Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery最新文献

Feline obesity continues to be a priority health and welfare issue. Most research surrounding obesity currently focuses on obesity treatment. However, treatment for feline obesity is slow, often unsuccessful and not without consequences. Identifying high-risk populations for obesity onset is crucial for developing and implementing preventive strategies. This review identifies post-gonadectomy kittens aged 5-12 months as the primary target population for obesity prevention in domestic cats and highlights dietary and feeding management strategies to be implemented for obesity prevention.

Case series summary: Cats with ionized hypercalcemia that were fed diets with either more than 200 mg calcium per 100 kilocalories (kcal), a calcium:phosphorus (Ca:P) ratio greater than 1.4:1 or both, based on diet history, were included in this case series. Ionized hypercalcemia was documented at least twice in all cats before enrollment. Cats were referred for evaluation of ionized hypercalcemia (n = 5) or were incidentally found to have ionized hypercalcemia (n = 5). After medical workups, cats were diagnosed with either idiopathic hypercalcemia (IHC; n = 7) or chronic kidney disease (n = 3). Cats receiving medications to treat IHC (eg, alendronate, corticosteroids) were excluded. Nutritional recommendations were made to transition the cats to diets with less thn 200 mg calcium per 100 kcal and a Ca:P ratio less than 1.4:1. Ionized calcium (iCa) concentrations were rechecked in all cats, with a median recheck time of 9 weeks (range 3-20). Of the 10 cats, nine (90%) had a decrease in iCa. Of the 10 cats, six (60%) became normocalcemic after the diet change, three (30%) had a partial response and one (10%) did not respond. Of the four cats that did not achieve normocalcemia with a change in diet, two (50%) received chia seeds (1-2 g per day), and at the next recheck, both cats' iCa concentrations had normalized. Three cats had a long-term follow-up. Ionized normocalcemia was maintained for at least two consecutive follow-up visits over a median follow-up period of 33 weeks (range 12-34).

Relevance and novel information: Dietary calcium concentrations and the dietary Ca:P ratio appear to be important variables in considering nutritional approaches for hypercalcemic cats.

Objectives: Alpha-adrenergic antagonists are commonly used to prevent recurrent urethral obstruction in cats with mixed reports of efficacy. No published data on tamsulosin use in cats are available. The objective of this study was to measure changes in urodynamic parameters and blood pressure in five healthy male cats before and after administration of tamsulosin orally for 4 and 10 days.

Methods: Five young healthy adult male cats from a research colony were administered tamsulosin at 0.1 mg/cat PO q24h for 10 days. Urethral pressure profile and blood pressure measurements were performed before treatment and approximately 6 h after treatment on days 4 and 10. Maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) for the prostatic and penile urethra, functional urethral length (FPL), functional area (FA) and systolic blood pressures were recorded and compared between the time points.

Results: Significant changes in blood pressure on day 4 (121.1 mmHg ± 20.2 mmHg) and on day 10 (112.6 mmHg ± 14.9 mmHg) compared with day 0 (141.1 mmHg± 33.4 mmHg) were not detected (P = 0.18) in anesthetized cats. No significant difference in MUCP, FA or FPL measurements were detected among baseline, day 4 and day 10 of treatment. Hematuria and transient pollakiuria were induced in two cats with 3.5 Fr urethral catheters.

Conclusions and relevance: Tamsulosin at 0.1 mg/cat PO q24h did not induce hypotension in healthy cats. Urodynamic testing performed 6 h after the tamsulosin pill was administered did not detect consistent decreases in urodynamic functions induced by tamsulosin. Repeated catheterization of tom cats with 3.5 Fr catheters may induce significant urethral trauma.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess long-term ciclosporin oral solution compliance in cats treated for feline atopic skin syndrome (FASS).

Methods: A survey was sent by email to 114 owners who had administered ciclosporin oral solution to their cats for FASS.

Results: In total, 42 owners completed the survey. The population was composed of 30 domestic shorthair cats and 12 pure breeds. There were 20 males and 22 females, and the median age was 5.5 years. Ciclosporin oral solution was administered directly into the mouth in 32/42 (76%) and with food/other in 10/42 (24%) cats. The administration was considered easy in 18/42 (43%) cats, difficult in 23/42 (55%) and impossible in 1/42 (2%). Treatment was stopped in 25/42 (60%) cats. The causes were as follows: administration difficulty (nine cats, 21%); complete resolution (four cats, 10%); treatment failure (four cats, 10%); price (two cats, 4%); and other causes (two deaths, two neoplasia, one adverse effect and one lack of compliance). Adverse effects involving clinical signs were reported in 25 (60%) cats: ptyalism (8/42); dysorexia/anorexia (6/42); vomiting (4/42); diarrhoea (4/42); gingival hyperplasia (1/42); and a combination of vomiting, diarrhoea and ptyalism (2/42). In addition, altered behaviour was reported in 27/42 (64%) cats: hiding in seven cats; scared of owner in 10 cats; modification of sleeping or playing activity in six cats; inappropriate urination/defecation in two cats; aggression in one cat; and all of the above in one cat.

Conclusions and relevance: In total, 24 (57%) cats had adverse effects involving both clinical signs and altered behaviour, and only six cats had either adverse clinical signs or behavioural changes. This survey showed that behavioural changes appear to be underestimated in the cats treated with ciclosporin oral solution and this could cause treatment failure due to lack of compliance. Larger-scale studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.

Objectives: A comparative assessment of systolic blood pressure (BP) measurement agreement and precision in two commonly used non-invasive BP devices was carried out in conscious cats.

Methods: Systolic BP measurements were obtained from 50 conscious cats as part of their clinical investigations. All measurements were taken by the same operator and were performed according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) consensus guidelines. The same cuff location and cuff size were used for paired measurements. The order of device use was randomised, and an arousal score was assigned during each procedure. Precision was assessed using standard deviation and coefficient of variance comparisons. Agreement was assessed using graphical and statistical comparisons of derived 'delta mean' and 'mean of means' data.

Results: A total of 50 cats aged between 3 months and 15 years were enrolled (29 domestic shorthair, seven domestic longhair, three British Shorthair, two Ragdoll, two Sphynx, two Persian, one Siamese, one Burmese, one Russian Blue, one Maine Coon and one Oriental) with a body weight in the range of 1.2-6.2 kg. BP measurements were in the range of 95-179 mmHg. Oscillometric measurements were associated with lower arousal scores. The Doppler device demonstrated superior repeatability precision. Body weight, sex, cuff size, cuff location, arousal score and the order in which the devices were used had no significant effect on precision or agreement. Correlation between the two devices was 0.0837 and agreement was considered clinically acceptable (<10 mmHg) in 32/50 (64%) cats. Of the 18 cats with suboptimal agreement, the oscillometric mean BP was higher in 14 (78%) cats.

Conclusions and relevance: Based on this study sample, suboptimal agreement between paired CAT+ Doppler and SunTech Vet20 oscillometric BP measurements in 36% of conscious cats suggests that these devices should not be used interchangeably. Compared with Doppler, oscillometric measurements were consistently higher, particularly at higher blood pressures. Further studies are required to assess which device has superior accuracy in conscious cats.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe clinical examination and thoracic CT (TCT) findings in cats after trauma, and to identify physical examination findings associated with both abnormalities on TCT and the need for therapeutic interventions.

Methods: A multicentre, retrospective, observational study was conducted. Cats admitted to the participating hospitals with a history of blunt trauma and that underwent TCT were eligible. Data were collected on signalment, history, physical examination, TCT findings and subsequent interventions.

Results: In total, 137 cats were included. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) were the most frequently reported cause of trauma (69%). Tachypnoea (32%), pale mucous membranes (22%) and dyspnoea (20%) were the most common abnormal findings on thoracic examination. The most frequently identified thoracic pathologies on TCT were atelectasis (34%), pulmonary contusions (33%), pneumothorax (29%) and pleural effusion (20%). Thoracocentesis was the most commonly performed intervention (12%), followed by chest drain placement (7%). A total of 45 (33%) cats had no physical examination abnormalities but did have abnormalities detected on TCT; six of these cats required interventions. Increasing numbers of thoracic abnormalities on clinical examination were associated with increasing likelihood of having abnormal findings on TCT (odds ratio [OR] 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-3.44, P = 0.008) and of requiring an intervention (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.32-2.51, P <0.001).

Conclusions and relevance: RTAs were the most common reported cause of blunt trauma. Atelectasis, pulmonary contusions and pneumothorax were the most common abnormalities identified on TCT, and thoracic drainage was the most utilised intervention. TCT may be useful in identifying cats with normal thoracic physical examination findings that have significant thoracic pathology, and a high number of abnormal findings on thoracic examination should raise suspicion for both minor and major thoracic pathology. The results of this study can be used to assist in selecting appropriate cases for TCT after blunt trauma.

Objectives: This study used an owner-directed online questionnaire to collect data regarding their food and water provision for their pet cats. The survey was conducted in 2019.

Methods: The anonymous online 30-question survey was available via vetprofessionals.com.

Results: A total of 1172 cat owners fully completed the questionnaire. The respondents each owned a median of two cats (range 1-6). They reported being most strongly motivated to feed a particular ration because of palatability, observed and/or expected health benefits, or that the diet was/is perceived as 'natural'. The majority of owners (n = 946, 80.7%) fed their cats exclusively a commercially purchased complete wet food, dry kibble diet or mixture of both. Compared with a previous (unpublished) survey conducted by the same authors in 2013,1 there were substantial increases in the number of owners feeding therapeutic diets (26.6% vs 0.7%) and the inclusion of raw meat in cats' rations (15.6% vs 3.7%). The proportion of respondents providing at least one feeding station per cat was 83.1%, with significant use of enrichment feeding methods (29.1%).

Conclusions and relevance: Veterinarians need to be aware of changing trends in cat feeding to provide owners with appropriate support. Veterinary advice was frequently sought by owners and can be used as an opportunity to improve cat health and welfare, particularly in multi-cat households, but was not often influential to client decision making.

Practical relevance: Diabetes mellitus is the second-most common feline endocrinopathy, affecting an estimated 1/200 cats. While the underlying causes vary, around 15-25% of cats with diabetes mellitus develop the condition secondarily to progressive growth hormone (GH)-induced insulin resistance. This typically results in a form of diabetes that is challenging to manage, whereby the response to insulin is very variable or high doses are required to achieve even minimal diabetic control.

Clinical challenges: Although uncontrolled chronic excessive GH may result in phenotypic changes that raise suspicion for acromegaly, many cats with hypersomatotropism (HST) do not have these changes. In these situations, a clinician's index of suspicion may be increased by the presence of less dramatic changes such as marked polyphagia, stertor or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. The current diagnostic test of choice is demonstration of a markedly increased serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) concentration, but some affected cats will have only a marginal increase; additionally, chronic insulin administration in cats results in an increase in serum IGF1, making the diagnosis less clear cut and requiring additional confirmatory tests.

Evidence base: Over the past two decades, HST has increasingly been recognised as an underlying cause of diabetes mellitus in cats. This review, which focuses on diagnosis and treatment, utilises data from observational studies, clinical trials and case series, as well as drawing on the experience of the authors in managing this condition.