All posts by petprofessionals

Cats

Harvest mites in cats

It’s now (unfortunately!) late Summer and with the looming Autumn, a new parasite is very keen to join our outdoor parties.

Our incoming party crashers are none other than Neotrombicula (or just Trombicula) autumnalis, who go by the street name of harvest mites. These mites can affect cats, dogs and even an unwary human but they seem to love our purring pals a little more.

They are outside in the soil and plants, just hoping for a furry mammal to pass by them and then they can hitch a ride to latch onto skin. Only the 6-legged larvae cause issues, the nymphs and adults with 8 legs live in the soil and prefer to wait there for another host. They can be preferentially found on the head, especially around the eyes and ears.

Will you be able to see them on your cat? Adults are really small and while they are not microscopic and you might notice small, red clusters of dots on your cat that weren’t there before, it needs to be confirmed with a superficial skin scraping and a microscope.

Larvae feed on your cat’s tissues and, understandably, this causes a lot of damage. With itching, reddened skin, wounds, papules and hair loss we are looking at a nasty list of problems.

Worry not, these mites can be controlled and the problem can be solved but be aware that cats with easy access to infested areas may be frequently re-infested!

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Cats

Male calico cats: the exception to the rule!

Did you know that only one in every 3000 calico cats are male? This is just another amazing and interesting fact about cats, in this particular case, about calico cats!

Calico is the name given to cats that have three colours on their fur. These gorgeous felines are basically white, with ginger and black patches of fur. There is a wide variety of calico cats since ginger can appear as yellow, orange or red and also because they can display diluted variations of their basic colours such as grey, reddish brown and cream. Their colours can also be distributed in a tabby pattern.

If you are familiar with ´torties` you may recall that tortoiseshell cats can also have ginger and black colours, although these cats don’t have any white in them, often presenting a mottled coat.

The mechanisms behind the way these genes express themselves, producing these particular fur patterns in cats is absolutely fascinating! Due to the genetic processes involved, the overwhelming majority of calico cats are female.

The manifestation of white is unrelated to the X and Y chromosomes which means both male and female cats can have white fur. On the other hand, the appearance of black and ginger in their fur is transmitted and entirely decided by the X chromosome. Since female cats have two X chromosomes they can manifest both colours on their fur, one colour coded by each one of their X chromosomes. Male cats, however, only have one X chromosome which means they can only display one of these colours, either black and white or ginger and white.

All the best rules have exceptions and as you can imagine, this is also one of them. Although it is rare, some male cats can display the calico pattern. Every now and then, male cats are born with a genetic disorder in which they gain an extra X chromosome. The condition is called Klinefelter syndrome and since these cats have two X chromosomes they can in fact display all three colours. As a result, approximately one in every 3000 calico cats are male.

Cats affected by the Klinefelter syndrome are sterile in most cases which means fertile, male calico cats are even harder to find!

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The Pet Professionals

Gasterophilus Infection in Horses

We bring you the curious case of the stomach botfly in horses which is caused by several species of the Gasterophilus genus.

This disease is called a myiasis, which is the medical term for issues caused by the larvae of several species of flies. These flies lay eggs on the horse’s coat and as they hatch into larvae they migrate to several tissues. Fortunately, these eggs can be spotted with the naked eye, especially around the forelimbs and shoulders of the horse so keep an eye out for odd white spots that may be lingering on their fur.

Some of the big spots of infection are mouth, throat and stomach. Different species have different site preferences but they all have larvae which attach to the cardiac or pyloric regions of the stomach. Their development is quite long, of around 8 to 10 months and at the end of all this nasty business, they pass out via faeces and will turn into adults on the soil.

Clinical signs are fairly nonspecific and because these larvae will attach to the lining of the stomach, symptoms might include:

  • Ulcerations
  • Obstructions
  • Anaemia
  • Diarrhoea

However, sometimes a great deal of these larvae might be attached to this organ and not have any significant clinical signs.

