Almost everyone knows a friend or acquaintance who is diabetic.  What most people may not realize is that diabetes may be present in their own home, possibly in a feline friend.

Diabetes is a group of diseases that result from either inadequate insulin production or the inability of cells to respond to this hormone.  Insulin is necessary to help move glucose from the blood stream into tissue cells for use as energy.  The predominant characteristic of diabetes is the presence of high levels of glucose in the blood…this is known as hyperglycemia.

In humans, one type of this disease is known as Type I or insulin-dependent diabetes.  This illness results from the body’s immune system destroying the cells that make insulin.   This is the predominant form of diabetes in our canine companions and there is no known way to prevent it.

Type II, or non-insulin dependent diabetes, accounts for 90-95% of diabetes in people and 85-90% of cases in cats.  In this instance, the beta cells of the pancreas that produce insulin either become exhausted or they fail to respond to signals to produce the hormone.  The important aspect of this to remember is that it is possible for treatment to lead to a remission of the disease.

While the number of cases of diabetes in dogs has remained static for many years, most veterinarians feel that they are seeing an increasing number of diabetic cats.  Although the true incidence of feline diabetes is not precisely known, estimates for North America show that about 1 in every 200-400 cats develop this disease.  What is important to remember is that as our cats have developed a tendency towards obesity, diabetes cases have risen rapidly.

Being obese or overweight is a risk factor for Type II diabetes because of the chronic inflammatory state obesity produces.  This leads to a reduction in insulin sensitivity.  In addition, fat cells in overweight animals stop producing a certain hormone essential for proper insulin receptor function.

Cats with diabetes often go extended periods of time with no real sign that anything is wrong.   When signs do appear, the first indications are a cat who needs to use the litter box more frequently and who is drinking greater amounts of water.  Unfortunately, cat owners are not always aware of these signs, especially if their kitty often goes outdoors.  This means that many cats aren’t diagnosed for months after the onset of diabetes.

Without diagnosis and treatment, diabetes will eventually cause a metabolic condition known as ketoacidosis. This leads to dangerous changes in the blood chemistry, dehydration and eventually, death.

When cats are seen by a veterinarian, this disease is often diagnosed with a simple blood test.  Hyperglycemia or any glucose in the urine (glucosuria) is often indicative of diabetes.  Veterinarians can also use a blood test known as serum fructosamine to determine the average blood glucose values over the course of the last three weeks.

In some cases, cats don’t get into the veterinarian until the disease has progressed even further.  In these cases, the presence of ketones (a by-product of using fatty acids for energy) in the urine is a definitive indicator of complicated diabetes.

Unlike diabetic dogs who will be on insulin replacement for the rest of their lives, it is possible to treat cats and even allow for remission.  The goal of treatment in cats is to restore the functionality of the beta cells and their ability to produce insulin.   In fact, new evidence is now showing that high protein, low carbohydrate diets are instrumental in helping cats defeat diabetes.  In short, although your feline friend may need insulin initially, you might be able to reduce or even eliminate this medication as you help the cat lose weight.

Diabetes can at times be a preventable disease in cats. It is important to keep your cat at a proper weight. We recommend measuring a small portion of food (1/4 cup for most cats) and feeding this twice daily. In addition, feeding your cat a low calorie, weight loss diet can also be helpful.

Concerned that your cat might have diabetes? Call our office to schedule an appointment or to speak with one of our veterinarians.

Dr. Keenan thoroughly examined Eclair and determined that her legs were actually not injured, but she was very skinny and weak and malnourished. She was covered in ants, fleas and large ticks and was too weak to groom herself and try to remove them. Dr. Keenan tested her for Feline AIDs & Feline leukemia and we were happily surprised to learn she was negative for these deadly viruses. Although a relatively large cat, she weighed less than 5 pounds.

The manager agreed to let us keep her, care for her, and try to find her a home.

Our technicians worked hard to remove every tick from her and bathed her to remove the ants and fleas. We fed her a special high protein food called Royal Canin Recovery food, which she ravenously ate. She loved attention, and would eagerly seek our petting whenever we came near her cage. After a few days of good nutrition, she was became stronger and was able to move around like a normal cat. A couple of weeks later, she was well enough to be spayed.

Because of Eclair’s extremely outgoing, friendly nature, it was very easy to find someone to adopt her. She was able to go to her new home this week and we are very excited about this happy ending!

Additionally, when asked what a veterinarian does, most people will respond with a phrase about “taking care of animals.”  While that is certainly true, most are unaware of the incredible diversity of careers found in the veterinary profession.  Not only do veterinarians care for our companion animals and our livestock, but they are also found doing important research that benefits both people and pets or even helping governments track and prepare for newly emerging diseases.  Veterinarians are active in the military, our food inspection services, in the public health sector and even in designing new foods and medications to help animals.

