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PubMed1994

Interhost movement of adult cat fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae).

Adult cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché), marked with orange-red or green fluorescent dye were released on one cat to study movement to another cat over a 7-d period. When the cats were separated, 3-8% of the marked fleas moved to the other cat. When the cats were allowed to remain together, 2-15% of the fleas moved. The percentage of fleas unaccounted for ranged from 8-47%. When both cats lived together, 8-15% movement occurred no matter which cat was infested. The percentage of female and male fleas unaccounted for was 8-32 and 30-47%, respectively, highlighting the importance of host grooming. Significantly fewer female cat fleas moved from one host to another than did males. The likelihood of establishing new infestations by adult fleas transferring from one host to another exists. However, visitations to environments capable of supporting immature stages of fleas seem a more important source of flea infestations.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Antigenic role of the endosymbionts of filarial nematodes: IgG response against the Wolbachia surface protein in cats infected with Dirofilaria immitis.

Filarial nematodes harbour intracellular endosymbiotic bacteria, which have been assigned to the genus Wolbachia. These bacteria appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of filarial diseases through their lipopolysaccharides. In view of the presence of Wolbachia endosymbionts in the body of filarial nematodes, one might also expect that proteins from these bacteria play an antigenic role in humans and animals affected by filariases. To test this hypothesis, we produced in recombinant form the surface protein WSP and a portion of the cell-cycle protein FTSZ from the Wolbachia of Dirofilaria immitis. Western immunoblot assays were then performed using cat sera to test the immunogenicity of these proteins. Sera were collected from owners' cats, which were either sero-negative or sero-positive for D. immitis and from cats before and after experimental infection with D. immitis. FTSZ was recognized in Western blots by sera from both positive and negative cats and from both uninfected and experimentally infected cats. WSP was recognized only by sera from positive cats and from cats experimentally infected with D. immitis; this protein was not recognized by sera from negative cats and from cats before experimental infection with D. immitis. The results of Western blot assays on WSP thus support the hypothesis that infection with filarial nematodes induces the production of antibodies against Wolbachia proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Results of craniotomy for the treatment of cerebral meningioma in 42 cats.

Forty-two cats underwent craniotomy for removal of a meningioma between 1985 and 1991. Median duration of clinical signs before examination was 1.25 months. All cats had inappropriate demeanor: 48% were dull and 38% were lethargic. Neurological deficits included impaired vision in 93%, paresis in 83%, and seizures in 19%. Computed tomography (CT) showed solitary masses in 86% and multiple masses in 14%. Intraoperative complications included hemorrhage and difficulty excising deep or adherent masses. Anemia in 13 of 42 cats was the most common immediate postoperative complication. Ten of 42 cats had no improvement or a more severe neurological status after surgery. Eight of 42 cats died immediately after surgery; 6 of these were anemic. Of the cats that survived the immediate postoperative period, evaluation 10 to 14 days after surgery showed that 97% (33 of 34) were alert and 79% (27 of 34) had returned to normal behavior. Neurological deficits, except for vision impairment, had resolved in most cats. The duration of follow-up varied from 1.3 months to 55.1 months. Ten cats developed neurological abnormalities from 1 month to 44.2 months after surgery; of these, 6 had tumor recurrence or new growth confirmed by CT scan or necropsy. Overall survival was 71% at 6 months, 66% at 1 year, and 50% at 2 years. Age of cat and location of tumor did not significantly affect survival (P = .1034 and .1851, respectively). There were too few precise measurements of tumor size to make a valid statistical comparison of the effect of size on survival. Location or presence of multiple tumors did not affect final outcome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Central nervous system disorders after renal transplantation in cats.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the incidence and severity of postoperative central nervous system (pCNS) disorders in feline renal transplant recipients. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study based on the medical records of cats that received renal allografts from 1987 to 1996. ANIMALS OR SAMPLE POPULATION: Fifty-seven client-owned cats received renal allografts for the treatment of renal failure. METHODS: The frequency, duration, severity, and treatment of episodes of pCNS disorders were recorded from the medical records. RESULTS: Twelve (21%) of 57 cats had pCNS disorders 1 hour to 5 days after the surgical procedure. Seven cats survived; four had single or multiple seizure episodes, and two had seizure episodes or disorientation followed by a period of coma. One cat became temporarily ataxic and blind after restraint for venipuncture. Five cats died; all had episodes of disorientation or seizures, or both, that progressed to a nonrecoverable comatose state, respiratory arrest or cardiac arrest, or both. There were no significant differences between the two groups in preoperative serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, or cholesterol levels, and intraoperative blood pressure measurements. There were no significant differences in the postoperative serum glucose levels, electrolytes levels, or osmolality between the two groups. The cats with pCNS disorders had a mean preoperative trough cyclosporine A (CyA) whole blood level of 429 ng/mL; cats without pCNS disorders had a significantly (P = .0116) higher mean preoperative trough CyA whole blood level of 736 ng/mL. CONCLUSION: Central nervous system disorders are a common and often fatal complication of renal transplantation in cats. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Recognition of pCNS disorders, and possible causes, will help develop hypotheses to investigate the problem.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prognosis factors for survival in cats after removal of a primary lung tumor: 21 cases (1979-1994).

