Feline Medicine

Feline bronchial disease goes under a multitude of names reflecting the considerable heterogeneity in anatomic locations as well as etiologies that may be involved.

Keeping cats indoors has become common veterinary advice to reduce the risk of exposure to infectious diseases and injury from vehicles or other animals. This advice may not be completely beneficial for cats, however. As early as 1925, Kirk suggested that "too close confinement to the house" increased the risk of lower urinary tract signs (LUTS). Results of subsequent epidemiological studies have confirmed his observations.

The human genome is composed of about 3 billion base pairs, of which only about 2% forms coding DNA (genes); the rest is non-coding and serves various functions, such as gene regulation. Humans have about 20-25,000 genes, although the function of 50% of them is unknown.

There is no question that feline medicine has grown steadily in popularity since the 1970s when the first feline-only practices were established.

Tragically, in North America, tens of thousands of cats are euthanized or surrendered to shelters each year for behavior problems. Of these cats, between 40% and 75% of all cats presented for behavior problems have an elimination disorder involving urination or defecation.

Fractious cats are an inevitable part of small animal practice. A client's decision to return to your hospital for future veterinary services may hinge on how the doctor and staff deal with these patients. In fact, your level of achievement in the "art of practice" is seen vividly in your ability to deal with these difficult patients.

The most common behavior problem of cats is inappropriate elimination (IE). It is the cause of owners taking drastic measures including banning the cat to the outdoors, abandonment, surrender to a shelter, and euthanasia. It is important that a simple cookbook answer not be used for these cats as is illustrated by the approach that I use.

Most cats with kidney uroliths have no clinical signs.

Urolith in the urethra, most commonly composed of calcium oxalate.

It is helpful to divide cats with FLUTD into obstructive and non-obstructive uropathy for treatment purposes. Obstructive uropathy is most commonly seen in male cats due to the small diameter of the male urethra. Typical clinical signs include dysuria, hematuria, frequent attempts to urinate, and licking at the penis or prepuce.

Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder in the cat. Since being first recognized in 1977, the incidence has increased steadily. This is, no doubt partly due to greater awareness and early screening, but certainly also due to a real increase in occurrence of this disease.

Vomiting is the forceful ejection of stomach and proximal duodenal contents through the mouth. Vomiting can be induced by vestibular, vagal, chemoreceptor trigger zone, or direct input to the emetic center. Diarrhea is a characterized by increased frequency of defecation, increased fluid content of the stool, or increased volume of stool.

Herpesvirus 1 (rhinotracheitis; FHV-1) and calicivirus (FCV) are the most common viral causes of sneezing and nasal discharge in the cat. If oral ulcers are present, calicivirus is most likely. If corneal ulcers are present, herpesvirus 1 is most likely. FHV-1 has now also been associated with chronic stomatitis, facial dermatitis, and endogenous uveitis. Viral rhinitis with or without secondary bacterial infection can be recurrent.

Use this questionnaire at any and all visits to help clients review subjects about which they might have questions.

The best diagnostic plan for feline odonotoclastic resorptive lesions.

In cats, bronchitis and asthma can be difficult to distinguish.

Evaluating serum chemistry profiles may help you diagnose this disease.

Changes in behavior are a clinical sign of osteoarthritis in cats.

A new study investigates the most efficient protocol for determining the degree of adrenocortical insufficiency or critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency in cats.

Dr. Susan Little discusses pain management for cats that undergo onychectomy.

A recent study examined the safety and efficacy of orally administered famciclovir in cats experimentally infected with a pure strain of FHV-1.

February is National Heart Month and a good time to save cats from cardiac disease.

How stress affects blood glucose concentrations.

Advice on one rule-out: lung parasites.

This form of therapeutic intervention may be just the answer for this disease that affects up to 5% of the pet cat population.

Is it herpesvirus? Is it a bacterial infection? Drs. Little and VanVranken discuss how to handle these cases.

A recently published study evaluated the use of a commercially available point-of-care relaxin test for its sensitivity and specificity for pregnancy detection in cats.

Low-cost spays and neuters fill a crucial need. Veterinarians: Don't begrudge your colleagues who help.

How effective is "clipnosis"?

Drs. Susan Little and Pete Van Vranken discuss options for managing cats with this inconvenient disorder.