Feline Medicine

One clinic's great idea for a fundraiser: catnip.

An important differential diagnosis in young pure-bred cats.

How would you help this cat with two serious conditions?

Dr. Mark Epstein gives his thoughts on feline pain management.

Let go of these popular misconceptions about opioid use in veterinary patients.

Some recommendations regarding vaccination and reducing the risk of vaccine site-associated sarcoma.

Hillsborough, N.J. - Although she didn't plan to become a feline practitioner, Dr. Elizabeth Colleran, MS, a 1990 graduate of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, is now the new president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP).

Drs. Susan Little and Pete Van Vranken discuss pancreatitis and triad disease in cats.

A young mother, athlete, and veterinary practice manager suffered through extreme fatigue and muscle pain for three years before she discovered her life would never be the same. Could the same thing happen to you simply because of where you work?

Veterinary team members, you're at risk for the disease simply because you work with animals. But how much do you really know about bartonellosis?

An important tip concerning insulin administration by clients.

An important consideration for feline onychectomies.

Who's falling short when it comes to the care of cats?

Guidelines for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus testing, focusing on kittens.

Thromboembolism is a fairly common and potentially devastating complication of heart disease in cats.

Feline bronchopulmonary disease (FBPD), often referred to as "feline asthma" actually encompasses a group of common, but poorly understood, airway diseases. It is estimated that bronchopulmonary disease affects 1% of the general cat population and > 5% of the Siamese breed. Cats of any age can be affected and there is no clear gender predisposition.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) can be defined as a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia, which results from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. DM can occur because of disease affecting the endocrine pancreas and other endocrinopathies such as acromegaly.

The etiology of this unusual condition in cats is not known.It probably falls into the category of other lymphoproliferative disorders of cats.

Disease of the oral cavity is a common problem, particularly in middle-aged to older cats. Some disorders (e.g. lymphoplasmacytic gingivitis/stomatitis) may begin very early in life in some purebred cats.

Feline herpesvirus1 infection is most noted for causing URI disease and oral ulceration. Latent, persistent infection will occur in about 30% of affected cats. Vaccines do not prevent feline herpesvirus infection nor carriage or intermittent shedding of the virus. Recrudescence of signs or new lesions may occur with stress or concurrent illness.

Cats who cannot breathe are the most fragile patients we treat each day. Cats tend to be more compromised on presentation as they hide their breathing issues better from their owners. It is important to balance diagnostic procedures with therapeutic intervention so that these cats can be quickly stabilized and effectively treated.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is one of the most commonly encountered endocrine emergencies in small animal practice. DKA is typically seen in previously undiagnosed diabetics and less commonly occurs in patients that are on inadequate amounts of insulin.

Cats have a different embryological development and anatomy of the pancreas from other species. In cats, unlike other species, the pancreatic duct is the main functional duct; the accessory pancreatic duct usually does not persist. In dogs the pancreatic duct is of minor importance and may be absent.

If the cat is presented for labored breathing questions should be directed to assist in differentiating upper from lower respiratory disease as some owners perceive stertorous breathing in a cat with upper respiratory disease as a form of labored breathing. This could be misleading to a clinician.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common endocrinopathies seen in cats. DM arises from a variety of pathophysiological causes. Causes of DM in cats include islet-specific amyloid deposition, chronic pancreatitis, obesity, infection, other illness, drugs, etc.