OBJECTIVE: To identify possible prognostic factors for survival time in cats with a primary lung tumor after surgical excision. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. ANIMAL POPULATION: 21 cats with histologically confirmed primary lung tumors removed surgically. METHODS: Medical records for cats treated between 1979 and 1994 at 14 participating veterinary referral hospitals were reviewed. RESULTS: After surgical resection and recovery, 18 cats died from metastatic disease with a median survival time of 115 days (range, 13 to 1,526 days). Three cats were lost to follow-up at 119 days, 251 days, and 410 days after the surgical procedure. Contingency table analysis to determine if an association existed between clinical findings (breed, age, gender, body weight, clinical signs, duration of clinical signs, and radiographic findings) or histological features and survival time was performed. Only histological morphology of the primary lung tumor showed a significant association with survival time. Twelve cats with moderately differentiated tumors had a significantly longer survival time (median, 698 days; range, 19 to 1,526 days) than the nine cats with poorly differentiated tumors (median, 75 days; range, 13 to 634 days). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection of a solitary primary lung tumor in cats is indicated. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A poor prognosis for long-term survival is warranted for those cats having a poorly differentiated primary lung tumor.

Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cosmetic results of a ventrally based advancement flap for closure of total ear canal ablations in 6 cats: 2002-2003.

OBJECTIVE: To report the outcome of a modified total ear canal ablation (TECA) technique to maintain normal ear carriage in cats. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: Six cats with external ear canal disease. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed to identify cats in which a modified TECA using a single pedicle advancement flap was used to maintain normal ear carriage. Signalment, histopathologic diagnosis, complications, and outcome were retrieved. Owners were contacted to document long-term outcome. RESULTS: Modified TECA procedures (7) were performed in 6 cats. Normal ear carriage was present immediately after surgery and was preserved at follow-up interview. Owners were satisfied with cosmetic appearance. Histopathologic diagnosis of excised ear masses included ceruminous gland adenocarcinoma (2 cats), ceruminous gland adenoma (2 cats, 3 ears), and inflammatory polyp (2 cats). CONCLUSIONS: Modification of the TECA skin incision preserved normal ear carriage in all cats. Owners were satisfied with overall outcome and with cosmetic result. Rate and nature of complications were similar to previously published data. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A simple modification of the TECA skin incision to create a single pedicle advancement flap maintains normal ear carriage in cats.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrasonographic features of intestinal adenocarcinoma in five cats.

Adenocarcinoma, followed by lymphosarcoma, are the most common feline intestinal neoplasms. Clinicopathological, survey radiographic, and ultrasonographic findings of five cats with intestinal adenocarcinoma are reported. An abdominal mass was palpable in all five cats, but the mass could be localized to bowel in only two cats. Radiographically an abdominal mass was detected in only one cat. Ultrasonographically there was a segmental intestinal mural mass in all five cats. The mass was characterized by circumferential bowel wall thickening with transmural loss of normal sonographic wall layers. In one cat, the circumferential symmetric hypoechoic bowel wall thickening was similar to that reported for segmental lymphoma. In the other four cats, the sonographic features of the thickened bowel wall were varied, being mixed echogenicity and asymmetric in 3 cats and mixed echogenicity and symmetric in one. The results of the present report suggest that sonographic observation of mixed echogenicity segmental intestinal wall thickening in the cat represents adenocarcinoma rather than lymphosarcoma, although other infiltrative diseases should be considered.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Radiation therapy and surgery for fibrosarcoma in 33 cats.

