Hyperthyroidism in Cats Cruciate Ligament Injuries Chocolate Ingestion
Feline Asthma Kennel Cough Resources
Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine or hormonal disease in cats. It usually occurs in cats that are older than 8 years of age. The disease is caused by excessive production and secretion of thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland. This may result in enlargement of the thyroid gland in the neck.
Clinical signs of hyperthyroidism can include weight loss, an increased appetite or occasionally a decreased appetite, an unkempt hair coat, increased thirst and increased urinations, vomiting, nervousness or hyperactivity, diarrhea or increased stool volume, and weakness.
There are three treatment options for cats with hyperthyroidism:
- Anti-thyroid medication can be administered by mouth on a regular basis. This usually requires pill administration once to twice daily for the rest of the cat's life. Occasionally, liver changes or blood cell count changes are noted so these levels are monitored.
- Surgery can be performed to remove the affected thyroid tissue. If all of the abnormal tissue can be removed, surgery itself can be curative.
- The third method of treatment available for hyperthyroidism is I-131 radioiodine therapy. This involves the administration of radioactive iodine by injection followed by hospitalization for a period of often 3-5 days until radioactive iodine levels decrease to a safe level. This therapy is 95% curative with few if any side effects. No follow-up or daily medication is required. This therapy is offered at the Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center.
Please contact your veterinarian to discuss the treatment options of hyperthyroidism to determine which is the best long-term therapy for your cat.
The knee of a dog is built much as our own knee. Like people, dogs can injure any of the ligaments in their knee. The most common injury is a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), one of two ligaments, which form an "X" pattern within the joint. An ACL tear causes the joint to become unstable, resulting in pain and the formation of arthritis. This may be seen as an acute injury/lameness or a chronic lameness, limp in one of the rear legs, or reluctance to use that leg. With time, the dog may have problems getting up in the back legs. The original injury can occur as a result of an unusual twisting motion. However, the ligament can also slowly degenerate and eventually tear over time as well.
While the injury can occur in any breed, large breed dogs are the most likely to be affected. In these large dogs, nearly 50% have a torn piece of cartilage (meniscus) in addition to the torn ligament. For smaller animals (less than 10-15 pounds), surgery may not be necessary to reduce pain, allow proper use of the leg and decrease potential for developing arthritis. For larger dogs, surgery is usually always indicated.
There are a few surgical methods that can be used to treat ACL injuries:
- One procedure uses heavy suture material to artificially duplicate the function of the ligament and stabilize the knee joint. This is called an extracapsular repair.
- Other methods called a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), and a tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) are more advanced procedures also used for repair.
The TPLO procedure uses a fresh approach to the biomechanics of the knee joint and is meant to address the lack of success that can be seen with the extracapsular technique long term in larger dogs.
Please contact your veterinarian for further information regarding your options and definitive treatment. Your veterinarian may refer you back to the Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center for evaluation and surgery with the orthopedic surgeons.
Chocolate ingestion can cause clinical signs due to two ingredients: theobromine and caffeine. The amount of chocolate that a dog can eat without causing toxicity depends on the type of chocolate and the size of the pet.
Vomiting and diarrhea can be seen after ingestion of chocolate due to stomach upset. Other signs that can be seen, depending on the amount ingested, include:
- high blood pressure
- fast or slow heart rate
- heart arrhythmias
- nervousness
- excitement
- tremors
- seizures
- panting
- coma
- death
Treatment is with supportive care for the signs being shown and can include intravenous fluids, catheterization of the bladder to remove urine, and specific medications.
If you notice any of these signs or continued vomiting and diarrhea, your pet should be re-examined by your vet or the Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center.
Feline Bronchial Constriction (Feline Asthma)
Feline bronchial constriction is a disease of the lower airways that causes bronchoconstriction (asthma), inflammation and obstruction, resulting in respiratory distress. There can be different underlying causes such as allergic bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, chronic bronchitis with asthma, chronic bronchitis with emphysema, or bronchial asthma. Symptoms are usually reversible with medications, primarily steroids and bronchodilators. If the bronchitis is bacterial in origin, then antibiotics are warranted. Long term management depends on the cause of the bronchoconstriction. Some cats will need to stay on medication for the remainder of their life, while others may only need medication as symptoms return.
Respiratory distress is typically seen as prolonged expiratory efforts with expiratory wheezes. Once the cat is stabilized, diagnostic tests that may be indicated include chest xrays, tracheal washes to look at cells present in the tracheal fluid, heartworm tests, and fecal analysis to look for eggs of lung parasites.
Please contact your veterinarian or the Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center if you note any respiratory distress, increased effort to breath, wheezing, coughing, gum color that is not pink (white, blue, gray).
Kennel cough (canine infectious tracheobronchitis) is a contagious respiratory disorder of dogs that may last for several days to several weeks. It can be caused by a combination of bacteria and viruses. The most common organism is Bordetella bronchiseptica, but parainfluenza virus and adenovirus can also be involved. Most of the active viral shedding occurs in the first 8 days after exposure, but it is recommended that you limit your pet's contact with other pets until the coughing is gone.
Kennel cough is usually a self-limiting infection with a typical duration of 5-14 days. There may be a history of exposure at a boarding kennel, groomer, shelter, or dog show. The most prominent sign is a dry, harsh, hacking cough which frequently occurs in long episodes. The coughing can be followed by retching with phlegm or actual vomiting. It is uncommon to see other systemic signs, but a small percentage of cases can progress to pneumonia.
If the coughing seems to worsen or is not gone within 14 days and/or your pet stops eating and drinking, a recheck should be performed by your veterinarian.
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Click here to order a FREE Pet Emergency Care Book from the Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center.Disclaimer: The Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center has used reasonable endeavors to ensure that information contained on this page was correct at the time the page was created. For the most updated information, call our facility. The Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center or any associated entities or individuals give no warranty and accept no responsibility for the accuracy or the completeness of the material on this page. The information provided here is meant to supplement that provided by your veterinarian. It is not intended to replace the advice of a veterinarian, or to assist you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your veterinarian for confirmation of any diagnosis. If your pet is ill in any way, seek professional care with a local veterinarian who can examine your pet.