So, what does it take to become a veterinarian?

First, good grades throughout high school and an undergraduate program in college are essential.  Course work should be strong in math and sciences, but it is also important for the student to be well rounded.  As an example, communication courses are vital as the majority of veterinarians will need to effectively explain complex medical diseases and terminology to pet owners or ranchers and farmers.

These early years are also a great time to focus on finding a job or volunteer opportunity that gives hand on experiences with animals.  Veterinary hospitals and animal shelters often accept school age volunteers, but don’t forget about the possibilities offered by Future Farmers of America programs or the local 4H.  These days, weeks and months of working closely with animals can help a prospective veterinary student understand the challenges of animal care.

After a minimum of two years of undergraduate work, the process for applying to veterinary school can begin.  Competition for the open spots is extremely fierce.  There are 28 schools of veterinary medicine in the United States with 4 in Canada and another 4 located in the Caribbean.  Compare that to the 134 human medical schools in the US!  Also, each of these universities generally only accepts about 100 students for each veterinary class, meaning that about 3000 slots are available for each new class.   Again, human medical schools graduate about 20,000 new doctors each year.

Once accepted, new veterinary students will find that their school days will be very regimented and filled with an incredible amount of information.  For the first two years, the focus is on the sciences.   Lectures on the anatomy of various animal species, physiology, microbiology and many more subjects are the focus on the student’s days.

Then, as the students progress into their third and fourth years, all of the information they committed to memory can now be used in a practical manner as they move towards more hands on work in the veterinary teaching hospitals and labs.  Students interact with veterinary instructors and actual clients as they learn the important skills of client interaction.  These “soon to be veterinarians” also find opportunities to assist in surgeries, extensive dental procedures and, of course, daily rounds with the attending veterinarians at the hospital.

When graduation finally arrives, the learning and education process is not over for these brand new animal doctors.  In order to practice veterinary medicine, new graduates must pass national and state board exams.  Then, even as they are learning the expertise of daily routines at their new job, continuing education (CE) is a requirement of all veterinarians.  This CE helps veterinarians stay on top of a variety of technological and treatment protocol changes.

Some veterinarians continue their education, specializing in areas like dentistry, radiology, or even lab animal medicine.  There are almost 40 different specialty organizations and veterinarians who seek to become a specialist may add another 4-6 years on to their education.

As you can see, becoming a veterinarian not only takes passion and intelligence, but a fair amount of sacrifice and commitment as well.  The degree of “Doctor of Veterinary Medicine” or “Veterinary Medical Doctor” is one of diversity and certainly a rewarding profession.

Unfortunately, we continue to here about pet food recalls.  The latest include products made by Natural Balance, Diamond Pet Foods and Solid Gold.  If you feed a diet made by one of these manufacturers please check these links for additional information:

Natural Balance Pet Food Recall

Diamond Pet Food Recall

Diamond Pet Food Recall Summary of Affected Foods

Solid Gold Pet Food Recall

Gator came in to our Fairburn office last Monday to see Dr. Chris.  Gator had stopped eating and he was very lethargic.   Although only 6 months old, he walked slowly, like an elderly dog, not bouncing around like an energetic boxer puppy.  Puppies commonly swallow things which cause an intestinal blockage.  An X-Ray showed this was not the case.  Gator was checked into our hospital and we started him on IV fluids. Shortly afterwards, he developed bloody diarrhea. A parvovirus test run in our hospital gave us bad news: Gator had PARVO.

 Most cases of parvovirus are successfully treated.  However, over the next few days, Gator rapidly declined.  He lost weight and muscle mass. He developed almost uncontrolled vomiting and continued to have terrible diarrhea.  Gator had no energy and we were afraid we were going to lose him. His family visited him every day, but things didn’t look good for Gator.

 There is no specific drug which cures parvovirus.  Treatment involves supportive care (IV fluids, antibiotics, medicine for vomiting and diarrhea) as well as prayers.  Fortunately, our prayers began to be answered last Friday when we noticed Gator was starting to feel better.  By Monday morning, the vomiting and diarrhea has resolved and Gator was starting to eat.  Dr. Chris happily called his family Tuesday morning and gave them the good news – Gator was well enough to go home!