Thirty-three cats with histologically confirmed fibrosarcomas were treated with radiation therapy followed by surgery. The median (95% confidence interval) disease free interval and overall survival were 398 (261,924) and 600 (lower limit 515) days, respectively. There were 19 treatment failures; 11 cats had only local recurrence, 4 cats developed metastatic disease, 3 cats had local recurrence followed by metastasis, and 1 cat developed simultaneous local and distant disease. Twelve cats are alive and disease free. Two cats died without evidence of treatment failure. The presence of tumor cells at the margin of resected tissue after radiation was the only variable which influenced treatment success. The median (95% confidence interval) disease free interval in 5 cats with tumor cells at the margin of the resected specimen was 112 (94,150) days versus 700 (lower limit 328) days for 26 cats with negative tumor margins, p < 0.0001. We did not identify a relationship between tumor volume, number of prior tumor excisions, concomitant use of chemotherapy or various descriptors of the radiation therapy technique and disease free interval.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrasonographic evaluation of gallbladder wall thickness in cats.

Ultrasonography of the gallbladder and biliary tract was performed on 42 cats: 22 clinically healthy cats (group A) and 20 cats with hepatobiliary disease and post mortem confirmation of gallbladder abnormalities (group B). The gallbladder wall was visible in 9 of 22 cats in group A and all 20 cats in group B. Additional gallbladder findings in group B included shape anomalies, biliary tract obstruction, wall thickening, polyps, neoplasia, and biliary sludge. Ultrasonographic evaluation of abdominal organs identified pancreatic disease as the predominant pathological cause of extrahepatic biliary obstruction. Hepatic parenchymal involvement was noted with inflammation and thickening of the gallbladder wall. Histologically, gallbladder walls were characterized by mucous gland hyperplasia, inflammation, infiltration, edema, epithelial detachment, and/or neoplasia. Ultrasonographic and histologic gallbladder wall measurements of 20 cats in group B agreed within 0.4 mm and all cats with a gallbladder wall thickness > or =1.0 mm had histopathologic abnormalities of the wall. Serum biochemical analysis revealed elevations of one or more parameters in all cats of group B, but was non-specific for a gallbladder lesion. The results of this study indicate that a visible, echogenic gallbladder wall can be considered a normal variant and is not always associated with hepatobiliary disease. Ultrasonography is accurate in measuring gallbladder wall thickness. Wall thickness greater than 1 mm is accurate in predicting gallbladder disease in cats, while a thickness less than 1 mm cannot rule out mild or chronic inflammation.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship of pancreatic duct dilation to age and clinical findings in cats.

Dilation of the pancreatic duct has been described as an ultrasonographic feature of pancreatitis in cats. The purpose of this study was to determine normal pancreatic duct width in healthy older cats and assess the significance of pancreatic duct dilation observed in a clinical population. In a prospective study, pancreatic ultrasound was performed in 15 healthy cats (mean age 13 +/- 3 years). Mean pancreatic width of left lobe, body, and right lobe was 0.65 +/- 0.16 cm (0.46-1.03 cm), 0.64 +/- 0.14 cm (0.46-0.9 cm), and 0.43 +/- 0.09 cm (0.3-0.57 cm), respectively. Mean pancreatic duct width was 0.13 +/- 0.04 cm (0.06-0.24 cm), which was significantly larger than previously reported for younger cats (0.08 +/- 0.025 cm) (P < 0.001). One hundred and four of 1445 clinical patients (7.2%) were diagnosed with a dilated pancreatic duct and were reviewed in a retrospective study. Incidence of pancreatic duct dilation was significantly higher in older than in younger cats (2.7% in cats < 1-5 years vs. 18.1% in cats 15 years or older; P < 0.001). Mean pancreatic duct width was 0.23 +/- 0.07 cm (0.14-0.52 cm), and there was a significant correlation between age and pancreatic duct width (P = 0.01). There was also a significant relationship between the mean ratio of pancreatic duct width and pancreatic thickness (n = 98) (0.29 +/- 0.09; 0.09-0.58; P = 0.041). There was no significant difference in age between cats with and without pancreatic disease. There was no association between pancreatic disease and pancreatic duct width or pancreatic duct width/pancreatic thickness ratio. Pancreatic duct width and pancreatic duct width/pancreatic thickness ratio in cats are significantly associated with age.

