Thursday, June 24, 2010

Question: Hepatic Lipidosis?

Dr. Schaeberle,

I have a cat that is overweight, at my last visit the veterinarian mentioned Hepatic lipidosis could develop. Should I be concerned?

Beth

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Hi Beth,
Cats are sometimes prone to a serious illness called fatty liver disease or hepatic lipidosis. Overweight cats are at higher risk. Typically, stress or illness causes the cat to stop eating. When the cat stops eating, the body is tricked into thinking it is starving and fat starts to mobilize from the body, accumulating within the liver. This, in turn, affects liver function.

Most cats with fatty liver disease have experienced a recent, rapid weight loss, their skin and mucous membranes appear yellow or jaundiced, and they may be dehydrated, have nausea or vomiting and appear quiet or depressed.

Definitive diagnosis of hepatic lipidosis is by ultrasound of the liver or by liver biopsy, however, the disease is often suspected based on history, blood tests and clinical signs.

It is very important that cats with fatty liver disease start to receive enough calories to maintain their daily energy requirements. Force feeding may be attempted if the cat is not vomiting. If vomiting is present, medications are often used to control nausea, and many patients benefit from having a feeding tube placed. The feeding tube is usually placed either via the nose, or via a brief surgical procedure to place the tube in the esophagus. The cat is then fed a slurry through the tube. The feeding tubes can stay in for several weeks, and many cats can be fed at home by their owners. Once the cat starts eating on his own, the tube is removed. Other treatments might include intravenous fluids, antibiotics and vitamin
supplements and liver support drugs like SAMe.

Hepatic lipidosis can be a very serious illness and in some cases, may even be fatal so prompt treatment is necessary. If you notice that your cat is not eating for several days, or if her skin or gums look yellow, please seek immediate veterinary attention.

Thanks,
Thomas Schaeberle, VMD

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Part 4: Pet is scratching a lot?

Dr. Schaeberle,

My dog’s skin has been itchy and my veterinarian diagnosed a flea allergy. I am confused because I have only seen one or two fleas on my pet. Can this be true?

Terry

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Hi Terry,

Flea allergy dermatitis is a leading cause of scratching in dogs and cats. When fleas feed, they inject a small amount of saliva into the skin. Proteins in saliva are the usual allergen or chemical which causes of this intense itchy response. Dogs and cats with flea bite dermatitis do not have to be infested with many fleas to be itchy. In fact, a single flea bites can cause itching for up to a week.

So how is flea allergy dermatitis diagnosed?

Clinical signs often give the first clue that your pet may suffer from flea allergies. Itching and hair loss in the region from the middle of the back to the tail base and the rear legs is mostly associated with a flea allergy.

The treatment for flea allergy certainly includes very strict flea control. Utilization of monthly topical treatments such as Frontline and Advantix can help to kill adult fleas, and use of Sentinel (for dogs) or Program injectable (for cats) can help to quickly reduce flea populations in your house by preventing the development of immature flea stages which account for over 90% of the total flea population! Treatment of the home will also be recommended to cut down on flea infestations. As with an inhaled allergy, antihistamines such as Benadryl work poorly. Rather, corticosteroids or cortisone is widely used to treat flea bite dermatitis. They often bring about rapid relief to the poor itchy patient.

For more information about allergies, visit our website at www.myshilohvet.com, go to Resources and then click Pet Health.

Thanks,
Thomas Schaeberle, VMD

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Part 3: Pet is scratching a lot?

Dr. Schaeberle,

My cat seems to be scratching a lot lately. I thought it could be fleas but I’m not seeing any signs. What else could it be?

Kurt

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Hi Kurt,

Over the past few weeks I have discussed the causes of pruritus (itching) in our pets. The most common cause of itching and scratching is allergies. Today we will discuss how food allergies can contribute to pruritus.

In pets with food allergies, the immune system overreacts and produces antibodies to substances that it would normally tolerate. This excessive response is termed an allergic reaction.

The most common food allergens are proteins from dairy products and beef. However, proteins such as gluten from wheat, chicken, fish, other substances and additives can also cause allergic reactions. A common misconception is that corn products routinely cause allergies in pets, when studies have actually shown that corn very rarely at fault.

Overall, true food allergies in pets are actually quite rare. Most veterinary dermatologists think they might account for as little as 2% of all allergies.

How is the condition it diagnosed?

Pets are placed on hypoallergenic diets that contain none of the ingredients that the pet has eaten in the past. The food elimination diet must be continued for up to three months to determine if the pet actually has food allergy. Since the pets can have nothing else to eat (no human food, treats or rawhides are allowed), this can be a difficult process for pets and their owners. After a pet has been diagnosed with food allergies, there are a number of commercially available, treats and palatable hypoallergenic diets that can be fed for the rest of your pet’s life.

Thanks,
Thomas Schaeberle, VMD

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Part 2: Pet is scratching a lot?

Dr. Schaeberle,

My cat seems to be scratching a lot lately. I thought it could be fleas but I’m not seeing any signs. What else could it be?

Kurt

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Hi Kurt,

Last week I discussed the many causes of pruritus (itching and scratching) in dogs and cats. Today I will review the most common cause of pruritus, allergies.
What is an allergy?

An allergy is a state of over-reactivity or hypersensitivity of the immune system to a particular substance that we call an allergen. Most allergens are proteins. The allergen may be of insect, plant or animal origin and may be eaten (food allergy), inhaled (hayfever in people and atopy in pets), or touched (poison ivy in people).

The most common symptom associated with allergies is itching. Another common allergy is an inhalant allergy called atopy. The main cause of inhaled allergens are trees, weeds, grass pollens, house dust mites and molds. Many of these allergies occur seasonally such as ragweed and grass pollens. However, others such as mold, mildew, and house mites can be year round. When humans inhale these allergens, the allergy manifests mainly with respiratory signs such as runny eyes, running nose and sneezing. But in dogs and cats the result is usually itchy skin.

Next week we will discuss two main causes of allergies, food and fleas.

Thanks,
Thomas Schaeberle, VMD

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