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In recent years there has been increased attention to the proposed entity of feline temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Epileptic discharges in certain parts of the temporal lobe elicit very similar semiology, which justifies grouping these epilepsies under one name. Furthermore, feline TLE patients tend to have histopathological changes within the temporal lobe, usually in the hippocampus. The initial aetiology is likely to be different but may result in hippocampal necrosis and later hippocampal sclerosis. The aim of this article was not only to summarise the clinical features and the possible aetiology, but also being work to place TLE within the veterinary epilepsy classification. Epilepsies in cats, similar to dogs, are classified based on the aetiology into idiopathic epilepsy, structural epilepsy and unknown cause. TLE seems to be outside of this classification, as it is not an aetiologic category, but a syndrome, associated with a topographic affiliation to a certain anatomical brain structure. Magnetic resonance imaging, histopathologic aspects and current medical therapeutic considerations will be summarised, and emerging surgical options are discussed., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement None of the authors has any financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine if factors associated with urothelial damage and inflammation, including urinary catheterization, urinary obstruction, and urolithiasis are associated with the presence of enterococcal bacteriuria in cats., Animals: Thirty-one cats with Enterococcus spp. bacteriuria and 31 cats with Escherichia coli bacteriuria., Procedure: A retrospective case-control study with cases and controls identified by records search for Enterococcus spp. (case) and E. coli (control) bacteriuria from August 1, 2014 to July 31, 2019. Cases and controls were balanced with respect to average age. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate and test whether the odds of having Enterococcus spp. bacteriuria (instead of E. coli ) were associated with the presence of any characteristic., Results: Urinary catheterization, urinary obstruction, and urolithiasis were not observed more often in Enterococcus cases versus E. coli controls (19% versus 25%, P = 0.543; 19% versus 32%, P = 0.244; and 16% versus 16%, P = 1, respectively). Signs of lower urinary tract disease were significantly less common in Enterococcus cases than in E. coli controls (OR: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.83, P = 0.02). Hematuria was significantly less common in cases than controls ( P = 0.048)., Conclusion: No association was identified between urinary catheterization, urolithiasis, or any other comorbidities (hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney disease) and enterococcal bacteriuria in cats., Clinical Relevance: Unlike in humans and dogs, urothelial damage and inflammation caused by factors such as urinary catheterization and urolithiasis may not be the mechanism for enterococcal bacteriuria in cats., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)

Obesity, an extremely important factor in feline clinical practice, is estimated to affect up to one third of the feline population. Moreover, it can trigger chronic inflammation, which could predispose to oxidative stress by increasing reactive oxygen species, thereby generating potentially irreversible cellular damage. This study analyzed hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress profiles at various degrees of feline obesity. Forty-five cats were selected and divided into three groups: control (n = 17), overweight (n = 13) and obese (n = 15), after clinical and laboratory evaluation and body condition score. Biochemical and oxidative stress analyses were performed using a photocolorimeter and hematological analyses were performed in a veterinary cell counter. Obese cats showed increased mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red cell distribution width (RDW), HDL cholesterol and triglycerides and decreased activity of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) than control cats, although within the reference ranges for the species. As for oxidative stress, obese cats showed higher total antioxidant capacity (TAC), by the inhibition of 2,2'-Azino-Bis-3-Ethylbenzthiazoline-6-Sulfonic Acid (ABTS), inhibition of ABTS associated with horseradish peroxidase (ABTS + HRP), cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods, while overweight cats had a higher TAC-ABTS + HRP and TAC-FRAP than control cats. We conclude that the conditions of natural obesity and overweight in the feline species alter its hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress parameters., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Autoimmune encephalitis refers to a group of disorders characterised by a non-infectious encephalitis, often with prominent seizures and surface neuronal autoantibodies. AE is an important cause of new-onset refractory status epilepticus in humans and is frequently responsive to immunotherapies including corticosteroids, plasma exchange, intravenous immunoglobulin G and rituximab. Recent research suggests that parallel autoantibodies can be detected in non-human mammalian species. The best documented example is leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1)-antibodies in domestic cats with limbic encephalitis (LE). In this review, we discuss the role of neuroinflammation and autoantibodies in human and feline epilepsy and LE., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Dental pathology is among the most ubiquitous diseases in cats of all ages. Dental pain is yet to be fully understood in cats and therefore its presence is often missed. To better understand feline dental disease as a pain trigger during routine examination and whether disease severity correlates to the degree of pain, a 6-month prospective study in a cats' only veterinary hospital in Portugal was conducted. Sixty-four cats that randomly presented for different clinical procedures were evaluated. Dental and periodontal abnormalities (primary dental parameters, PDP), as well as clinical signs related to dental pain (secondary dental parameters, SDP), were assessed. All cats underwent an oral cavity examination, upon which, the Feline Acute Pain Scale from Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (CPS), was used in order to assess pain. Six PDP (periodontal disease, gingival index, calculus index, tooth resorption, tooth fracture and missing teeth) and five SDP (mouth discomfort, halitosis, hypersalivation, difficulty in holding food and several attempts at prehension of food), were compared with CPS pain scores. All SDP were significantly associated to higher CPS pain scores (p < 0.05). The number of missing teeth was significantly associated to higher CPS pain scores (p < 0.0001). A trend was observed between higher CPS pain scores and tooth resorption (p = 0.08). This study concluded that cats with dental disease feel pain during clinical examination and the pain increases as the severity of the disease progresses.

Objective: To compare the short- and long-term outcomes of dogs and cats with left-sided congestive heart failure (L-CHF) undergoing positive pressure ventilation (PPV) to patients undergoing PPV for other causes and to determine risk factors associated with outcomes in this population., Design: This retrospective study included dogs and cats that underwent PPV during 2018-2020. The study group included patients diagnosed with L-CHF. The control group included patients who were ventilated for reasons other than L-CHF. The risk factors evaluated included vital signs on presentation, ventilator settings, development of azotemia during hospitalization, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), complications, and medications used., Setting: University Teaching Hospital., Animals: Fifty (32 dogs, 18 cats) study group animals and 51 (39 dogs, 12 cats) control group animals were included in the L-CHF and control groups, respectively., Measurements and Main Results: Sixty-six percent (33/50) of L-CHF patients, compared with 35% (18/51) of the control patients, were weaned off PPV (P = 0.002). Fifty-four percent (27/50) of the L-CHF patients survived to discharge, compared with 26% (13/51) of the control group patients (P = 0.003). However, only 54% (12/22) of the discharged L-CHF patients survived for >2 months compared to 100% of the control patients. The median survival time for dogs and cats with L-CHF surviving to discharge was 240 days (range: 1-730 days). In dogs, factors negatively associated with survival included CPR in both groups and the development of azotemia in the L-CHF group. Anemia on presentation was negatively associated with survival for both cats and dogs in the control group., Conclusions: Dogs and cats undergoing PPV due to L-CHF were more commonly weaned off the ventilator and survived to discharge compared to other causes necessitating PPV. However, these patients suffer from severe heart disease, and therefore, their long-term survival is guarded., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2022.)