Aging↗
PubMed2000

Perirenal pseudocysts in 26 cats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical features, anatomical location, nature of pseudocyst fluid, results of surgical treatment and links with underlying renal disease in cats with perirenal pseudocysts. DESIGN: A retrospective study of 26 affected cats, including 8 treated surgically. RESULTS: Nineteen (73%) affected cats were male. The median age was 11 years. Most presented for abdominal enlargement and had varying degrees of renal dysfunction on presentation. Thirteen cats (50%) had bilateral pseudocysts. The pseudocyst fluid was a transudate or modified transudate in all cases. All surgically treated cats had subcapsular perirenal pseudocysts. Associated renal lesions were identified in all cats that had renal biopsies or detailed ultrasonographic examinations. Surgery relieved clinical signs but did not stop progression of renal disease. Cats survived a median of 9 months after surgery and survival was correlated statistically to degree of azotaemia at presentation. Percutaneous drainage of pseudocysts was ineffective in controlling long-term fluid accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: Subcapsular perirenal pseudocysts are formed in cats by accumulation of transudate between the capsule and parenchyma of the kidney as a result of underlying parenchymal disease. Pseudocyst formation can occur at variable stages of renal dysfunction. Resection of the pseudocyst wall is usually effective in eliminating signs but does not stop progression of renal disease. The prognosis for cats with pseudocyst formation is related to the degree of renal dysfunction at time of diagnosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Haematological and biochemical findings in cats in Australia with lymphosarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: To describe, for the first time, haematological and serum biochemical findings in cases of lymphosarcoma in Australian cats. DESIGN: A prospective multi-institutional study. PROCEDURE: Of 118 affected cats presented to the authors over a 18-month period, 97 were evaluated haematologically and 87 biochemically. Haematological analysis usually included determination of packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell and leukocyte counts, differential leukcocyte count, reticulocyte count and examination of buffycoat smears for neoplastic cells. Serum biochemical analysis was done primarily with a discrete analyser and included a panel of commonly used analytes. RESULTS: Nonregenerative anaemia was present in 54% (52/97) of cats. Neutrophilia, present in 65% (59/91) of cats, was commonly associated with lymphocytopaenia, eosinopaenia and monocytosis. Of the 13 cats with a secondary leukaemic manifestation, only five had distinct lymphocytosis. Serum biochemical abnormalities either were nonspecific, such as hypoglycaemia in 37% (32/87) of cats, or related to specific tissue involvement, such as hypoalbuminaemia in 76% (31/41) of cats with alimentary involvement and azotaemia in 60% (15/25) of cats with renal involvement. CONCLUSION: It was shown for the first time that haematological and serum biochemical findings are of limited value in diagnosing lymphosarcoma in Australian cats, except if they are leukaemic. Although clinical pathological changes were common, they were nonspecific or related to specific tissue involvement. Their value in assessing response to therapy needs to be examined further. Patient characteristics such as age, breed and sex also had limited effect on laboratory findings and those observed were of little consequence. Additionally, histological and immunophenotypical variations in tumour type had little effect on laboratory findings.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Prevalence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in Persian cats and related-breeds in Sydney and Brisbane.

