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Tag: canine

  • Immunotherapy in cats

    Immunotherapy in cats

    Although “off-licence”, immunotherapy is well worth considering in our pruritic feline friends.

    Feline head pruritus secondary to food allergy
    Feline head pruritus, a result of food allergy. Image by Caroldermoid. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

    Of course we need to rule out all other causes of pruritus first:

    • Ectoparasites: As well as all the usual suspects, don’t forget Demodex can occasionally cause ventral alopecia and pruritus (that’s the funny flat form, not the cigar shaped one).
    • Food allergies: Let’s face it, food allergy is tricky to pursue in cats – and if they have a partly outdoor lifestyle, hypoallergenic diets are of not of any use.

    Case study

    I recently saw a case that had typical excoriation lesions around the head and neck.

    The owner was able to keep the cat indoors on Purina HA Hypoallergenic for six weeks, and was happy to dose monthly with Stronghold. This, together with a good response to steroids, was highly suggestive of atopy.

    Serum IgE testing produced a range of high levels to pollens, house dust mite and moulds.

    Our friend has recently started on immunotherapy injections and is now starting to show signs of a good response. With the feline response to immunotherapy reported to be higher than that in dogs, this may be something well worth considering in cats.

  • Don’t forget cytology and Malassezia dermatitis

    Don’t forget cytology and Malassezia dermatitis

    Tape cytology from dog with Malassezia dermatitis (Dif-Quik stain).
    Tape cytology from dog with Malassezia dermatitis (Dif-Quik stain) – note the “peanut-shaped guys”. Image: Wikimedia Commons

    Ever had one of those cases, which seem to typically occur around this time of year, that you think must be the start of an allergic dermatitis?

    These present with pruritus, erythema and sometimes a yellowish/grey, greasy feel to the skin and hair coat.

    The dog is already on a regular POM-V broad-spectrum antiparasiticide.

    Initial thoughts

    Pyoderma immediately springs to mind – it’s 6.55pm on a Friday, you skip the cytology and start on an appropriate antibiotic; maybe even a short course of prednisolone.

    A week later and the dog has not really improved, so it’s a great time for some cytology. There is a good chance we have got a Malassezia dermatitis, and hey presto – the peanut-shaped guys are visible on microscopy. A couple of Malaseb shampoos later and we are rocking.

    Then the fun really starts as we try to determine the underlying cause…

  • Check bile acid values in lethargic puppies

    sleeping labrador retriever puppy
    He might look cute asleep, but lethargy and exercise intolerance aren’t a particularly good sign in a puppy. Image ©iStockphoto.com/feedough.

    Have you ever had a puppy that just presents with lethargy, exercise intolerance and sleeps all the time?

    This is normal for my teenage daughters, but not so for a young Lhasa apso that presented to my surgery. Physical exam was unremarkable, but the dog was so sleepy we administered IV fluids to perk it up.

    Routine biochemistry revealed a low blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and a urine sample demonstrated the presence of urate crystals.

    This triggered a request for a bile acid stimulation test, which showed markedly abnormal elevation postprandial levels.

    Our diagnosis of hepatic portosystemic shunt was confirmed at Davies Veterinary Specialists and luckily this was shown to be extra hepatic. So, after some very smart surgery, the dog went on to live an energetic life.

  • Judging the severity of heart murmurs in cats

    Echocardiography of Hypertrophic-obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) in a cat.
    Echocardiography of hypertrophic-obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) in a cat, by Kalumet [licensed via CC BY-SA-3.0].
    It is harder to correlate the grade of a heart murmur with the severity of the underlying heart problem in cats than it is in dogs.

    Some quite loud murmurs may occur with relatively small defects.

    It is sensible to assess the patient for clinical signs that would suggest an underlying problem (e.g. lethargy, abnormal breathing pattern or effort, pale gums).

    The presence of such signs indicate further diagnostic work up such as echocardiography.

    However, if the cat appears very well, is showing no other clinical signs of a problem, and exercises normally, then it is fair to suggest a repeat examination in a few months to reassess the heart murmur and see if it has changed, or to see if the cat has developed any other clinical signs.

  • How to objectively assess dehydration

    How to objectively assess dehydration

    skull in desert
    Image ©iStockphoto.com/Atelopus

    Four parameters can be measured to objectively assess dehydration.

    1. PCV and Total Protein should be interpreted together. An increase in both suggests fluid loss except that resulting from acute haemorrhage.
    2. Lactate. Hypoperfusion of tissue increases the concentration of lactate due to anaerobic metabolism of cells. A portable lactate meter quickly and cheaply measures blood lactate in the clinical setting and functions similarly to a glucometer. Lactate <2 mmol/l is normal. Increased lactate correlates with outcome and is a poor prognostic indicator in dogs. Serial lactate measurements can be used to monitor and guide fluid therapy.
    3. Blood gas analysis. The equipment for measuring blood gas analysis is expensive and not usually available in general practice.

