening that buprenorphine is commonly used to deal with postoperative
pain in cats.
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Systemic uptake of buprenorphine by cats after oral mucosal
administration
Buprenorphine can be effective when given to cats by mouth
source: S.A. Robertson el al
Veterinary Record vol 152 no 22, May 31 2003
starts p675, 4 pages long
A number of studies have noted that cats sometimes are not given adequate
pain relief. This may be due to a number of reasons, such as fear of possible
side effects, and lack of products licensed to be used with cats. Buprenorphine
is commonly used to give pain relief to cats in the UK, while butorphanol
tends to be used more in the US. Cats tend to be given just one injection
of a painkiller, when they do receive any, but they need pain relief for over
24 hours after they have undergone major surgery. Injections can cause problems,
for example, some cats do not have the sort of temperament that makes for
easy injections, and it is not pleasant for a cat to have repeated injections.
Owners are also unable to inject their own cats. This study assesses pain
relief using buprenorphine given by mouth to six female shorthair cats, between
two and 11-years-old.
The cats did not show any serious adverse effects. They had normal food intakes,
and did not vomit. They did not salivate, or resist being given the drug.
They were all easy to handle after being given the drug, and most were mildly
euphoric, kneading using their forepaws, and purring.
Buprenorphine has a number of advantages, such as providing pain relief for
a long period, and the rarity of vomiting as a side effect, compared with
morphine. Buprenorphine has been shown to offer the highest bioavailability
of a range of opiates when given to humans under the tongue. Even so, the
bioavailability for buprenorphine administered this way in humans is only
51.4%, and is lower when administered between the lip and gum. Cats, however,
have more alkaline mouths, and this helps to increase the bioavailability
of buprenorphine administered in the mouth, whether under or on the tongue,
or in the cat's cheek pouch. Compared with intramuscular injections, peak
plasma concentrations were similar, though the oral route involved a median
delay of 12 minutes later than when the drug was administered by injection.
The pain relieving qualities of the drug are not correlated with its concentration
in plasma, and the drug is slow to take effect as a painkiller, but its effects
last for a long time. Owners tend to prefer mouth drops compared to other
methods of giving drugs to cats. Further research is needed to assess whether
oral administration of buprenorphine should be recommended.
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Incidence of cryptorchidism in dogs and cats
Cats less likely to suffer cryptorchidism than dogs
source: D. Yates el al
Veterinary Record vol 152 no 16, April 19 2003
starts p502, 3 pages long
Testes start to descend after mid-gestation, and, in the case of dogs, they
usually travel through the inguinal ring by the time a pup is five days old,
being fully descended when a pup is from six to eight-weeks' old. The inguinal
ring is usually partially closed by the time a dog is six months' old, preventing
migration of any undescended testicles. When testicles to not descend in this
way, the result is usually cryptorchidism, with the testicle either hidden
in the abdomen, or in the inguinal region. This may affect one or both testicles.
There have been different estimates of the incidence of cryptorchidism in
cats and dogs. Two studies give estimates for cats of 1.7% and 3.8%, while
other studies have given figures for dogs of between 0.8% and 9.7%. Dogs can
inherit this condition as a recessive trait, and it has been linked to a higher
incidence of testicular cancer. Castration may be carried out both to prevent
affected pets from breeding, and to prevent or treat cancer.
This study examines the incidence of cryptochidism in cats and dogs castrated
at an English RSPCA hospital from March 1997 to September 2001. Awareness
of the owner that their pet might be cryptorchid could affect results, so
this was recorded. There were 3,518 dogs castrated in this period, 240, or
6.8%, of which were cryptorchid. Owners believed 129 of them to be cryptorchid,
and only 111 were found to be so at surgery. This gives a true incidence of
from 3.3% and 6.8% for these dogs. Right-sided inguinal testicles were most
commonly found, followed by right-sided abdominal cryptorchidism. There were
3,806 cats castrated, with 50 of them (1.3%) cryptorchid, with owners of 11
cats, or 22%, knowing about the condition in their cats. Inguinal testicles,
both left and right side, were most common among the cats, with abdominal
and bilateral cyptorchidism being uncommon.