Objective: Compare percutaneous cystolithotomy (PCCL) and open cystotomy (OC) for removal of bladder and urethral uroliths., Design: Retrospective study., Animals: Client-owned dogs and cats that underwent PCCL (n = 41) or OC (n = 40) between January 1, 2014 and February 28, 2018 at a referral center., Methods: Medical records of dogs and cats that underwent a PCCL or an OC were reviewed. History, signalment, physical examination, diagnostic tests, length of the procedure and anesthesia, complications, and duration of hospitalization were recorded., Results: A total 17 cats (PCCL = 10; OC = 7) and 64 dogs (PCCL = 31; OC = 33) were included. There was no significant difference, regardless of species, in the mean surgical time (45 min [24-160 min] and 48.5 min [15-122 min] with P = .54 in dogs, P = .65 in cats) nor mean duration of anesthesia (90 min [50-120 min] and 98 min [54-223 min] with P = .87 in dogs, P = .08 in cats) in the PCCL and OC groups respectively. Number of uroliths did not affect duration of surgery in either group. Complete urolith removal was achieved in 98% of dogs and cats in both groups. The median hospitalization time was significantly shorter in the PCCL group for dogs (11.3 hours [range 4 to 51.3] in the PCCL vs 56.6 hours [range 7.3 to 96] in the OC group; P < .001) but did not differ for cats (24.5 hours [range 8.3 to 30] in the PCCL vs 56.6 hours [range 10.1 to 193.2] in the OC group; P = .08)., Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Bladder urolith removal by PCCL procedure is no longer than OC. Further studies are needed to compare the pain related to procedure between PCCL and OC., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of iatrogenic heart murmurs in a population of apparently healthy cats and to investigate factors that may predispose cats to iatrogenic murmurs., Materials and Methods: Apparently healthy cats presenting for routine examinations were prospectively enrolled. Following a physical examination to confirm there were no abnormalities, a cardiac examination was performed before and during a provocative manoeuvre performed independently by two clinicians. The provocative manoeuvre was performed on the right side of the chest wall by applying gentle pressure with a stethoscope to ascertain whether a murmur became audible, graded using a modified descriptive scale (soft/moderate). The cat's heart rate before and during the provocative manoeuvre and their age, sex, body condition score and bodyweight were recorded., Results: One hundred and six cats were prospectively enrolled. The average prevalence of iatrogenic murmurs was 28.2% with good interobserver agreement recorded on both the presence (kappa 0.67 and 0.62) and grade of the murmur (kappa 0.6 and 0.53). A significant association was noted between age and body condition score, with iatrogenic murmurs more likely in cats with increasing age and decreasing body condition score. There was no association between heart rate and the presence of an iatrogenic murmur., Clinical Significance: Iatrogenic murmurs are a common finding in cats with increasing prevalence noted in older and lean cats. Iatrogenic murmurs should therefore be considered as a differential diagnosis in a cat when an audible soft systolic right-sided murmur occurs with gentle pressure application to the chest wall during auscultation., (© 2022 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.)

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the response to a single injection of pegylated asparaginase ('pegaspargase') and to assess the tolerability and outcome of prolonged incorporation of pegaspargase into a modified COP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone) regimen in pegaspargase sensitive cats., Methods: Fifty-six client-owned cats with confirmed macroscopic high-grade lymphoma at any anatomical site were included. Treatment was commenced with a single pegaspargase injection. Cats showing an objective response were eligible to continue therapy with pegaspargase incorporated into a modified COP protocol and had their survival analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test., Results: Objective response to pegaspargase was reported in 46 cats (82%), including 21 (38%) complete and 25 (44%) partial responses. Thirty-four responders continued therapy with pegaspargase-COP as the first-line treatment. Of these, 31 cats (92%) achieved complete remission with a median duration of the first remission (disease-free survival [DFS]) of 816 days. The median overall survival time (OST) for all 34 cats treated with pegaspargase-COP was 181 days. Response to the initial pegaspargase injection before COP initiation was significantly associated with DFS ( P  = 0.04) and OST ( P  = 0.001). Median DFS/OST for cats with complete response to initial pegaspargase injection was significantly longer compared with those with partial remission (>1273 days/>2066 days vs 77 days/108 days, respectively). Cats with gastric lymphoma showed a significantly longer survival (OST 854 days, 1- and 2-year survival rate 57.1%) compared with cats with intestinal lymphoma (OST 102 days, 1-year survival rate 0%). The pegaspargase-COP protocol was generally well tolerated, but two deaths were likely attributable to treatment-related toxicity during the maintenance phase. Importantly, none of the cats experienced hypersensitivity, despite multiple repeated treatments with pegaspargase., Conclusion and Relevance: Pegaspargase is an effective agent for feline lymphoma. Its incorporation into a COP chemotherapy protocol may confer a survival benefit, especially in cats with complete response to pegaspargase. Treatment is generally well tolerated, but careful monitoring is recommended. Further studies are required to assess the benefits of pegaspargase as monotherapy or as part of different multi-agent chemotherapy regimens.

Background: Bronchiolar disorders are rarely recognized in cats. Constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans is characterized by concentric peribronchiolar fibrosis and inflammation of the bronchioles, but the underlying causes remain poorly understood in current small animal medicine., Case Presentation: A 9-year-old cat presented with paroxysmal tachypnea, infrequent cough and persistent labor breathing. Thoracic radiography showed lung hyperinflation and bronchointerstitial pattern, and pulmonary function assessment revealed flow limitation in the late-expiratory phase and poor response to short-acting bronchodilator. Dorsally distributed subpleural ground glass opacities with distinct margin and tree-in-bud opacities were observed on lung high-resolution computed tomography. The cat underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and showed severe neutrophilic inflammation. Feline herpesvirus was the only pathogen detected in the BAL fluid. Multiple therapeutic attempts were unsuccessful and the cat died 8 weeks after the initial presentation. Necropsy revealed the infiltration of inflammatory cells, obstruction of the bronchiolar lumen, and submucosal concentric fibrosis suggesting constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans. Combining the pre- and post-mortem findings, as well as the time from symptom onset or BAL to necropsy, constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans was possibly triggered by a preceding feline herpesvirus infection in this case., Conclusions: The history of nonvaccinated status, lower airway neutrophilic inflammation, and presence of feline herpesvirus in the BAL fluid without coexistence of other pathogens led to the presumption that constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans was induced by a preceding feline herpesvirus infection in this cat. The pathological changes of bronchiolitis obliterans induced by a preceding feline herpesvirus infection could be different from that of cats with acute herpesvirus pneumonia, such as intranuclear inclusions would disappear over time and were no longer found 7-10 days after inoculation. The presence of patchy distribution of subpleural ground glass opacities on lung high-resolution computed tomography should raise the suspicion of peribronchiolar fibrosis. Clinical awareness of bronchiolar disorders as a differential diagnosis is important in cats with lung hyperinflation and labored breathing who show poor reversibility to bronchodilator., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Risk factors for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in cats are derived from a single study dated almost 20 years ago. The relationship between inflammation of oral tissues and OSCC is still unclear., Objectives: To investigate previously proposed and novel potential risk factors for OSCC development, including oral inflammatory diseases., Animals: Hundred cats with OSCC, 70 cats with chronic gingivostomatitis (CGS), 63 cats with periodontal disease (PD), and 500 controls., Methods: Prospective, observational case-control study. Cats with OSCC were compared with an age-matched control sample of client-owned cats and cats with CGS or PD. Owners of cats completed an anonymous questionnaire including demographic, environmental and lifestyle information., Results: On multivariable logistic regression, covariates significantly associated with an increased risk of OSCC were rural environment (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.03-3.04; P = .04), outdoor access (OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.07-2.63; P = .02), environmental tobacco smoke (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.05-3; P = .03), and petfood containing chemical additives (OR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.04-3.76; P = .04). Risk factors shared with CGS and PD were outdoor access and petfood containing chemical additives, respectively. A history of oral inflammation was reported in 35% of cats with OSCC but did not emerge as a risk factor., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The study proposes novel potential risk factors for OSCC in cats. Although a history of inflammatory oral disease was not significantly more frequent compared with random age-matched controls, OSCC shared several risk factors with CGS and PD., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Objective:  This study aimed to document rotational thromboelastometric (ROTEM) characteristics of traumatized cats and to investigate associations between clinicopathological parameters and acute traumatic coagulopathy (ATC). A secondary goal was to determine the relevance of autoheparinization in injured cats., Study Design:  Cats presenting with acute (<12 hours) trauma were eligible. Cats were allocated to the ATC group (≥2 hypocoagulable parameters) or non-ATC group (≤1 hypocoagulable parameter) based on ROTEM analysis. Clinicopathological parameters were compared between groups and regression was used to find variables associated with ATC. Heparinase-modified ROTEM (HepTEM) was used to assess for heparin effects in a subgroup., Results:  Fifty-three cats were included, and the incidence of ATC was 15%. Prolongation of both intrinsic and extrinsic clotting times (CT) was the most frequently altered ROTEM variable in the ATC group, but CT InTEM -prolongation also occurred in 47% of non-ATC cats. The incidence of autoheparinization, defined as concurrent CT InTEM prolongation and CT InTEM:HepTEM ratio >1.1, was 41% and was observed in both cats with and without ATC. None of the evaluated clinicopathological parameters were different between groups or associated with ATC., Conclusion:  Acute traumatic coagulopathy in cats is mainly characterized by prolonged CT. No relationship between clinicopathological variables and ATC was identified and prediction of ATC based on these variables was not possible. While autoheparinization is important in cats, it is not the sole cause for ATC., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To determine the complications associated with positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) in dogs and cats., Design: Retrospective study from October 2009 to September 2013., Setting: University Teaching Hospital., Animals: Fifty-eight dogs and 9 cats., Measurements and Main Results: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed; signalment, complications associated with PPV, duration of PPV, and outcome were recorded. Complications most commonly recorded during PPV included hypothermia 41/67 (61%), hypotension 39/67 (58%), cardiac arrhythmias 33/67 (49%), a positive fluid balance 31/67 (46%), oral lesions 25/67 (37%), and corneal ulcerations 24/67 (36%). A definition of ventilator-associated events (VAE) extrapolated from the Center of Disease Control's criteria was applied to 21 cases that received PPV for at least 4 days in this study. Ventilator-associated conditions occurred in 5 of 21 (24%) of cases with infection-related ventilator-associated conditions and ventilator-associated pneumonia identified in 3 of 21 (14%) cases., Conclusions: Complications are common and diverse in dogs and cats receiving long-term PPV and emphasizes the importance of intensive, continuous patient monitoring and appropriate nursing care protocols. Many of the complications identified could be serious without intervention and suggests that appropriate equipment alarms could improve patient safety. Development of veterinary specific surveillance tools such as the VAE criteria would aid future investigations and allow for effective multicenter studies., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2022.)

