Vet Times

Tag: feline

  • Broaden your horizons with EMS

    Broaden your horizons with EMS

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    When I received yet another EMS email that had been sent to the whole vet school, I almost deleted it out of habit, but something stopped me. A word caught my eye: Bolivia. I had always wanted to go to South America – would this be my chance to tick something off the bucket list as…

  • Who’s afraid of the big bad dog?

    Who’s afraid of the big bad dog?

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    If recent genetic studies are to be believed, domestic dogs evolved from wolves around 11,000 years ago when our ancestors stole wolf cubs, domesticated them and trained them to help hunt for food. However, other than their shared genealogy, both animals are very different nowadays – particularly when it comes to temperament. The wolf is…

  • Alanine transferase

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    Alanine transferase (ALT) is a specific indicator of hepatocellular injury in dogs and cats. Increases occur due to cell damage and induction. ALT is virtually liver specific in dogs and cats. Causes include: Artefact – haemolysis Drugs – anticonvulsants, steroids, any drugs causing hepatotoxicity Disease – liver: both primary and secondary hepatic disease can increase…

  • Glipizide therapy in diabetic cats

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    Glipizide is an oral blood glucose lowering drug in the sulphonylurea class. It acts by causing the beta cells in the pancreas to release insulin, and may also increase sensitivity to insulin. Glipizide is used to treat type II diabetes in cats along with diet, exercise and insulin therapy if necessary. It is highly effective…

  • How to perform an effective barium swallow

    How to perform an effective barium swallow

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    The animal should be prepared for the study by being starved for a minimum of 24 hours. Drinking during this period is allowed. If the study is to include the large intestine, it is important the large bowel has been evacuated prior to the study. A barium concentration of 80-100% W/W is used. The volume…

  • FAB becomes International Cat Care

    FAB becomes International Cat Care

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    Charity CEO Claire Bessant and vice-president Bradley Viner officially unveiled the Feline Advisory Bureau’s new name, visual identity and revamped website during a special reception on its stand at BSAVA Congress 2013, on April 4. According to Claire, the new name – International Cat Care – and revamp better reflects the charity’s increasing international focus to help…

  • Holiday options

    Holiday options

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    Our main holiday season is coming. YAY! We have our dog friendly cottage booked – now all we need is the dog! We took the decision with Wilson that, as he was geriatric, we wouldn’t take him to kennels. Instead, we developed a nice little collection of dog friendly places to stay (more of those…

  • Renal proteinuria

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    Renal proteinuria is an important complication of chronic renal disease. The presence of proteinuria is not only a marker of renal injury but also an important independent mediator of progressive renal injury. Dipsticks are insensitive in documenting proteinuria. The urine protein creatinine ratio offers the best means of assessing the severity of proteinuria and correlates…

  • Feline asthma

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    A young cat in good condition with a history of coughing and mixed dyspnoea with increased abdominal effort on expiration is most likely to have feline asthma. Although chest radiographs are necessary to confirm, harsh lung sounds in all fields and the absence of a heart murmur or gallop rhythm makes the diagnosis of asthma…

  • What’s in a name?

    What’s in a name?

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    “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.”  – Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2) Bless Shakespeare. Juliet fell in love with a man with the wrong surname, being from the wrong family. However, lovely Juliet believed that the name was irrelevant and made no difference.…