Pedigree dogs accounted for 186 or 77.5% of the dogs, with certain breeds,
Chihuahuas, boxers and German shepherds especially likely to be at risk. Other
breeds that were overrepresented were Yorkshire and Staffordshire bull terriers,
shih tzus, and miniature poodles. Border collies appeared to have a lower
than average risk, with 5 of 172 showing this condition, or 2.9%, though the
numbers may be too small to be significant. There were not enough dogs for
some breeds to make useful estimates. Other studies have mentioned chihauhas,
boxers, miniature poodles, and Yorkshire terriers as prone to cryptorchidism.
The local population of Staffordshire bull terriers, German Shepherds and
shih tzus may have had special characteristics due to inbreeding, or local
breed distribution.
Cats showed an incidence of cryptorchidism of between 1% and 1.3%, which
was not as high as in other studies where the proportion of pedigree cats
was higher. Left testicles were affected in the cases of 29 cats and right
testicles in the cases of 27 cats. Owners of only 22% of the affected cats
were aware that their cats were cryptorchid, while the percentage for dogs
was higher, at 53.8%. The lower level of awareness among cat owners may have
been because their cats had not previously visited the clinic.
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Study of dog and cat owners' perceptions of medical treatment
for cancer
Dutch study of owners' views of their cat and dogs' anti-cancer
chemotherapy treatments
source: L.B. Bronden et al
Veterinary Record vol 152 no 3, January 18 2003
starts p77, 4 pages long
Cats and dogs may now be seen as part of the family, with their owners wanting
the best treatments for their pets if they fall ill. Anti-cancer treatments
tend to involve surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. This study examines
how owners of cats and dogs undergoing chemotherapy at a centre in Utrecht,
Netherlands, perceived the treatment. There were 10 cat owners who answered
the questionnaire, and 59 dog owners, giving a total of 69.
Owners most commonly expected that chemotherapy would allow their pets to
live longer, while 26.1% expected a cure. The expectations of a cure were
higher than the outcome warranted, though the owners did accurately judge
likely side-effects. Hair loss, diarrhoea and vomiting were the side effects
that owners were most likely to expect. Cats tended to have different side
effects from dogs. This may be because cats were not given doxorubicin, which
was what caused most of the problems for dogs. Cats may also be less sensitive
to anticancer agents, or may metabolise them differently. Pets tend to have
fewer and less intense side effects than humans taking anti-cancer drugs.
This may be because pets tend to be given lower doses, and humans are given
more aggressive therapies, since vets often aim for palliation when they treat
pets. Pets also do not face stress and worry associated with knowing that
one has cancer. Owners of 15 of the pets did not notice any side effects,
and the effects suffered by the other pets were mostly not severe, and only
occasional. Diarrhoea and vomiting were the effects that dog owners most commonly
reported, and drugs can be used to treat and help prevent these effects. Weakness
and weight loss were also noted, and probably linked to diarrhoea and vomiting.
Cat owners saw weight loss as the main problem.
Most of the owners saw the chemotherapy as beneficial, and this is probably
linked to the high proportion of pets suffering from malignant lymphoma, a
type of cancer that responds well to chemotherapy.
Family members tended to see the treatment favourably, and took part in the
decisions in around half the cases. Friends and neighbours were more likely
to be positive about the treatment than negative, but were not a positive
as families, perhaps because families had greater knowledge of the treatment.
Most of the pets were still alive when the survey was carried out. The cats
had the longest survival times in terms of the mean average, while pets suffering
from cancers other than lymphoma survived for the shortest period.
Owners generally saw the treatment as worthwhile, even if their pets had
died, and they were also satisfied with the help they had received from their
vets and from oncologists. The strongly positive responses of these owners
suggest that this area of treatment is rewarding and useful.
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Dietary considerations in cardiac disease
Diet and heart disease in cats and dogs
source: Antonio Moneva-Jordan
In Practice vol 25 no 2, February 2003
starts p92, 6 pages long
Heart disease is a common problem in cats and dogs, and recent research has
shown that diet is important for pets with heart problems. Congestive heart
failure (CHF) can lead to cardiac cathexia, or muscle wasting, which also
involves lack of appetite, poor digestion, and metabolic changes. It is less
common in cats than in dogs.
Pets with cardiac cathexia need diets that tackle anorexia and that regulate
cytokine production. Regulation of sodium is important, but pets may refuse
to eat low sodium diets. Less restricted diets that are both digestible and
palatable may be better for the pet than more restricted diets they will not
eat. Changes in diet should take place over a period of four to five days.