  • Chocolate poisoning in dogs

    Bar of chocolate
    As little as 50 grams (1.8 oz) of general chocolate can be enough to poison a small dog, but the concentration of theobromine in dark chocolates (approximately 10g/kg) is up to 10 times that of milk chocolate. (source: Wikipedia)

    Chocolate is digested much more slowly by dogs than people. Therefore symptoms may not appear for many hours after the chocolate is eaten.

    Do not be fooled by this into thinking that everything is okay. The earlier chocolate poisoning is treated the more likely you are to save the dog’s life.

    No antidote

    In addition, the very slow deactivation of theobromine by dogs means that the effects of chocolate poisoning can be very prolonged – up to three days, so the dog may need to be hospitalised throughout this time.

    Theobromine has no specific antidote – cases are treated symptomatically. The prognosis depends on how much chocolate or cocoa powder the dog has eaten, and how long prior to being seen by the vet that the dog ate it.

    Don’t delay

    Up to 50% of dogs will die if treatment is delayed until severe, persistent vomiting has developed. If seizures have begun then an even higher proportion of dogs will die.

    Treated early enough, except for dogs that have consumed very large quantities of chocolate or cocoa powder, the outlook is generally quite good. Recovered dogs show no long term ill effects from the poisoning.

  • Myxoedema

    Myxoedema

    Myxoedema
    Dog with hypothyroidism presenting with myxoedema. There is facial oedema and the typical tragic facial expression. Image Jane Coatesworth / AHT.

    Myxoedema most commonly occurs in moderate to severe cases of hypothyroidism in dogs.

    Thickening of the skin occurs secondary to accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (mostly hyaluronic acid) in the dermis.

    Myxoedema is most common on the forehead and face, causing a puffy appearance and thickened skin folds above the eyes. The puffiness, plus slight drooping of the upper eyelid, gives some dogs a “tragic” facial expression.

    These changes also have been found in the GI tract, heart and skeletal muscles.

    Myxoedema coma, a rare syndrome, is the extreme expression of severe hypothyroidism. The course can develop rapidly; lethargy progresses to stupor and coma. The common signs of hypothyroidism (eg hair loss) are present, but other signs, such as hypoventilation, hypotension, bradycardia and profound hypothermia, are usually seen as well.

  • Idiopathic head tremors in dogs

    Idiopathic head tremors in dogs

    Idiopathic head tremors are common in young to middle aged dogs especially bulldogs, boxers and Labradors.

    Boxer
    Although upsetting to owners, episodes are not painful or upsetting for the dog.

    There is often a familial component and the tremors can be triggered by:

    • a recent painful event
    • a temporary dip in blood glucose
    • lowering of blood calcium
    • allergens
    • trauma
    • nothing discernible at all

    It is easy to confuse the condition with focal seizures.

    Anti-epileptic medication is not beneficial in true cases of idiopathic tremors. There is anecdotal evidence that feeding a sugar-rich meal can immediately alleviate the tremors, even in those cases where blood glucose levels have been normal.

    Idiopathic head tremors in Bailey the boxer. Video: LaurenDu / YouTube

  • Is cranial cruciate ligament surgery always necessary?

    Is cranial cruciate ligament surgery always necessary?

    rupture
    Rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in an English Bulldog by Uwe Gille, licensed under CC-BY-SA-3.0

    For dogs weighing less than 15kg, cranial cruciate disease can be managed conservatively – weight loss until an appropriate Body Condition Score (BCS) is achieved, exercise restriction for 3 to 6 weeks, and possibly physical therapy and pain medication – allowing acceptable comfort and function.

    In dogs weighing more than 15kg, cruciate disease will eventually cause significant arthritis, and dysfunction is inevitable without surgical treatment.

    No single surgical technique is clearly superior, so the choice of surgical repair should be decided by the surgeon and the needs of the owner.

  • Spaying bitches at time of mastectomy

    Spaying bitches at time of mastectomy

    spay
    Spay image: Jackie Morrison.

    It is advisable to always spay a bitch having a mastectomy.

    Approximately 50% of malignant mammary tumours in the dog have receptors for either oestrogen or progesterone. This means the presence of these female hormones promotes the growth of these tumours.

    Benign tumours also have female hormone receptors and can also be stimulated by hormonal cycling of the female dog. This means spaying is important, even if a tumour has already developed.

    In one study, bitches spayed at the time of mammary tumour removal (or two years prior) lived 45% longer than those that remained unspayed.