Objective: The provision of general anesthesia is common in veterinary hospitals and procedures include some level of risk, up to and including mortality. A quality initiative was introduced with a focus on reducing canine and feline anesthesia mortality. This paper describes the development and implementation of risk-based medical quality standards (MQS) and resultant impacts on anesthesia mortality., Study Design: This was a qualitative observational study. MQS focused on the provision of anesthesia were researched, developed and implemented. Anesthesia mortality rates, captured via an automated process based on the electronic medical record, were recorded before and after implementation. Compliance to standards was determined via hospital auditing., Animals: Client-owned dogs and cats presenting to Banfield Pet Hospital (a national network of primary care hospitals) for elective and nonelective general anesthesia procedures. Over the course of the study, 2,038,318 dogs and 350,410 cats had a general anesthesia event., Methods: Literature reviews and analysis of veterinary patient medical records identified risk factors associated with anesthesia mortality. Risk factors informed the development of MQS. Evidence-based standards focused on the provision of general anesthesia were written, reviewed, evaluated and edited. Implementation occurred over 6 months via a robust communication plan. Anesthesia mortality rates were continuously monitored before, during and after the introduction of standards. Compliance with all quality standards was assessed via hospital-based auditing performed on an annual basis., Results: Prior to quality standards implementation, anesthesia mortality rates for dogs and cats combined was 7.4 deaths/10,000 procedures. At 6 months after implementation, the mortality rate was 6.24 deaths/10,000 procedures, representing a 16% decrease. Compliance with standards improved over time with continued focus and education., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Development, implementation and continued focus on MQS can improve anesthetic safety and reduce anesthesia mortality in primary care veterinary hospitals., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Acute kidney injury can cause significant morbidity and mortality in dogs and cats. Knowledge of the pathophysiology of renal damage can be beneficial to prevention and treatment. There are many causes of acute kidney injury, and the prognosis for each can vary. Appropriate fluid therapy and monitoring are essential for treatment., Competing Interests: Disclosure The author has no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of this report was to describe the clinical signs, diagnostic imaging findings, surgical management, histopathological findings, outcome and possible risk factors for cats that developed retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) following renal transplantation., Methods: Medical records of cats that underwent renal transplantation and developed clinically significant RPF between 1995 and 2019 were reviewed., Results: Eighty-one cats underwent 83 renal transplantations. Of these 81 cats, six developed clinically significant RPF. For all six cats, renal transplantation was performed using cold organ preservation solution and ureteral papilla implantation. Immunosuppression protocol included ciclosporin and prednisolone. All cats had at least one subtherapeutic trough ciclosporin level (<250 ng/ml) in the postoperative period. Cats presented with moderate-to-severe azotemia 39-210 days following renal transplantation. Abdominal ultrasonography and contrast pyelography revealed various degrees of hydroureter and hydronephrosis of the transplanted kidney. Surgical examination revealed a layer of dense fibrous tissue surrounding the transplanted kidney, ureter and bladder resulting in ureteral obstruction. Ureteral obstruction was managed by reimplantation of the proximal ureter or renal pelvis to the bladder. Histopathologic examination of the fibrous tissue and affected portion of the distal ureter revealed fibrous connective tissue with lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and perivascular inflammation suggestive of an autoimmune type reaction. Of the six cats, two died within 5 days after revision surgery, two developed signs consistent with recurrent partial ureteral obstruction (40 and 41 days after revision), one was euthanized 6 years later for an unrelated disease and one was lost to follow-up., Conclusions and Relevance: The incidence of RPF in this population of cats was relatively low (7%), but still represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The cause of RPF remains unknown, although investigation into suboptimal immunosuppression as a potential cause for local rejection reaction is warranted.

Objectives: Ureteral obstruction (UO) in cats causes acute kidney injury and typically requires surgical intervention. Information is required about potentially modifiable risk factors to inform prevention strategies., Methods: A case-control study was performed to assess risk factors associated with feline UO. Cases were defined as cats with either of the following: (1) ureteral obstruction (ureteroliths: 13/18; unknown: 5/18) confirmed with pyelography; or (2) a creatinine concentration >140 µmol/l with both UO (ureteroliths: 6/10; blood clots: 3/10; pyonephrosis: 1/10) and pyelectasia ⩾5 mm on abdominal ultra sonography. Controls were defined as cats without evidence of UO on history, physical examination and abdominal ultrasound. Age, sex, breed (domestic shorthair/longhair), diet (predominantly dry, mixed or predominantly moist food), housing (indoors or mixed) and plasma total calcium were evaluated for their association with UO using multivariable logistic regression. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was created to evaluate the predictive ability of the final model., Results: In total, 168 cats (28 cases, 140 controls) were included. Age, sex, breed, housing and total calcium were not significantly associated with UO; however, diet was. Compared with cats eating a predominantly moist food diet, cats fed a predominantly dry food diet were 15.9 times more likely to develop a UO (95% confidence interval 2.9-295; P  = 0.009). There was no difference in the association between diet and UO in cats fed a mixed diet vs cats fed a predominantly moist food diet ( P  = 0.25). The area under the ROC curve was 72%., Conclusions and Relevance: Changes in diet formulation could provide a simple and economical method to reduce the risk of UO.

A 14 plus-year-old (exact age unknown) neutered female domestic shorthair cat presented with a 6-day history of rapidly evolving difficulty in eating, dropped jaw, protrusion of the tongue, sialosis, change in voice (meow softer and higher pitched) and mild variable pelvic limb weakness. Salient clinical features were a left thyroid nodule, 2/6 systolic cardiac murmur, poor body condition, hypertension, bilateral retinal haemorrhages and an increased total thyroid hormone level consistent with a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism (HT). Neurological examination disclosed mild generalised weakness, bilateral visual deficits attributable to a hypertensive retinopathy and multiple cranial nerve (CN) motor deficits that included; mandibular paresis (CN V), bilateral external ophthalmoparesis (CNs III, IV, VI), bilateral facial paresis (CN VII), dysphagia (CNs IX, X), dysphonia (CN XI) and symmetrical paresis of the tongue (CN XII). Treatment with carbimazole, and subsequently, a modified extracapsular bilateral thyroidectomy resulted in a rapid improvement in neurological signs over 13 days and complete resolution by 100 days post thyroidectomy. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of multiple CN motor deficits in a cat with HT and resembles polyneuritis crainialis that has recently been described in human patients with this disorder. It is suggested the underlying pathogenesis is a thyrotoxic polyneuropathy selectively affecting CN motor function, that HT needs to be considered in cats that might present with such signs and that resolution can occur with successful treatment of the HT., (© 2021 Australian Veterinary Association.)