There are several things you can do to reduce the prevalence of botfly larvae infection but it will depend a lot on your region, frequency of travel and where your horses are kept. Don’t forget, always keep a good track of deworming treatments and seasons, and ask your vet what you can do to best prevent or treat your fabulous equine friends that might be afflicted with this disease.

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Dogs

An important message to dog owners: Beware of Grass Seeds!

Grass seeds look fairly harmless don’t they? Unfortunately, some of these seeds are a potential hazard for dogs that can lead to expensive and unwanted visits to the vet!

These seeds can get caught in your dog’s fur very easily as they are shaped like small darts with thin bristly fibres. This particular shape causes them to keep progressing in one direction, which is usually towards the dog’s skin. It won’t stop there, as it can break the skin, and as time goes by it can burrow deeper and deeper. As you can imagine this will cause a lot of pain, tissue damage, and eventually it will drag a nasty infection with it.

In most cases grass seeds enter through the dog’s paws and ears, although they can get caught anywhere on a dog’s fur, and can even find their way up a dog’s nose. Dogs with grass seeds lodged on their paws tend to start licking the affected paw excessively, a red lump may appear between their toes, and it’s not uncommon for them to become lame.

When grass seeds get caught on our dogs’ ears they can progress through the ear canal and can even damage their ear drum. Affected dogs tend to suddenly start shaking their heads after a walk and frantically scratch their ears while looking quite painful and miserable.

The degree of damage caused depends on their location and on how quickly the problem is diagnosed and treated. In some cases the grass seed is very hard to detect and animals in pain need to be sedated in order to investigate the affected area properly.

An undetected grass seed can randomly migrate under the dog’s skin, often leaving nothing more than a small hole behind that resembles an insect bite. There have been cases where the seed kept migrating until it actually reached the dogs’ abdomen and lungs.

These seeds are commonly found during the summer months so now is really the time to be extra careful. The best way to avoid any grass seed issues is to carefully check your dog’s fur after walks, especially their ears and feet. Long haired dogs are more likely to get these seeds caught on their fur so keeping their hair short can help.

If you can, avoid walking your dog in fields with grass seeds and schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as you notice any suspicious signs such as head shaking, ear scratching or paw licking!

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Cats

Feline Tooth Resorption

Cats and their teeth sometimes might find themselves in adversarial positions and this issue is one that is a bit odd. Feline tooth resorption is also called odontoclastic resorption and it’s caused by the cat’s own cells deciding (somewhat unilaterally) that the teeth no longer needs to be there.

These cells are called odontoclasts and usually they are responsible for the normal eruption of adult teeth by removing the roots of the deciduous teeth through resorption. However, these cells continue to exist long past the eruption of permanent teeth and they might start damaging these teeth.

What makes these perfectly normal cells go off rails? We aren’t sure yet and it’s most likely of multifactorial nature, which makes it hard to establish a strong cause. That being said, several causes are under investigation.

It might stem from nutritional issues like too much vitamin D, might be a hereditary issue or even an exaggerated reaction to inflammation in the gums (due to excess plaque for instance).

It might affect just one tooth or several teeth and we believe that nearly 50% of animals older than 5 years will have at least one tooth with lesions. Most of these occur in the root and the odontoclasts cause tooth structures to dissolve, leaving behind visible gaps.

While many animals can have resorption lesions, it is usually not severe enough for our house felines to show clinical signs but when it does it manifests as:

  • Hypersalivation while eating
  • Dropping food from their mouths frequently, especially dry food
  • Hissing while chewing
  • Behaviour changes like increased aggression or reclusion due to pain

If you notice these in your fearsome furry, take them to your vet! While the cause is still unknown, there are ways to alleviate pain and manage this situation that we are sure will improve your cat’s discomfort.

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Cats, Dogs, Horses

Pet insurance: is it really worth it?

This is a thought that has probably crossed every caring and loving owner’s mind: Is it worth getting your pet insured?