OBJECTIVE: A form of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease has been identified in Persian cats and related breeds. Two features make elimination of this disease from future generations an achievable goal: the autosomal dominant mode of inheritance and the availability of a noninvasive technique, renal ultrasonography, to identify affected cats. The aims of this study were; to determine the prevalence of the disease in Persian cats and related breeds in Sydney and Brisbane, to determine any effect of domicile and breed on disease prevalence, to alert veterinary practitioners to the prevalence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and to propose methods of eliminating the disease from future generations of cattery-bred cats. DESIGN: To be included in this scheme, cats had to be of Persian or related breed and be older than 10 months-of-age. Younger cats were excluded because of the increased likelihood of a false negative result. Renal ultrasonography was performed using either a Medison 600 with a 7.5 MHz mechanical sector scanner (n = 228, Brisbane) or using an ATL UltraMark-9 with a 5 to 10 MHz linear array transducer (n = 92, Sydney). The effects of domicile (Sydney versus Brisbane) and breed on the prevalence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease were tested using two-tailed Fisher's Exact tests. RESULTS: A total of 320 cats were tested comprising 230 Persians, 48 Himalayans, 17 Exotics, 14 Burmillas, 6 Ragdolls and 5 Chinchillas. The prevalence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in Sydney (45%) and Brisbane (42%) was comparable and no sex predilection was identified. The disease was not detected in Ragdolls, although only a small number was tested. Two of 14 Burmilla cats were positive (14%), demonstrating that long hair coat and brachycephalic features do not segregate with the polycystic kidney disease trait. CONCLUSION: These results show that the prevalence of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease amongst purebred, long-haired cats in Australia is currently very high. Ultrasound detection schemes are easy to establish and breeder participation can be encouraged through subsidisation.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Reactions to tick antitoxin serum and the role of atropine in treatment of dogs and cats with tick paralysis caused by Ixodes holocyclus: a pilot survey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and nature of adverse reactions of dogs and cats to tick antitoxin serum and to re-evaluate the role of atropine in the treatment of tick paralysis. DESIGN: A retrospective questionnaire of veterinarians. PROCEDURE: Questionnaires were posted to 320 veterinarians in tick-endemic regions of Australia. Questions referred to dogs and cats treated for tick paralysis over a period of three years: the number treated, treatment protocols and adverse systemic reactions to tick antitoxin serum. Ninety completed questionnaires were returned and responses analysed. RESULTS: Veterinarians reported that approximately 3% of dogs exhibited adverse reactions immediately following treatment with tick antitoxin serum. Eighteen percent of these reactions were described as anaphylaxis, with the remaining 82% attributed to the Bezold-Jarisch reflex. Six percent of cats treated with tick antitoxin serum reacted adversely and the majority of reactions (63%) were ascribed to the Bezold-Jarisch reflex. Atropine was used routinely by 10% of responding veterinarians in the treatment of dogs and cats with tick paralysis. A similar number of veterinarians used atropine only in selected cases. Most veterinarians (76%) reported that they never used atropine in the treatment of tick paralysis in either dogs or cats. Within the survey population, premedication with atropine reduced the number of Bezold-Jarisch reactions following tick antitoxin administration approximately five-fold in dogs and four-fold in cats. CONCLUSIONS: Data from this pilot survey indicate that more cats than dogs have adverse systemic reactions to tick antitoxin serum and that the majority of these reactions in both dogs and cats could be related to the Bezold-Jarisch reflex. The number of reactions to tick antitoxin serum in dogs and cats could be significantly reduced by the routine use of atropine prior to administration of tick antitoxin serum.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Multiple myeloma in 16 cats: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: There is limited published information regarding feline multiple myeloma. Diagnostic criteria are derived from canine studies and to our knowledge, have not been critically reviewed for cats. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and laboratory findings in cats with multiple myeloma and appraise diagnostic criteria. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of medical records was performed. Inclusion required an antemortem diagnosis of multiple myeloma using 2 of 4 criteria: 1) >or=20% plasma cells in the bone marrow, or >or=10% if atypical plasma cells; 2) paraproteinemia; 3) radiographically-evident osteolysis; 4) light chain proteinuria. Alternatively, a postmortem diagnosis was based on the findings of multiple plasma cell neoplasms, with marrow involvement. RESULTS: Sixteen cats were diagnosed with multiple myeloma between 1996 and 2004, with a median age of 14.0 years; 9 of 16 (56%) were castrated males, and 7 of 16 (44%) were spayed females. Laboratory abnormalities included hyperglobulinemia (14/16, 87.5%), with 11/14 (78.5%) monoclonal and 3/14 (21.4%) biclonal gammopathies; hypoalbuminemia (4/16, 25%); light chain proteinuria, (4/9, 44.4%); hypocholesterolemia (11/16, 68.7%); hypercalcemia, (3/15, 20%); nonregenerative anemia, (11/16, 68.7%); regenerative anemia, (1/16, 6.2%); neutropenia (5/15, 33.3%); thrombocytopenia (8/16, 50%); and marrow plasmacytosis (14/15, 93.3%). Plasma cells were markedly immature, atypical, or both in 10 of 12 (83.3%) cats. Focal or multifocal osteolysis was noted in 6 of 12 (50%) cats for which radiographs were available for review; generalized osteopenia was found in 1 (8.3%) cat. Noncutaneous, extramedullary tumors were found in all cats assessed, 7/7 (100%), including spleen (6), liver (3), and lymph nodes (4). The disease in 1 of 2 cats with cutaneous tumors progressed to plasmacytic leukemia. CONCLUSIONS: Common findings in feline multiple myeloma include atypical plasma cell morphology, hypocholesterolemia, anemia, bone lesions, and multi-organ involvement. Based on the results of this study, we advocate modifying diagnostic criteria in cats to include consideration of plasma cell morphology and visceral organ infiltration.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital↗
PubMed2006

Separation of serum glycated proteins by agarose gel electrophoresis and nitroblue tetrazolium staining in diabetic and normal cats.