Sometimes pets can be persuaded to eat by warming their food, feeding by hand,
and other tricks. Some pets may do well on well-balanced homemade diets, if
they have dedicated owners. Cytokine reduction can help dogs with CHF to survive
longer, and fish oil supplements can help with this.
Obesity should be tackled as early as possible, since it makes pets more
susceptible to heart trouble by overloading their hearts, pushing up blood
pressure, and making them less inclined to take exercise. Weight reduction
can help reverse this overloading.
Pets with congestive heart failure (CHF) tend to retain water, sodium and
chloride, and are less able to excrete dietary sodium. Low sodium diets do
not appear to help dogs with cardiac disease and no overt CHF, but excess
sodium and chloride should be reduced once dogs show overt CHF. Moderate restriction
tends to be recommended at first, and this can involve giving pets senior
foods, or foods for pets with kidney disease. All non-prescription commercial
foods for cats and dogs have sodium chloride in excess of animals' requirements,
and this is especially true for canned foods. Moving pets to dried rather
than canned food is one way to reduce the amount of sodium they eat. Reducing
sodium to too low a level could, however, worsen a pet's condition. Lack of
potassium can also be a problem for pets given diuretics, and this especially
applies to cats, and to pets suffering from loss of appetite. Magnesium deficiency
has also been linked to treatment with diuretics.
Another dietary link to heart disease is lack of taurine, which especially
affects cats. Most commercial cat foods now contain taurine, after it was
discovered that low taurine levels are linked to feline cardiomyopathy. Taurine
may also benefit humans, rabbits and ferrets . Taurine deficiency is a possibility
for any cat with myocardial failure. Cats most likely to suffer taurine deficiency
are those fed on cereal-based diets, dog food, vegetarian diets, or any other
non-traditional diet. Taurine levels can be checked using blood tests, and
taurine supplements given, as well as diets with more taurine. Some breeds
of dogs may also suffer from taurine deficiency leading to dilated cardiomyopathy
(DCM), and this includes golden retrievers, and some breeds given low protein
diets to tackle bladder stones.
Carnitine deficiency has also been linked to heart disease in some dog breeds,
as well as turkeys, hamsters and humans. Some dogs may benefit from carnitine
supplements, though it is difficult to identify which dogs might benefit.
Carnitine seems to have few side effects, so it may be prescribed in case
it helps, but it is expensive.
Omega-3 fatty acids found in sea foods such as fish oils may help humans with
heart disease, and reduce tumour necrosis factor in animals, including humans.
Studies have shown beneficial effects when fish oil has been given to dogs
with CHF and DCM.
Foods and drugs can interact in a number of ways, for example, frusemide therapy
can lead to water-soluble vitamins being lost over the long term. Pets receiving
diuretics for long periods need to have vitamin supplements, or vitamin-rich
foods, to take this into account. Low-sodium diets combined with diuretics
and angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE) inhibitors can lead to kidney trouble,
and affected pets can be treated by reducing their drug intake, or increasing
their sodium intake, or both. There are also some drugs that are less effective
when taken with food, and this applies to digitoxin, digoxin, and pimobendan,
so these drugs should not be fed at mealtimes. Treatment of pets with heart
disease therefore needs to look both at diet and at medical treatment. There
are no universal recommendations for levels of magnesium, potassium, sodium
or chloride. Instead, individual pets should be monitored, and their kidney
function, weight, condition, and electrolyte concentrations in the blood should
be checked, with changes made in line with their individual needs. There is
also a need for more research in this area.
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Diet and skin disease in dogs and cats
Research on diets and supplements to control skin disease in
cats and dogs
source: Tim D.G. Watson
Journal of Nutrition vol 128 no 12, Dec 1998
starts p 2783S, 7 pages long
Skin disease can be linked to diet in dogs and cats, for example if they
cannot absorb nutrients in their food due to illness, or because the food
has not been stored properly or is poorly formulated. Symptoms linked to nutritional
deficiencies can include hair loss and greasy skin, and there may be infections.
Dogs and cats need essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid, and they
may also need polyunsaturated acids (PUFA). Some low quality dry food, or
poorly stored food may be deficient. The effects of deficiency may occur after
two to three months, and food supplements can bring an improvement after three
to eight weeks. A mix of fish oil and vegetable oil can help, though it is
better to feed a veterinary supplement with zinc, vitamin E and essential
fatty acids, or better quality pet food. Supplements can help with other skin
conditions, such as flea allergies.
