ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to conduct a survey of cardiologists on their recent experiences with cats that have dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and to retrospectively review individual cases of feline DCM. ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Part one: A survey was distributed to cardiologists with questions regarding caseload and clinical management of cats with DCM diagnosed over the past two years. Part two: Cardiologists completing the survey were invited to submit data from cats recently diagnosed with DCM. Data on signalment, clinical signs, diet, echocardiographic measurements and outcome were recorded. RESULTS: Part one: From 52 completed surveys, many cardiologists responded that measuring and supplementing taurine and recommending a diet change in cats with DCM are common practices. Few (15%) cardiologists reported an increase in the number of feline DCM cases over the past two years, although some had cases that improved even if taurine deficiency was not present. Part two: Twenty of 37 (54%) cats ate low pea/lentil (low PL) diets, and 14/37 (38%) ate high PL diets at the time of diagnosis; three had incomplete diet information. Two of 13 cats (15%) in which taurine was measured had levels below the reference range. After adjusting for other variables, cats eating high PL diets that changed diets after diagnosis had a significantly longer survival time than that of cats eating high PL diets that did not change diets after diagnosis (P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Additional research is warranted to determine whether there could be a possible association between diet and DCM in cats.
Subject(s)
Cardiologists , Cardiomyopathy, Dilated , Cat Diseases , Animals , Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/veterinary , Cat Diseases/epidemiology , Cat Diseases/etiology , Cats , Diet/veterinary , Dogs , Humans , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Successful management of the patient presenting with acute cardiovascular compromise requires a thorough working knowledge of the therapeutic agents available for treatment. This article focuses on the indications for, dosing, and monitoring employed for successful use of the vasoactive agents and antiarrhythmic medications in current widespread use in the veterinary intensive care setting.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/veterinary , Cat Diseases/drug therapy , Dog Diseases/drug therapy , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Animals , Anti-Arrhythmia Agents/therapeutic use , Cardiotonic Agents/therapeutic use , Cardiovascular Diseases/drug therapy , Cats , Dogs , Emergency Treatment/veterinaryABSTRACT
Transvenous pacing therapy is a life-saving technique for patients with clinically significant bradyarrhythmias. For most symptomatic bradyarrhythmias in small animals, there is no effective substitute for cardiac pacing. The methods employed for pacemaker placement, although potentially time-consuming, are not technically difficult. This article discusses the indications, techniques, clinical decision-making, and potential complications associated with temporary and permanent transvenous cardiac pacing.
Subject(s)
Bradycardia/veterinary , Cardiac Pacing, Artificial/veterinary , Pacemaker, Artificial/veterinary , Animals , Bradycardia/therapy , Cardiac Pacing, Artificial/methods , Dogs , Equipment DesignABSTRACT
The medical records of 100 cats with distal aortic thromboembolism were reviewed. The average age was 7.7 years, with the neutered male being the most common signalment (63%). Evidence of preexisting cardiac disease was noted in 11% of the cases. A murmur or arrhythmia was noted in 57% of the cases on presentation. Frequent laboratory abnormalities included elevations in blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine. Radiographic and electrocardiographic abnormalities were common (89% and 85%, respectively). The most frequent, underlying disease was hypertrophic feline cardiomyopathy (58%), with the left atrial size (as measured by M-mode) significantly increased in the majority of cases (mean left atrial-to-aortic ratio, 2.08). The average, long-term survival in the 37% of cases which survived the initial thromboembolic episode was 11.5 months. The remaining cases either died (28%) or were euthanized (35%).
Subject(s)
Aortic Diseases/veterinary , Cat Diseases , Thromboembolism/veterinary , Age Factors , Alanine Transaminase/blood , Animals , Aorta/pathology , Aortic Diseases/diagnosis , Aortic Diseases/epidemiology , Aortography/veterinary , Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood , Blood Glucose/analysis , Blood Urea Nitrogen , Cat Diseases/diagnosis , Cat Diseases/epidemiology , Cat Diseases/pathology , Cats , Creatinine/blood , Electrocardiography/veterinary , Female , Male , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Thromboembolism/diagnosis , Thromboembolism/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The growth, using freshly cultured Escherichia coli with ampicillin or heat-treated lyophilised E coli as a food source, of the larvae of the mouse nematode Nematospiroides dubius and the infectivity of resulting third stage larvae were determined. Concentrations of E coli between 0.5 and 1 mg dry weight ml-1 permitted optimal larval development for both N dubius and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Development of larvae of susceptible and cambendazole-resistant strains of Haemonchus contortus in thiabendazole solutions showed clear differences between the strains and the larval development test was more sensitive than the egg hatch test. The test also detected a levamisole resistant strain of H contortus, although the degree of resistance could not be adequately measured. It is concluded that the test can be run with any anthelmintic to which resistance is suspected.