]]> http://www.theanimalmedicalclinic.com/daily-blog/from-dr-chris-desk-gator/feed/ 0 http://www.theanimalmedicalclinic.com/daily-blog/from-dr-macs-desk-rickey/ http://www.theanimalmedicalclinic.com/daily-blog/from-dr-macs-desk-rickey/#comments Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:49:43 +0000 Dr. Terrance McDonnell http://www.theanimalmedicalclinic.com/?p=2333 This is Rickey! It’s amazing we were able to keep him still long enough to get this picture. We first met this little guy in mid-March when a local rescue group pulled him from the Spalding Co. Shelter shortly before he was to be euthanized. After noticing...]]> This is Rickey! It’s amazing we were able to keep him still long enough to get this picture. We first met this little guy in mid-March when a local rescue group pulled him from the Spalding Co. Shelter shortly before he was to be euthanized. After noticing a significant limp on his left hindlimb, radiographs revealed a fractured tibia. Luckily, the bone was still in a great position for healing, so splinting provided us an effective and affordable solution for what had nearly been a fatal problem for poor Rickey. I neutered him the next day, and we placed his splint while he was under anesthesia. It has been a challenge to maintain his bandages due to his young age and precocious personality, but overall, he is doing amazingly well and growing like a weed. We hope to remove his splint within the next few weeks, and I’m confident he is going to make a great pet for someone out there. Please contact our office if you may be interested in adopting Rickey.

-Dr. Mac

Rabies continues to be a growing problem.  In Arkansas this year, there have been 54 cases of confirmed Rabies already compared to 60 cases all of last year (click here for more information).  Please keep your dogs and cats up to date on their rabies vaccine.

Parasites are an ongoing health concern for dogs and cats.  A new website enables you to view the prevalence of intestinal parasites and heartworms in your county: www.petsandparasites.org/parasite-prevalence-maps

Here are the number of confirmed cases of these parasites in dogs from Fayette County in 2011:

Roundworms: 350

Hookworms: 554

Whipworms: 175

Heartworms: 284

These are all preventable by giving your pet a monthly parasite preventive medication!

University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine research have developed a device which helps predict and control seizures in epileptic dogs.  This device could detect seizures before they occur enabling drugs to be given to prevent or minimize the seizure.

People with epilepsy might also benefit from the device and preventative medicine!

Click here for more information and the full news story.

It’s a very frustrating and somewhat common situation. In the spring, people seek relief for their own allergies as well as relief for their pet’s allergies.  Yes, dogs and cats frequently suffer from allergies, which can cause constant chewing, licking, and scratching and make them miserable.

Current estimates show that about 20 million pets suffer from some sort of skin condition and many of these are allergies. Allergies are an over-reaction of the body’s immune system to a foreign substance, such as pollen or flea saliva. For people with allergies, we sneeze and sniffle as our bodies respond to histamine released by immune cells. These symptoms are due to the reaction of histamine with receptors in our nose and upper airways.

Our pets, however, react somewhat differently. Dogs and cats have many more histamine receptors in the skin and fewer in the nose. As histamine is released, the receptors cause an itchy feeling and the pet reacts by scratching at that site. Scratching can generate more histamine release, thereby causing more scratching. The constant assault on the skin by the pet’s claws can actually damage the skin, leading to bacterial infections. Areas of hair loss and oozing sores known as “hot spots” are very common with allergies.

Fleas are often found to be the reason for a pet’s itchiness. However, the pet who is truly allergic to fleas will often appear to have no fleas at all! Why? Because these pets are the ultimate flea catchers, doing everything in their power to bite or scratch the discomfort of the flea away. The flea’s saliva sets off an allergic reaction leading to a flurry of chewing and digging at the skin.

Allergies to airborne substances, such as pollen and mold spores, are another reason for itchiness in pets. This is known as atopy and affects many pets from springtime straight through until fall. This condition can be inherited in certain breeds.

If your pet has signs of allergies year round and you see little or no improvement with certain medications, you may have a pet that has food allergies. Contrary to popular belief, food allergies take time to develop and are not due to recent diet changes. Most pets who develop food allergies have been eating the offending food with little problem for years. Common food allergens can include any major protein or carbohydrate source in the pet’s food.

In some mild cases, the itchiness can be treated with anti-histamines or even steroids for a short period of time. However, pet owners need to be aware that allergies are not a condition that can be cured. The good news though, is that they can be well-managed with a team effort from the pet owner and our veterinary team.

Utilizing antihistamines, special shampoos and special diets, as well as diagnostic tests such as blood testing and even skin allergy tests, our veterinarians can find ways to reduce your pet’s itching and discomfort level.  In addition, it is important to control all fleas on all of your pets.  We can help you make the best decision regarding flea control.

Allergies are not only one of the most frequent reasons for a trip to the veterinarian, but are also a big reason for pet owners becoming frustrated with their pet’s condition. Working with our veterinary team to identify what is causing your pet’s symptoms will help keep your four-legged family member as comfortable and itch free as possible.

For more information watch this video on allergies in pets: