Julia K. Veir, DVM, DACVIM, PhD

In 2005 Eli Lily announced the discontinuation of the majority of animal derived source insulins in addition to the lente and ultralente lines of product. This changed the landscape of veterinary diabetic management. Ultimately, the best insulin for your patient may be the one you are most familiar with; however, general guidelines will help choose the insulin that will give you the best success with your patients.

Mycoplasma species have been isolated in our laboratory from cats with URTD (Veir et al 2004) and have been detected at a higher rate in cats with URTD than normal cats by other authors (Bannasch and Foley 2005). However, they are readily detected in the oropharynx and nasal cavity of normal cats as well (Randolph et al 1993, Tan et al 1977).

Nomenclature surrounding nutritional supplements can be confusing. The most commonly used live organism supplements are probiotics.

Possible mechanisms of hypercalcemia.

Consequences of chronic kidney disease are many and managing them is the hallmark of improving patient quality and quantity of life. Aside from continuous renal replacement therapy and renal transplants, management of azotemia, acid-base disorders, electrolytes, secondary hyperparathyroidism, nutrition, and hypertension are key.

Infectious causes of gastrointestinal disease in the cat are important for two reasons. The first is clearly the impact on the health of the cat itself. However, it must be noted that while unusual, our feline companions can be sources of zoonotic disease as well.