BACKGROUND: The total glycated protein (fructosamine) concentration in serum consists mainly of glycated albumin and lipoproteins. Measurement of fructosamine is used to diagnose and monitor diabetes mellitus in cats. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to measure glycated proteins in diabetic and healthy (nondiabetic) cats using a semiquantitative technique and to determine whether measurement of any of the fractions of glycated protein could be potentially advantageous for the diagnosis and monitoring of diabetic cats. METHODS: Serum samples from 6 cats with diabetes mellitus and 10 clinically healthy adult cats were assayed for total glycated protein using a nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) fructosamine assay. Serum proteins were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis and stained with NBT to identify individual glycated proteins within the bands. Gels were scanned by densitometry at 525 nm and the glycated protein content was calculated with reference to the total glycated protein content of the sample. RESULTS: Diabetic cats with increased total fructosamine concentrations had higher concentrations of glycated albumin and glycated alpha- and beta-lipoproteins compared with healthy cats. The concentration of glycated proteins in each of the fractions had a positive linear association with the total glycated protein content of serum, but there was large variation in the relative contributions of the 3 protein fractions to the total glycated protein concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, measurement of individual glycated fractions does not seem to offer any potential diagnostic advantage over measurement of total glycated protein (fructosamine) concentration alone. In some diabetic and healthy cats, glycated lipoproteins formed the major part of the total glycated protein, whereas in other cats albumin was the major contributor.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Methimazole treatment of 262 cats with hyperthyroidism.

The efficacy and safety of the antithyroid drug methimazole were evaluated over a 3-year period in 262 cats with hyperthyroidism. In 181 of the cats, methimazole was administered for 7 to 130 days (mean, 27.7 days) as a preoperative preparation for thyroidectomy. The remaining 81 cats were given methimazole for 30 to 1,000 days (mean, 228 days) as sole treatment for the hyperthyroid state. After 2 to 3 weeks of methimazole therapy (10 to 15 mg/d), the mean serum thyroxine (T4) concentration decreased significantly (P less than 0.001) from a pretreatment value of 12.1 micrograms/dl to 2.1 micrograms/dl. The final maintenance dose needed to maintain euthyroidism in the 81 cats that were given methimazole as sole treatment for hyperthyroidism ranged from 2.5 to 20 mg/d (mean, 11.9 mg/d). Clinical side effects developed in 48 (18.3%) cats (usually within the first month of therapy), which included anorexia, vomiting, lethargy, self-induced excoriation of the face and neck, bleeding diathesis, and icterus caused by hepatopathy. Mild hematologic abnormalities developed in 43 (16.4%) cats (usually within the first 2 months of treatment), which included eosinophilia, lymphocytosis, and slight leukopenia. In ten (3.8%) cats, more serious hematologic reactions developed including agranulocytosis and thrombocytopenia (associated with bleeding). These hematologic abnormalities resolved within 1 week after cessation of methimazole treatment. Immunologic abnormalities associated with methimazole treatment included the development of antinuclear antibodies in 52 of 238 (21.8%) cats tested and red cell autoantibodies (as evidenced by positive direct antiglobulin tests) in three of 160 (1.9%) cats tested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism in five cats.

Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism was diagnosed in five young to middle-aged cats of mixed breeding. Three of the cats were male and two were female. Historic signs included lethargy (n = 5), anorexia (n = 5), muscle tremors (n = 4), weakness (n = 4), generalized seizures (n = 3), ataxia (n = 3), mental dullness or disorientation (n = 3), panting (n = 2), pruritus (n = 1), ptyalism (n = 1) and dysphagia (n = 1). Weakness (n = 4), dehydration (n = 2), cataracts (n = 2), hypothermia (n = 1), and bradycardia (n = 1) were found on physical examination. Results of electrocardiography revealed a prolonged Q-T interval in two cats. Results of initial laboratory tests revealed profound hypocalcemia and severe hyperphosphatemia with normal renal function. The diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism was made on the basis of the history, clinical signs, and results serum biochemical testing (i.e., severe hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia); in two cats, the diagnosis was also confirmed by histologic examination of parathyroid glands. Initial treatment included intravenous administration of 10% calcium gluconate and oral administration of large loading doses of calcium and vitamin D (dihydrotachysterol). Successful long-term management with dihydrotachysterol and calcium was achieved in all cats. The final dosage of dihydrotachysterol required to maintain normocalcemia in the five cats ranged from 0.004 to 0.04 mg/kg/day (mean = 0.015 mg/kg/day). Long-term calcium supplementation was given to three of the cats in dosages ranging from 29 to 53 mg/kg/day (mean = 42 mg/kg/day) of elemental calcium. One cat died after 28 months of therapy from widely metastatic hemangiosarcoma; the other three cats are still alive and well after 5 to 37 months of treatment.

Animals↗