Archive for July, 2010
HYPERTENSIVE RETINOPATHY HEMORRHAGE
HYPERTENSIVE RETINOPATHY HEMORRHAGE
Perhaps the most common cause of acute onset unilateral or bilateral blindness is retinal detachment associated with systemic hypertension. In one retrospective study of cats with hypertension, 20 of 24 cats were presented for examination because of blindness.
Hypertension has been defined as sustained arterial systolic pressures in excess of 160 mmHg and diastolic [...]
Pulmonary arterial Hypertension
Issue Description
Is an increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, or pulmonary capillaries, together known as the lung vasculature, leading to shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, and other symptoms, all of which are exacerbated by exertion. Pulmonary hypertension can be a severe disease with a markedly decreased exercise tolerance and heart [...]
Hypocalcemia
Hypocalcemia
Serum calcium levels are normally tightly regulated by the combined actions of calcitriol and PTH. Hypocalcemia can, however, occur in some dogs with CRF as a result of.
Decreased intestinal absorption due to low calcitriol levels, Decreased dietary intake due to anorexia, Deposition of calcium-phosphate complex in tissues, which reduces serum ionised calcium.
Elevated serum calcium may [...]
Hyperlipidemia
Hyperlipidemia
Increased plasma lipids are often discovered in dogs only serendipitously following biochemical testing for a clinically suspected disease that is subsequently known to elicit increased plasma lipids.
However, dogs may not exhibit overt clinical signs of such a disease, and laboratory testing may be the only route by which lipid disorders are initially identified.
Therefore, routine health [...]
Hypercalcemia
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
Causes of feline hypercalcemia include:
• Chronic renal failure
• Idiopathic hypercalcemia
• Neoplasia – lymphosarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma, myeloma and others
• Vitamin D toxicosis
• Primary hyperparathyroidism
• Granulomatous disease
Renal failure constituted 27 of 71 cases (38%) in a recent retrospective study, with 21 (30%) having neoplasia, and 4 (6%) with primary hyper-parathyroidism. In another 20 cats, the [...]
Hyperviscosity syndrome
Introduction
Hyperviscosity syndrome (HVS) refers to a collection of clinical signs due to increased serum /whole blood viscosity. HVS also has been reported to occur secondary to lymphoma and an extramedullary plasmacytoma in cats.
Clinical signs
Common organ systems affected by HVS include CNS, renal, cardiovascular and ophthalmic.Coagulation abnormalities also are common, and signs associated with coagulopathies often [...]
Rocky Mountain spotted fever Rickketsial Diseases
What is Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is the most severe and the most frequently reported tick-borne illness in the United States. This disease, affecting humans and dogs, is caused by the bacterial organism Rickettsia rickettsii.
In the last 50 years, approximately 250-1,200 cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever have been reported annually in the [...]
Rocky Mountain spotted fever Rickketsial Diseases
How is Rocky Mountain spotted fever treated?
RMSF is often treated with tetracycline class antibiotics, usually doxycycline.
Can a person get Rocky Mountain spotted fever more than once?
Previous infection is thought to provide long lasting immunity against re-infection. However, this should not deter persons from practicing good tick-preventive measures or visiting a physician if signs and symptoms consistent with [...]
Ehrlichiosis Rickketsial Diseases
Ehrlichiosis is a group of diseases, usually named according to the host species and the type of white blood cell most often infected. Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis is caused by Ehrlichia canis and, occasionally, E. chaffeensis. Canine granulocytic ehrlichiosis is caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia ewingii.
Infections in Animals
Species Affected
E. chaffeensis can infect dogs, coyotes, red [...]
Ehrlichiosis Rickketsial Diseases
Diagnostic Tests
Ehrlichiosis can be diagnosed by serology or detection of the organism. Diagnosis is complicated, particularly in dogs, by the possibility of co-infection with more than one organism, and by cross-reactions in serologic tests.
The indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test is the most commonly used serologic test for equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis, canine ehrlichiosis and tick-borne fever. [...]