Protein deficiencies are not often found in cats and dogs, though young animals,
and those that are nursing or pregnant may suffer such deficiencies. Zinc
deficiency can be linked to skin trouble such as hair loss and crusts, which
may become infected. High calcium levels in diet may affect zinc absorption,
and cheap dry foods based on cereals and soya, can cause problems. Vitamin
A deficiency is linked to skin trouble, but cases
are rare, and too much vitamin A is toxic. Vitamin E deficiency can affect
cats fed oily fish, and more vitamin E is needed as PUFA intake increases.
Vitamin B deficiency can also be linked to skin problems, and brewers yeast,
or other supplements that provide the whole B group can remedy this.
Designing experiments to understand links between diet and skin problems
is not easy. The background diet is important, as well as any supplements
given. The ratio of (n-6) to (n-3) fatty acids may be important, and restricting
protein sources may also be a factor. Marine fish oil does, however, appear
to be beneficial for dogs with skin trouble, and the
absolute amount of fish oil appears to be more important than the ratio to
other components of diet.
Sensitivity to diet may be linked to skin disease, but this is rare, and
skin disease tends to have a number of causes. Elimination diets fed for a
minimum three weeks can be used to test for sensitivity to certain foods.
The animal is first fed a diet that excludes foods it has already eaten, and
is then fed ingredients from its former diet to see if a reaction occurs.
Dairy and beef proteins, eggs, gluten and lactose may all trigger allergic
responses in some animals. Home-prepared elimination diets may be better than
commercial food, when diagnosing food allergies.
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The itchy cat
Causes of and treatments for non-flea itchiness in cats
source: Ian Mason
Feline Advisory Bureau vol 38, 2 2000
starts p52, 2 pages long
Cats used to suffer itchiness mainly due to fleas, but this has changed as
flea control has improved, and attention has now focused on other causes.
Cats may show that they itch by excessive grooming causing hair loss. Hair
loss in dogs and humans is nearly always linked to hormonal problems, but
cats rarely get hormonal skin problems. Cats may also have a type of greasy
dandruff, or lesions that can appear to eat away their upper lips, or they
may suffer from reddened exuding patches on their trunks. Fleas can cause
these problems, but they can also be caused by other factors, such as food
or other allergies, mites, insect bites, or bacterial infections. Itching
could be linked to food additives, and a change in diet may help, especially
to home-cooked food. Antihistamines may help with allergies, and antibiotics
with bacterial infections.
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The effect of diet on lower urinary tract disease in cats
Diet and feline lower urinary tract disease
source: Peter J. Markwell et al
Journal of Nutrition vol 128 no 12, Dec 1998
starts p2753S, 5 pages long
Diet is linked to feline lower urinary tract disease in a number of ways,
since diet affects the volume and acidity of urine, and how concentrated it
is. Research has tended to focus on acidity levels, and concentration, as
a way of dealing with uroliths. Uroliths may be of different types, however,
and what is appropriate for treating cats with struvite uriliths is not appropriate
for calcium oxalate uroliths. Cats may also not suffer from uroliths at all,
and the cause of their lower urinary tract problems may be unknown.
Increasing the volume of urine can help in tackling uroliths, and can help
prevent crystals from forming. Research indicates that increasing the moisture
content of feline diets can more than halve the rate at which cats suffer
from recurrences of lower urinary tract problems, where the cause of the problem
is not clear. Other factors, like urine proteins, may affect the formation
of crystals, and more research is needed.
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Grooming and control of fleas in cats
Comparison of grooming behaviour and flea infestation of cats
with and without Elizabethan collars
source: Robert A. Eckstein, Benjamin L. Hart
Applied Animal Behaviour Science 68 (2000)
starts p141, 10 pages long
Two experiments have been carried out on cats to assess the importance of
oral grooming as a method of flea control. In the first experiment, eighteen
long-haired cats were studied in a household plagued by fleas. Nine cats wore
Elizabethan collars which did not allow them to groom effectively. These cats
were compared with nine control cats, with flea samples taken once a week.
After three weeks, the cats with Elizabethan collars were found to have more
fleas than the control cats. In the second experiment, cats were videotaped
in a flea-infested household, and their behaviour was compared with cats in
a flea-free location. The cats in the flea-infested household spent more time
grooming. These two experiments show that cats may groom more when there are
fleas in their environment, and that grooming is a method for cats to remove
fleas.
Cats have cornified spines on their tongues, which can help to remove ectoparasites
like fleas. Cats also use scratch grooming techniques to reach their heads
and necks. Fleas removed from cats by grooming apparently do not survive longer
than one or two days. Grooming may, thus, reduce numbers of fleas in the household,
and there was a reduction in adult flea numbers in the environment where the
control group lived. This drop in numbers of fleas in the environment may
help explain why the control group had fewer fleas than the cats wearing collars.
Though oral grooming brings a benefit in terms of effective flea reduction,
one problem that can arise when cats remove fleas by oral grooming is that
fleas can infect cats with tapeworms.
The cats in the flea-infested household in the second experiment, tended
to groom more frequently rather than for longer periods. Increased frequency
of grooming bouts may mean that the cats' central timing mechanism was accelerated
by flea saliva. This fits in with a view of grooming as pre-programmed, rather
than stimulus-driven, since longer periods of grooming would be expected with
a stimulus-driven model of grooming.
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Feline high-rise syndrome in the greater Metropolitan area
of Copenhagen: a four year retrospective study
Study of Danish cats that have fallen out of windows
source: A Flagstad, J. Arnbjerg and S.E. Jensen
The European Journal of Companion Animal Practice vol IX (2) October 1999
starts p 165, 7 pages long
A Danish study of 281 cats which had fallen out of windows was carried out
between 1993 and 1996. The cats had been brought to Copenhagen's Small Animal
Hospital. Most of these cats were aged between one-year-old and three-years-old.
Male cats accounted for 157 cats, or 55.9% of the sample, and 70 of the males
were neutered (44.5%). Female cats accounted for 121 cats, or 43.0%, 23 of
which were neutered. In three cases, the sex of the cat was unknown. Domestic
shorthaired cats accounted for 261 of the cases, and Persians for 14 cats.
The injuries the cats suffered were generally more severe, the greater the
distance of the fall, though few apartments are more than 6 floors high in
Copenhagen. Three cats died before arriving, with a further 20 cats later
euthanased. Common injuries included Dyspnoea and lung involvement, and orthopaedic
injuries. There were no injuries found for 10% of the cats, most of which
had fallen from first or second floors rather than higher up.
Mild dyspnoea can be treated by providing oxygen, and the mask can simply
be put near the cat, to avoid stress. Oxygen cages can also be used. Painkillers
such as butorphanol can be provided. Cats can be left to calm down for some
10 to 15 minutes, so that they are less stressed when intravenous catheters
are placed, or other treatments are carried out.
Cats tend to right themselves when they fall, and land on all four paws, bending
their legs, which distributes the impact force, and then the breast and abdomen
hit the ground. All cats that have fallen from windows should be checked for
thoracic injury, and have radiographs taken.
Cats were more likely to fall from open windows when it was warm. Owners
should use grating or screens to prevent their cats from falling from open
windows.
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Raising your blood pressure
Measuring the blood pressure of cats
source: Kit Sturgess
Feline Advisory Bureau vol 38, 1, 2000 p18
Elderly cats may suffer from hypertension, but there are problems in assessing
normal blood pressure, and how blood pressure can be measured in cats. A cat's
blood pressure is likely to increase at the vet's, especially if it has to
wait in the same room as a dog. Blood pressure also rises after the cat has
been physically examined by the vet. There is great variation in how much
these factors affect cats. The conclusions drawn from research are
that cats need ten minutes to settle after they arrive, and that the first
procedure, prior to the vet carrying out a physical examination, should be
measuring the cat's blood pressure.
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For a brighter smile
Teeth cleaning for cats
source: Your Cat February 1999
starts p24, 2 pages long
Gum and tooth problems occur in eight out of ten cats over the age of three,
and this can lead to bad breath, pain and lost teeth. Good dental hygiene
should start during kittenhood, as an older cat is unlikely to take to having
its teeth cleaned. This could start with the application of gentle pressure
around the teeth and gums, progressing to the use of cat toothpaste, accustoming
the cat to the flavour of the paste slowly.
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Take cover
Cat health insurance
source: Your Cat March 1999
starts p72, 4 pages long
Pet owners are being persuaded to take out health insurance on their pets
and there are many policies offering basic cover to individual packages taking
into account location, age and breeding. Insurance does not cover for routine
preventative care or dental treatment, although some budgeting schemes will
help to spread the costs.
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