Background: The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of underlying conditions causing pleural effusion in cats and to calculate the positive predictive values, negative predictive values, sensitivity and specificity of radiographic signs to predict aetiology of the pleural fluid., Methods: Data from 148 cats with pleural effusion and diagnosed with known aetiologies were retrospectively analysed. Sixty one cats had thoracic radiographs evaluated by consensus through pre-defined radiographic signs by two radiologists blinded to the diagnoses., Results: Congestive heart failure (53.4%) was the most common diagnosis, followed by neoplasia (20.3%), pyothorax (10.8%), idiopathic chylous effusion (5.4%), feline infectious peritonitis (1.4%) and "other" or cats with multiple diagnoses (total 8.8%). Cats with an enlarged cardiac silhouette had a high positive predictive value of congestive heart failure (90%). Mediastinal masses (100%)and pulmonary masses (100%) were highly predictive of neoplastic disease. Pulmonary nodules (50%) were poorly predictive of neoplastic disease. The remainder of the radiographic variables were not informative predictors of underlying disease., Conclusions: In our sample of cats, congestive heart failure was the most common cause of pleural effusion. Radiographically enlarged cardiac silhouette and presence of a mediastinal mass may be useful predictors of aetiology, however there are limitations to the use of radiography alone as a diagnostic tool., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: To evaluate dogs and cats undergoing total ear canal ablation with lateral bulla osteotomy (TECA-LBO), document antimicrobial choices, and determine relationships associated with infection-related and neurologic postoperative complications., Animals: 107 client-owned dogs and 13 client-owned cats that underwent TECA-LBO., Procedures: A retrospective analysis of medicals records of dogs and cats with TECA-LBO from 2 veterinary hospitals with postoperative data for at least 6 months was performed. All information associated with the TECA-LBO surgery including follow-up was recorded. Logistic regression analyses were performed and corrected using a false discovery rate to identify significance between antimicrobial administration and other perioperative variables and the outcomes of short- and long-term neurologic and infection-related complications, need for revision surgery, and euthanasia due to recurrence of infection-related signs., Results: Intraoperative cultures were performed in 111 animals, and 95 (85.5%) had bacterial growth, with Staphylococcus spp most commonly isolated. Revision surgeries due to infection-related signs occurred in 13 of 120 (10.8%) patients. If intraoperative bacterial cultures were positive and antimicrobials were administered within 1 month of surgery, patients were 85.8% less likely to exhibit infection-related complications, whereas patients not administered antimicrobials were 10.3 times as likely to require a revision surgery. Longer durations of postoperative antimicrobial administration were associated with revision surgery and euthanasia due to infection-related signs., Clinical Relevance: Administration of systemic antimicrobials within the first postoperative month may be necessary to prevent complications when intraoperative cultures exhibit bacterial growth and plays a role in the successful outcome of TECA-LBO.

Introduction and Objective: Toxocariasis is a zoonotic parasitic infection with important public health considerations. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of anti- Toxocara species antibodies and associated risk factors in domestic dogs and cats referred by their owners to veterinary clinics located in Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran., Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 540 owners of dogs and cats was conducted between July - December 2020. A questionnaire administered by direct interviews was used to collect socio-demographic information and data on associated risk factors. Blood samples were collected and tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)., Results: The overall sero-prevalence of toxocariasis among the 540 participants was 16.7% (90 of 540). When participants included in the sample were classified by age, those aged 10-29 years demonstrated higher Toxocara infection prevalence than other groups (45.6%, 41 of 90). Univariate analysis revealed that the pet owners who had contact with soil [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 7.61, 95% CI: 6.06-9.24, P = 0.028], practiced handwashing after contact with dogs and cats (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.15-4.85, P = 0.046), and feeding the pets with raw meat (AOR = 11.01, 95% CI: 5.21-19.43, P = 0.023) had an increased risk of acquiring toxocariasis. The study showed that demographic characteristics such as age, gender, place of residence, education, and pet's habitats were not significantly associated with toxocariasis., Conclusions: Given the findings and the progressive impact of toxocariasis in public health and its high prevalence in developing countries, including Iran, measures should be taken to inform the public about zoonoses and eliminate their putative transmission.

Background: Nephrocalcinosis is a pathological feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Its pathophysiological implications for cats with CKD are unexplored., Objectives: Identify nephrocalcinosis risk factors and evaluate its influence on CKD progression and all-cause mortality., Animals: Fifty-one euthyroid client-owned cats with International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stages 2-3 azotemic CKD., Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Histopathological kidney sections were assessed for nephrocalcinosis (von Kossa stain). Nephrocalcinosis severity was determined by image analysis (ImageJ). Ordinal logistic regressions were performed to identify nephrocalcinosis risk factors. The influence of nephrocalcinosis on CKD progression and mortality risk were assessed using linear mixed model and Cox regression, respectively. Cats were categorized by their owner-reported time-averaged phosphate-restricted diet (PRD) intake, where PRD comprised ≥50%, 10-50%, or none of food intake., Results: Nephrocalcinosis was rated as mild-to-severe in 78.4% and absent-to-minimal in 21.6% of cases. Higher baseline plasma total calcium concentration (tCa; odds ratio [OR] = 3.07 per 1 mg/dL; P = .02) and eating a PRD (10%-50%: OR = 8.35; P = .01; ≥50%: OR = 5.47; P = .01) were independent nephrocalcinosis risk factors. Cats with absent-to-minimal nephrocalcinosis had increasing plasma creatinine (0.250 ± 0.074 mg/dL/month; P = .002), urea (5.06 ± 1.82 mg/dL/month; P = .01), and phosphate (0.233 ± 0.115 mg/dL/month; P = .05) concentrations over a 1-year period, and had shorter median survival times than cats with mild-to-severe nephrocalcinosis., Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Higher plasma tCa at CKD diagnosis and PRD intake are independently associated with nephrocalcinosis. However, nephrocalcinosis is not associated with rapid CKD progression in cats., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Objective: (1) To report an unusual etiology for nontraumatic hemoabdomen in cats, and (2) to describe onset and recovery from severe, unexpected pancytopenia seen after surgical removal of a large intra-abdominal myelolipoma., Case Summary: A 14-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented for emergent treatment of suspected nontraumatic hemoabdomen. A hyperechoic mass, with ultrasonographic echogenicity similar to fat, was found in the right cranial abdomen and believed to be associated with the mesentery. Cytological examination of abdominal fluid identified marked extramedullary hematopoiesis within the hemorrhagic effusion. Exploratory laparotomy identified a hepatic mass, which was resected, and revealed to be a hepatic myelolipoma on histopathological examination. The patient's initial recovery was uneventful. However, continued hyporexia resulted in readmission 4 days postoperatively, at which time the patient was found to have a profound, tri-lineage pancytopenia, and cytological evidence indicative of bone marrow recovery. The pancytopenia resolved with continued medical management and supportive care., New or Unique Information Provided: Ruptured myelolipoma is not a commonly considered differential for nontraumatic hemoabdomen in cats. Furthermore, severe pancytopenia is unexpected following surgical resection of a myelolipoma. This case provides a unique clinical presentation of both nontraumatic hemoabdomen and bone marrow recovery., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2021.)

Overweight and obesity are commonly diagnosed in domestic cats, and undermine cats' quality of life directly or indirectly via various disease processes known to be associated with overweight and obesity. Epidemiological studies have reported varied overall prevalence among different feline populations, and commonly identified risk factors such as neutering. However, disease associations were not consistently reported. The status of feline overweight and obesity in a referral veterinary teaching hospital in the United States remains undefined as well. The present study used descriptive statistics and logistic regression models to analyze feline medical records obtained at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis from January 2006 to December 2015 and to characterize the prevalence of overweight and obesity, risk factors, and disease associations. In 9,062 feline records analyzed, the overall prevalence of overweight (17.2%; n = 1,560) and obesity (23.8%; n = 2,160) was 41.0%. Neutered, male, and crossbred cats that were in age groups between 3.0 and 14.9 years old and presented with disease processes in orthopedic, dentistry, and urinary categories were positively associated with overweight and obesity. Overweight and obesity are prevalent problems, which can benefit from continual veterinary education emphasizing its importance. Structured disease surveillance plans monitoring these associated factors also help guide further research and ideally can contribute to development of better prevention strategies for overweight and obesity., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

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., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Practical Relevance: Human allergy to cats affects a substantial and growing proportion of the global population, and cat allergy is regarded as the third most common cause of human respiratory allergies, and the second most common indoor cause. Veterinarians will frequently encounter owners who are cat-allergic, and having an understanding of this disease and the methods available to help control the allergy will assist them in giving appropriate advice, alongside human healthcare professionals., Aim: The aim of this review is to summarise currently available data on the prevalence, causes, symptoms and control of human allergy to cats. In terms of managing cat allergy, the emphasis is on reviewing current and emerging modalities to reduce environmental exposure to cat allergens rather than on pharmacotherapy or immunotherapy, as it is in these areas in particular that the veterinarian may be able to offer help and advice to complement that of human healthcare professionals., Evidence Base: The information in this review is drawn from the current and historical literature on human allergy to cats, and approaches to reduce exposure to cat allergens and manage symptoms of cat allergy.

Background: Radioiodine ( 131 I) is the treatment of choice for cats with hyperthyroidism. After 131 I, however, euthyroidism is not always achieved, with 5% to 10% of cats remaining persistently hyperthyroid and 20% to 50% developing iatrogenic hypothyroidism., Objectives: To identify pretreatment factors that may help predict persistent hyperthyroidism and iatrogenic hypothyroidism after treatment of cats using a novel 131 I dosing algorithm., Animals: One thousand and four hundred hyperthyroid cats treated with 131 I., Methods: Prospective, before-and-after study. Pretreatment predictors (clinical, laboratory, scintigraphic, 131 I dose, 131 I uptake measurements) of treatment failure or iatrogenic hypothyroidism were identified by multivariable logistic regression analysis., Results: Cats that developed iatrogenic hypothyroidism were more likely to be older (odds ratio [OR] = 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.17; P = .001), female (OR = 2.04; 95% CI, 1.54-2.70; P < .001), have detectable serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations (OR = 4.19; 95% CI, 2.0-8.81; P < .001), have bilateral thyroid nodules (OR = 1.57; 95% CI, 1.19-2.08; P < .001), have homogeneous, bilateral distribution of 99m Tc-pertechnetate uptake (OR = 2.93; 95% CI, 2.05-4.19; P < .001), have milder severity score (OR = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.49-0.79; P < .001), and have higher 131 I uptake (OR = 2.40; 95% CI, 1.75-3.28; P < .001). In contrast, cats remaining persistently hyperthyroid were more likely to be younger (OR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.72-0.92; P < .001), have higher severity score (OR = 1.87; 95% CI, 1.51-2.31; P < .001), and have lower 131 I uptake (OR = 3.50; 95% CI, 1.8-6.80; P < .001)., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Age, sex, serum TSH concentration, bilateral and homogeneous 99m Tc-pertechnetate uptake on scintigraphy, severity score, and percent 131 I uptake are all factors that might help predict outcome of 131 I treatment in hyperthyroid cats. Cats with persistent hyperthyroidism had many predictive factors that directly contrasted those of cats that developed 131 I-induced hypothyroidism., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Objective: To describe the clinical course of 3 cats successfully treated following clothes dryer-induced heat stroke., Case Series Summary: Three cats were treated after accidental clothes dryer-induced heat stroke. All cats fulfilled canine heat stroke criteria and showed evidence of heat injury, including neurological dysfunction, corneal and mucosal ulceration, and evidence of rhabdomyolysis. Coagulopathy, acute liver injury, acute kidney injury, cardiac dysfunction, and gastrointestinal signs were seen in cats with a longer duration of dryer exposure., New or Unique Information Provided: Describes the management of cats after inadvertent clothes dryer-induced heat stroke., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2021.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the most common causes of endogenous feline uveitis in a UK referral population and to investigate associations based on signalment., Methods: Retrospective multicenter cross-sectional study from 2010 to 2019 including cats presented to the Animal Health Trust and the Royal Veterinary College with clinical signs consistent with uveitis. Cats were included in analyzes if they had a full physical examination including an ophthalmic examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistry, and infectious disease testing for at least two diseases unless the diagnosis was found on clinical examination (eg, neoplasia)., Results: A total of 92 cats were included in the study. The majority of cats presenting with uveitis were male (66.3%). The most common causes of endogenous uveitis were idiopathic uveitis (42/92 45.7%), feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) 15/92 16.3%), and lymphoma (10/92 10.9%). Fisher's exact test showed differences in breed across diagnosis groups (p = .002) with purebred cats being overrepresented in the lymphoma and FIP groups. Kruskal-Wallis test showed differences in median age across diagnosis groups (p < .001) with cats in the FIP group having the youngest age (median 1.4 years, interquartile range (IQR) 0.4-1.8 years) and cats in the neoplasia (primary or paraneoplastic) group having the oldest age (median 12.8 IQR 10.8-13.8). Idiopathic uveitis was unilateral in 56.1% of cases, and infectious causes were unilateral in 47.8% of cases., Conclusions: The most common cause of endogenous uveitis in a population of cats in the UK was idiopathic uveitis, followed by FIP and lymphoma., (© 2021 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.)

Practical Relevance: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common form of feline cardiomyopathy observed clinically and may affect up to approximately 15% of the domestic cat population, primarily as a subclinical disease. Fortunately, severe HCM, leading to heart failure or arterial thromboembolism (ATE), only occurs in a small proportion of these cats., Patient Group: Domestic cats of any age from 3 months upward, of either sex and of any breed, can be affected. A higher prevalence in male and domestic shorthair cats has been reported., Diagnostics: Subclinical feline HCM may or may not produce a heart murmur or gallop sound. Substantial left atrial enlargement can often be identified radiographically in cats with severe HCM. Biomarkers should not be relied on solely to diagnose the disease. While severe feline HCM can usually be diagnosed via echocardiography alone, feline HCM with mild to moderate left ventricular (LV) wall thickening is a diagnosis of exclusion, which means there is no definitive test for HCM in these cats and so other disorders that can cause mild to moderate LV wall thickening (eg, hyperthyroidism, systemic hypertension, acromegaly, dehydration) need to be ruled out., Key Findings: While a genetic cause of HCM has been identified in two breeds and is suspected in another, for most cats the cause is unknown. Systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve (SAM) is the most common cause of dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (DLVOTO) and, in turn, the most common cause of a heart murmur with feline HCM. While severe DLVOTO is probably clinically significant and so should be treated, lesser degrees probably are not. Furthermore, since SAM can likely be induced in most cats with HCM, the distinction between HCM without obstruction and HCM with obstruction (HOCM) is of limited importance in cats. Diastolic dysfunction, and its consequences of abnormally increased atrial pressure leading to signs of heart failure, and sluggish atrial blood flow leading to ATE, is the primary abnormality that causes clinical signs and death in affected cats. Treatment (eg, loop diuretics) is aimed at controlling heart failure. Preventive treatment (eg, antithrombotic drugs) is aimed at reducing the risk of complications (eg, ATE)., Conclusions: Most cats with HCM show no overt clinical signs and live a normal or near-normal life despite this disease. However, a substantial minority of cats develop overt clinical signs referable to heart failure or ATE that require treatment. For most cats with clinical signs caused by HCM, the long-term prognosis is poor to grave despite therapy., Areas of Uncertainty: Genetic mutations (variants) that cause HCM have been identified in a few breeds, but, despite valiant efforts, the cause of HCM in the vast majority of cats remains unknown. No treatment currently exists that reverses or even slows the cardiomyopathic process in HCM, again despite valiant efforts. The search goes on.

Background: Chronic stress is implicated in behavioral and health issues in cats, but methods for recognition, evaluation, and measurement of stress are lacking. Cortisol concentration is typically used as an indicator of stress., Objectives: To evaluate use of an enzyme immunoassay to quantitate hair and nail cortisol concentrations (HCC and NCC) in cats and evaluate associations between HCC and NCC and behavioral, physical, and environmental correlates of chronic stress in cats., Animals: Forty-eight adult, owned or community cats., Methods: Cross-sectional study. Nail clippings and hair were collected from cats. Medical history and cat daily lifestyle questionnaires were completed by owners or caretakers. A commercial laboratory performed cortisol extraction and quantification using a validated enzyme immunoassay kit. Correlational and regression analyses were used to evaluate associations between HCC and NCC and behavioral, environmental, and medical factors., Results: Hair and nail cortisol concentrations were significantly associated (r s  = 0.70; P < .001), but HCCs varied widely within and among cats. Cats with litterbox issues had significantly increased HCC (P = .02) and NCC (P = .001) as compared to cats without litterbox issues. Cats with groomed coats had lower HCCs (P = .02) as compared to cats without groomed coats, whereas cats with dander and mats had higher NCCs (P = .01) as compared to cats without dander and mats., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The quantification of NCCs might improve identification and evaluation of chronic stress in cats. The variability of HCCs in individual cats warrants caution using this measurement in chronic stress studies., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Practical Relevance: Although feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) occurs more commonly, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM), arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) and cardiomyopathy - nonspecific phenotype (NCM; formerly unclassified cardiomyopathy) are all recognized in domestic cats., Patient Group: Any adult domestic cat, of either sex and of any breed, can be affected., Diagnostics: The non-HCM cardiomyopathies are rarely suspected in subclinically affected cats, so most are first identified when a cat presents with signs of heart failure or systemic thromboembolic disease. The definitive clinical confirmatory test for these other feline cardiomyopathies is echocardiography., Key Findings: 'Cardiomyopathy - nonspecific phenotype' is a catch-all term that groups hearts with myocardial changes that either do not meet the criteria for any one type of cardiomyopathy (HCM, RCM, DCM, ARVC, LVNC) or meet the echocardiography criteria for more than one type. RCM is characterized by diastolic dysfunction due to fibrosis that results in a restrictive transmitral flow pattern on Doppler echocardiography and usually marked left or biatrial enlargement. DCM is characterized by decreased myocardial contractility and is rare in cats. When it occurs, it is seldom due to taurine deficiency. However, since taurine-deficient DCM is usually reversible, a diet history should be obtained, whole blood and plasma taurine levels should be measured and taurine should be supplemented in the diet if the diet is not commercially manufactured. ARVC should be suspected in adult cats with severe right heart enlargement and right heart failure (ascites and/or pleural effusion), especially if arrhythmia is present. Feline LVNC is rare; its significance continues to be explored. Treatment of the consequences of these cardiomyopathies (management of heart failure, thromboprophylaxis, treatment of systemic arterial thromboembolism) is the same as for HCM., Conclusions: While these other cardiomyopathies are less prevalent than HCM in cats, their clinical and radiographic presentation is often indistinguishable from HCM. Echocardiography is usually the only ante-mortem method to determine which type of cardiomyopathy is present. However, since treatment and prognosis are often similar for the feline cardiomyopathies, distinguishing among the cardiomyopathies is often not essential for determining appropriate therapy., Areas of Uncertainty: The feline cardiomyopathies do not always fit into one distinct category. Interrelationships among cardiomyopathies in cats may exist and understanding these relationships in the future might provide critical insights regarding treatment and prognosis.

Objectives: The aim of this case-control study was to identify early-life risk factors associated with the occurrence of owner-reported mobility changes in 6-year-old cats by examining prospective data from a longitudinal cohort study of pet cats, the Bristol Cats study., Methods: Data on potential risk factors were obtained from seven sequential questionnaires completed between the ages of 2-4 months and 5 years. Mobility-related questions from the study questionnaire distributed at the age of 6 years were used to calculate each cat's mobility score. Cats with mobility scores of ⩾2 and 0 were allocated to the case and control groups, respectively, and the cat's status was the outcome variable., Results: Of the 799 cats included for analysis, 238 (29.8%) had owner-reported mobility changes. Binomial logistic regression using backwards elimination identified four risk factors for owner-reported mobility changes at 6 years of age: entire neuter status at 6 months of age (odds ratio [OR] 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-3.07), sustained trauma before 6 years of age (OR 1.85; 95% CI 1.30-2.60), outdoor access at 6 years of age (OR 1.67; 95% CI 0.96-2.90) and overweight/obese status at 6 years of age (OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.13-2.33)., Conclusions and Relevance: Risk factor analysis demonstrated that obesity, outdoor access and a history of trauma may predispose cats to developing owner-reported mobility changes associated with degenerative joint disease, whereas neutering before 6 months of age appears to decrease that risk.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the clinicopathological findings, management and outcome of cats with refeeding syndrome (RS) following prolonged starvation., Methods: Records from four referral hospitals were searched between May 2013 and November 2019 and retrospectively evaluated. Inclusion criteria were the presence of a risk factor for RS, such as severe weight loss or emaciation following a period of presumed starvation, hypophosphataemia or a delta phosphorous exceeding 30% reduction following refeeding, being treated on the basis of a clinical diagnosis of RS and one or more derangement of hypokalaemia, hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia., Results: Eleven cats were identified, which had been missing for a median of 6 weeks (range 3-104 weeks). Mean ± SD percentage weight loss was 46% ± 7% (n = 8). Eight of 11 cats developed hypophosphataemia with a mean delta phosphorous of -47% ± 9%. All cats were documented to be hypokalaemic. During hospitalisation, 10/11 cats developed hyperglycaemia and 7/11 cats developed hypoglycaemia. Cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and neurological signs were common. Eight of 11 cats displayed new or progressive neurological deficits after refeeding, including mentation changes and cerebellar dysfunction. All cats became anaemic and seven cats required a blood transfusion. Eight cats survived to discharge after a mean of 14 ± 4 days of hospitalisation. Six cats developed acute kidney injury (AKI; International Renal Interest Society stage 1). The presence of AKI ( P  = 0.024) was associated with non-survival and maximum bilirubin concentration was significantly higher in non-survivors ( P  = 0.018)., Conclusions and Relevance: Cats with RS in this cohort had been missing, presumed starved, for more than 3 weeks. In addition to hypophosphataemia and hypokalaemia, altered glucose homeostasis and organ damage involving the liver and kidneys were common. Cats with RS appear to have a good prognosis, but prolonged intensive care is required.

Background: Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a common myocardial disease in cats, characterized by diastolic dysfunction and atrial enlargement without myocardial hypertrophy. Especially, endomyocardial form of RCM, one of the subtypes in RCM, is characterized by endocardial fibrosis, endocardial scar bridging the interventricular septum and left ventricular (LV) free wall, and deformation and distortion of the LV. However, it is unclear how the myocardial dysfunction and the endocardial scar contribute to the pathophysiology of RCM disease progression., Case Presentation: A 3 years and 2 months old, intact male, Domestic shorthaired cat was presented for consultation of cardiac murmur. At the first visit (day 0), the notable abnormal finding was echocardiography-derived chordae tendineae-like structure bridging the interventricular septum and the LV free wall, resulting high-speed blood flow in the left ventricle. Electrocardiography, thoracic radiography and noninvasive blood pressure measurements were normal. No left atrial enlargement was observed, and LV inflow velocity showed an abnormal relaxation pattern. Although there was no abnormality in tissue Doppler imaging-derived myocardial velocity, two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) revealed a decrease in the LV longitudinal strain and an increase in endocardial to epicardial ratio of the LV circumferential strain on day 0. On day 468, obvious left atrium enlargement and smoke like echo in the left atrium were observed. The LV inflow velocity was fused, and the tissue Doppler imaging-derived early-diastolic myocardial velocity of the septal mitral annulus decreased. Regarding 2D-STE, LV circumferential strain was further decreased, and right ventricular strain was additionally decreased. Although the general condition was good, we made a clinical diagnosis of endomyocardial RCM based on the above findings. On day 503, the cat showed the radiographic evidence of pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure signs., Conclusions: Cats with abnormal LV structure and associated myocardial dysfunction like this case needs careful observation. Additionally, 2D-STE indices may be useful for early detection of myocardial dysfunction in feline RCM., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Sudden death is one of the most common causes of death in humans in Western countries. Approximately 85% of these cases are of cardiac origin. In dogs and cats, sudden cardiac death (SCD) also commonly occurs, but fewer pathophysiological and prevalence data are available. Both structural, primarily 'electrical' and ischemic heart diseases are known to cause SCD, many of which share similar underlying arrhythmogenic mechanisms between humans and companion animals. As for underlying genetics, numerous mutations on multiple loci have been related to SCD in humans, but only a few mutations associated with dilated cardiomyopathy and SCD have been identified in dogs, e.g. in the phospholamban and titin genes. Information published from human medicine can therefore inform future veterinary studies, but also dogs and cats could act as spontaneous models of SCD in humans. Further research in both fields is therefore warranted to better understand the pathophysiology, genetics, and prevention of SCD., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

There is mounting evidence that kidney ischaemia/hypoxia plays an important role in feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) development and progression, as well as in human disease and laboratory animal models. Ischaemic acute kidney injury is widely accepted as a cause of CKD in people and data from laboratory species has identified some of the pathways underlying this continuum. Experimental kidney ischaemia in cats results in morphological changes, namely chronic tubulointerstitial inflammation, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and tubular atrophy, akin to those observed in naturally-occurring CKD. Multiple situations are envisaged that could result in acute or chronic episodes of kidney hypoxia in cats, while risk factors identified in epidemiological studies provide further support that kidney hypoxia contributes to spontaneously occurring feline CKD. This review evaluates the evidence for the role of kidney ischaemia/hypoxia in feline CKD and the proposed mechanisms and consequences of kidney hypoxia. As no effective treatments exist that substantially slow or prevent feline CKD progression, there is a need for novel therapeutic strategies. Targeting kidney hypoxia is one such promising approach, with therapies including those that attenuate the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway already being utilised in human CKD., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cambodia is a rabid-endemic country. However, data on dog population characteristics are lacking, and there is no national dog vaccination program. We implemented the first extensive door-to-door longitudinal survey in 2 Cambodian provinces, namely Kandal and Battambang, to estimate dog population demographic parameters, identify dog ownership determinants, analyze dog management practices and estimate the yearly cumulative bite incidence and associated factors. During the first session, more than 5000 dogs were recorded and identified. Data on families, dogs and cats characteristics, as well as the number of bites experienced the year before in the family, were recorded. One year later, a second session was performed in both provinces to record missing dogs and the reasons for missing. Age-specific survival rates of the dog populations were computed using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Ownership determinants and bite risk factors were identified using a negative binomial regression model. Dog trade and dog meat consumption were often reported. We estimated high dog-to-human ratios (1:3.8 in Kandal, and 1:3.3 in Battambang). The mean age of dog populations was 26.4 months in Kandal against 24.3 in Battambang, with a survival rate of 52% at 24 months in Kandal (34% only in Battambang). They were no feral dogs, but the large majority of recorded dogs were free roaming. In both provinces, the number of dogs significantly increased in families with children younger than 15, and when the head of the family was a male. The estimated yearly cumulative bite incidences were 2.3 and 3.1% in Kandal and Battambang provinces respectively, and are among the highest in the world. Our survey provides valuable data to focus information programs, parametrize transmission models and identify efficient vaccination strategies to control rabies in Cambodia in the future., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms-1 and -2 have been extensively investigated in cancer. Although COX-2 is the isoform most studied and has been described in several malignancies associated with histologic criteria of malignancy and worse prognosis, COX-1 has also been linked to some forms of cancer. With the present review our aim was to summarize the current state of knowledge and clarify if and in which type of tumours COX-1 and/or COX-2 expression have real prognostic implications. We searched PubMed database for prognostic studies using predefined inclusion criteria in order to ascertain the prognostic value of COX-1 and COX-2 in malignant neoplasia in dogs and cats. Eighteen studies were analysed. COX-2 was shown to be a negative prognostic factor in canine and feline mammary tumours, canine mast cell tumour, canine melanoma, canine osteosarcoma and canine renal cell carcinoma. COX-1 showed a negative prognostic value in feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We found high heterogeneity among studies regarding COX immunohistochemical evaluation methodology even in the same type of neoplasia pointing out the need for its standardization at least by tumour type. The available data support the use of COX-2 as a prognostic factor in canine (mammary carcinoma, mast cell tumour, melanoma, osteosarcoma and renal carcinoma) and feline (mammary carcinoma) cancers. For COX-1, its use is advised in feline oral SCC., (© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

A 6 yr old neutered male mixed-breed cat presented for renal transplantation (RTx) for chronic kidney disease. Severe periodontal disease was identified, and before initiation of immunosuppressive therapy, a comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment procedure was performed to reduce the burden of existing oral infection. Dental radiography revealed diffuse, severe bone demineralization across the mandible and maxilla, with thinning of the cortices. Nasal turbinates were easily visualized owing to the decreased opacity of maxillary bone. Generalized bone resorption left teeth to appear minimally attached. A Vitamin D panel revealed a severely elevated parathyroid hormone level. Full mouth extractions were performed. Seven days following this procedure, RTx was performed. Serum creatinine concentration was within normal limits by 48 hr after surgery and remained normal until discharge 12 days after RTx. At 3.5 mo after RTx, the cat was mildly azotemic, and the parathyroid hormone level was elevated but significantly decreased from the original measurement. Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a common abnormality in cats with chronic kidney disease. However, clinical manifestations of hyperparathyroidism are rare in this species. This is a novel presentation of a cat demonstrating bone loss in the oral cavity as a result of renal secondary hyperparathyroidism., (© 2021 by American Animal Hospital Association.)

Feline chronic enteropathy is a common disorder, especially in the senior cat population, with rising incidence over the past decade. Feline chronic enteropathy is considered an umbrella term comprising different diseases including food-responsive enteropathy, idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease and alimentary small cell lymphoma. However, differentiation between those diseases is often difficult in practice. This review will discuss the clinical approach to cats with chronic enteropathy, state-of-the-art diagnostic tests and pitfalls thereof as well as current therapeutic approaches. Although, much of the etiopathogenesis is still unknown, increased research efforts in this field have brought new insights into diagnostic and therapeutic options for these cats., (© 2021 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.)

A 2.5-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat with a past pertinent history of FLUTD treatment 8 days earlier was presented during the night due to apathy and anorexia. Radiographs, ECG, blood pressure measurement and echocardiography revealed left-sided congestive heart failure, left ventricular concentric hypertrophy, left atrial dilation, severe diastolic dysfunction, hypotension, and vagotonus-associated sinus bradycardia with a first degree AV-block as well as a right bundle brunch block. NT-ProBNP and troponin I concentrations were elevated (NT-ProBNP > 1500 pmol/l, Troponin I 32.87 ng/ml). Presumptive diagnosis was acute myocarditis. Bartonella henselae PCR and Toxoplasma gondii IgM titer were negative. Initial IgG titer amounted to 1:32 (reference range: < 1:32) and on later testing this was negative. FeLV and FIV tests exhibited negative results. Coronavirus testing was not performed because the cat was vaccinated accordingly. A metastatic infection with Proteus mirabilis , which had been isolated from the urine, appeared possible. Alternatively, a hypersensivity reaction to drugs or a stress-induced myocarditis was taken into consideration. The hospitalized cat was treated with furosemide (initialy and in the course of further treatment), theophyllin (initially), continuous infusion with lactated Ringer's solution, pimobendan, and the addition of enrofloxacin to the ongoing amoxicillin/clavulanic acid administration. After 4 days, the cat's general condition improved satisfactorily and blood pressure returned to normal range. Left ventricular hypertrophy resolved, however, diastolic dysfunction as well as left atrial dilation persisted. Within the next 8 weeks, echocardiographic findings and cardiac biomarkers returned to near normal values. All medication was tapered and finally discontinued. During the last recheck examination 7 months following initial presentation, no cardiac changes were apparent., Competing Interests: Die Autorin bestätigt, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Urinary bladder diseases are common in dogs and cats; however, there is little published work on urinary bladder disease in Australian pets. We identified pathology records of Australian dogs and cats with urinary bladder tissue submitted to the University of Queensland Veterinary Laboratory Service during 1994-2016 ( n = 320). We described the proportion of bladder diseases in dogs and cats, and applied the less-commonly used logistic regression procedure to quantify associations between signalment variables and disease diagnosis that were evident using descriptive statistics alone. After preliminary analysis, both species were combined because of similar results. Spayed/castrated animals were 74% less likely to be diagnosed with cystitis compared with intact animals. Animals 4-11 y old were also at lower risk of being diagnosed with cystitis compared with younger or older animals. Male animals were at increased risk of neoplasia compared to females, which contrasts with reports from North America and Europe. There was increased risk for developing neoplasia with progressive age, with up to 20 times higher odds in the > 11-y age group. Logistic regression modeling provided unique insight into proportionate morbidity of urinary bladder diseases in Australian dogs and cats.

Feline chronic enteropathy (CE) is a common gastrointestinal disorder in cats and mainly comprises inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and small cell lymphoma (SCL). Differentiation between IBD and SCL can be diagnostically challenging. We characterized the fecal metabolome of 14 healthy cats and 22 cats with naturally occurring CE (11 cats with IBD and 11 cats with SCL). Principal component analysis and heat map analysis showed distinct clustering between cats with CE and healthy controls. Random forest classification revealed good group prediction for healthy cats and cats with CE, with an overall out-of-bag error rate of 16.7%. Univariate analysis indicated that levels of 84 compounds in cats with CE differed from those in healthy cats. Polyunsaturated fatty acids held discriminatory power in differentiating IBD from SCL. Metabolomic profiles of cats with CE resembled those in people with CE with significant alterations of metabolites related to tryptophan, arachidonic acid, and glutathione pathways.

Given the importance of using the vitamin-mineral supplements to guarantee the minimum nutritional recommendations for pets in homemade foods, and hypothesizing that these products may contribute to toxic metals contamination, the present study aimed to determine the concentrations of essential minerals and toxic metals in vitamin-mineral supplements available in the Brazilian market and calculate if the amount recommended by the manufacturer guarantees the minimum recommendations of NRC (2006) and FEDIAF (2020), as well as calculating the amount of toxic metals that animals would consume, according to the amounts recommended by the manufacturer. Seven vitamin-mineral supplements were analyzed. The determination of essential minerals and toxic metals was performed using ICP-OES. Comparisons were made with the minimum recommendations for essential minerals, and with the maximum tolerated levels of toxic metals established by the FDA (2011), descriptively. Most of the vitamin-mineral supplements, in the quantities recommended by the manufacturers, do not guarantee the minimum recommendations of NCR (2006) and FEDIAF (2020) for the following elements: calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc. Only one supplement had detectable selenium concentrations. Three supplements provided more than 0.02mg of mercury/kg of body weight, the safe upper limit used to establish the maximum tolerated level of this element. It is concluded that most vitamin-mineral supplements do not meet the minimum recommendations for most essential minerals and, if formulated by untrained professionals, even with supplementation, homemade foods may still be nutritionally deficient. Furthermore, some vitamin-mineral supplements analyzed may imply risks of mercury poisoning in pets., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Toxoplasma gondii infection in feline renal transplant recipients with a preoperative seronegative or unknown serostatus (SN-UNK) for T gondii and the efficacy of lifelong prophylactic treatment of T gondii infection in feline renal transplant recipients with a preoperative seropositive serostatus (SP) for T gondii ., Animals: 24 cats with various serostatuses for T gondii before undergoing renal transplantation., Procedures: Medical records of cats that had undergone renal transplantation from 1998 through 2018 were reviewed. Two groups of cats were identified. Before renal transplantation, the SN-UNK group cats were seronegative for T gondii (n = 4) or serostatus for T gondii was unknown (4). The SN-UNK group cats received immunosuppressive therapy but were not maintained on prophylactic treatment of T gondii infection. The SP group cats were seropositive for T gondii (n = 16) prior to initiation of immunosuppressive therapy and renal transplantation and were managed after surgery with prophylactic treatment of T gondii infection., Results: All 8 SN-UNK group cats developed T gondii infections after initiation of immunosuppressive therapy and renal transplantation; T gondii infections were fatal in 6 cats. Of 16 SP group cats, 1 developed a nonfatal T gondii infection resulting in an allograft rejection episode. No SP group cats, which were managed postoperatively with prophylactic treatment, developed a fatal T gondii infection., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: T gondii infection resulted in morbidity and death in immunosuppressed cats not receiving prophylactic treatment of T gondii infection after renal transplantation. Seropositive cats were acceptable candidates for renal transplantation when lifelong prophylactic treatment of T gondii infection was provided.

The incidence of brain herniation (BH) in association with intracranial meningioma (ICM) in dogs and cats is poorly described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate and type of brain herniations in client-owned dogs and cats with ICMs and to determine the meningioma volume (MV) relative to cranial cavity volume (CCV). A retrospective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis study of 24 cats and 45 dogs with ICMs was conducted to ascertain the presence and characteristics of BH. MV and CCV were measured and their ratio was calculated for each animal. Correlations of MV/CCV with independent variables were analyzed. BH was encountered in 24/24 cats (100%) and 30/45 dogs (66.7%) with ICMs. In cats, the most frequent presentation was foramenal herniation (FMH; 23/24, 95.8%), followed by caudotentorial (CTH; 21/24, 87.5%) and subfalcine (SH; 18/24, 75.0%) herniation. In dogs, the most frequent presentation was SH (28/45; 62.2%), followed by CTH (9/45; 20%) and FMH (2/45; 4.4%). Relative to dogs, cats with ICM had greater incidences of FMH (P<0.001) and CTH (P<0.001). Mean MV/CCV ratio was higher in cats (0.098) than in dogs (0.038; P<0.001). The most common clinical sign of ICM was altered behavior in cats (43%, P<0.01) and seizures in dogs (74.4%, P<0.001). In conclusion, cats were found to be more likely than dogs to present FMH and CTH, with a proportionally greater neoplasia volume.

Background: Hypersomatotropism (HST) is an increasingly recognized endocrinopathy in cats and is mostly described associated with diabetes mellitus (DM)., Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transsphenoidal hypophysectomy in treating HST and DM in cats., Animals: Sixty-eight client-owned cats with HST and DM treated by transsphenoidal hypophysectomy., Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Medical records were reviewed for glycemic control and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations. Postoperative complications, death within 4 weeks, and proportion achieving diabetic remission were recorded. Survival times and DM-free intervals were calculated., Results: Fifty-eight cats (85.3%) were alive 4 weeks postoperatively with 10 (15%) postoperative deaths. Complications included hypoglycemia (n = 9), electrolyte imbalance (n = 9), and transient congestive heart failure (n = 5). Fifty-five cats (95% of 58 surviving cats [81% of all cats undergoing surgery]) had improved control of diabetes. Diabetic remission occurred in 41 cats (71% of 58 surviving cats [60% of all cats]) with insulin administration discontinued after a median of 9 days (range, 2-120). Postoperative 4-week serum IGF-1 concentration nadir was significantly lower in cats achieving diabetic remission (median 20 ng/mL [15-708] than those that did not (324 ng/mL [15-1955]; P = .03). All cats received long-term levothyroxine and hydrocortisone PO, alongside desmopressin (conjunctival) in 38 of 53 cats (72%). Recurrence of DM occurred in 5 of 41 cats (12%) after a median of 248 days (range, 84-1232). Median survival time of all cats was 853 days (range, 1-1740)., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy is an effective treatment for cats with HST and DM, with a long-term outcome that compares favorably to existing options., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Infection with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induces the coronavirus infectious disease 19 (COVID-19). Its pandemic form in human population and its probable animal origin, along with recent case reports in pets, make drivers of emergence crucial in domestic carnivore pets, especially cats, dogs and ferrets. Few data are available in these species; we first listed forty-six possible drivers of emergence of COVID-19 in pets, regrouped in eight domains (i.e. pathogen/disease characteristics, spatial-temporal distance of outbreaks, ability to monitor, disease treatment and control, characteristics of pets, changes in climate conditions, wildlife interface, human activity, and economic and trade activities). Secondly, we developed a scoring system per driver, then elicited scientific experts (N = 33) to: (a) allocate a score to each driver, (b) weight the drivers scores within each domain and (c) weight the different domains between them. Thirdly, an overall weighted score per driver was calculated; drivers were ranked in decreasing order. Fourthly, a regression tree analysis was used to group drivers with comparable likelihood to play a role in the emergence of COVID-19 in pets. Finally, the robustness of the expert elicitation was verified. Five drivers were ranked with the highest probability to play a key role in the emergence of COVID-19 in pets: availability and quality of diagnostic tools, human density close to pets, ability of preventive/control measures to avoid the disease introduction or spread in a country (except treatment, vaccination and reservoir(s) control), current species specificity of the disease-causing agent and current knowledge on the pathogen. As scientific knowledge on the topic is scarce and still uncertain, expert elicitation of knowledge, in addition with clustering and sensitivity analyses, is of prime importance to prioritize future studies, starting from the top five drivers. The present methodology is applicable to other emerging pet diseases., (© 2020 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)