Responsible pet ownership has costs. From diet to preventative care (vaccinations, neutering and worm/flea treatments), having a pet means spending money and when considering the possibility of adding another monthly fee for insurance, pet owners wonder if the benefits are worth the expense.

Deciding whether or not you’re getting pet insurance may be one of the most important decisions you’ll ever have to make about your pet. Many of our furry companions are blessed with wonderful lives that require nothing more than a few visits to the vet for check-ups and routine treatments. Others are not so fortunate and may experience unpredictable injuries, accidents, and diseases. Older pets are expected to have some health issues and more than often these conditions are chronic, extending throughout the remaining of their lives.

The amazing quality of health care and treatment approaches to a wide range of conditions available for our pets these days comes with a cost and depending on your pet’s illness, adequate veterinary care can become quite expensive. It is at this point that the costs covered by pet insurance can make a huge difference.

Insurance has been lifesaving for many pets allowing them to receive the best possible treatment (instead of a cheaper option to control spending), supporting owners with the costs of a condition that is chronic and that therefore requires recurrent treatments to manage, and with conditions which are treatable but sadly expensive.

If you choose to get insurance for your pet, keep in mind that it doesn’t cover preventive treatments. It covers accidents, injury, and illness. It is very important to do some research and compare pricing. See what’s covered and under what conditions from different providers, in order to get the best insurance for you and your pets, at the most affordable price.

We recommend having a good look at the veterinary fees that are covered as well as insuring this coverage is renewable for the following years. Keep older pets and the possibility of dealing with chronic conditions in mind. Policies with lifetime coverage and no limit to claim for each illness are also recommended. Some providers also offer pensioner discounts or better prices for owners with more than one pet.

Ultimately, it is up to each owner to choose what’s best for them and their pet. We hope this post brings you more information on what insurance is about and helps you decide!

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Horses

Interpreting pain using facial expressions

Detecting pain responses in our faithful companions as soon as possible is one of the most fundamental ways to ensure that illness is investigated and treated in a timely fashion.

However, detecting pain in animals, especially horses that are being ridden, can sometimes be quite complicated. Research has shown that there is a poor interpretation of pain and lameness in all people involved in horse training. This has the obvious issue that it delays treatment and means that treatable conditions are potentially only detected when treatment is either impossible or much harder.

To simplify identification of pain in horses, research has looked into a promising new direction: facial pain expressions. By looking at how animals react to pain, it may be possible to develop assessment protocols that everyone can use and interpret.

There are certain facial features that might indicate underlying pain such as ears pinned back, eyelids that are partially or completely closed, tension in the muscles above the eye, straining mouth and pronounced chin, strained nostrils and prominent chewing muscles.

Investigation into area has led to the creation of several pain assessment scales with the ultimate goal of making pain assessment as accessible and as accurate as possible, with exciting new developments on the horizon!

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Cats

Recognising osteoarthritis in cats: What difference does it make?

 

Loving owners want to see their cats happily purring all day long! Unfortunately, many cats struggle with pain and discomfort due to an illness that for a whole host of reasons is not easy to see.

Osteoarthritis is, to put it simply, a long-standing inflammation that affects the different components and tissues of a joint (usually the elbows, knees and hips). As time goes by, the joint becomes damaged by this ongoing process, causing persistent and long-lasting pain.

This process of deterioration, also known as degenerative joint disease, can begin due to joint abnormalities, trauma, and of course, long-term use, but in most cases, there isn’t a single cause or event we can point to as being the culprit. We know that it affects middle-aged to older cats and that this disease is severely underdiagnosed in our feline friends. There are two main reasons for this.

First of all, cats struggling with the condition will find ways to adapt and cope with their aches and pains, mastering the art of hiding any mobility issues. Arthritic cats may show some stiffness when trying to get out of their beds and in general reduce their levels of activity, spending more time resting or sleeping.

They also start avoiding movements that may be more painful like jumping. This will often result in sleeping in new locations, as well as changes in their toileting habits. Affected cats may avoid using the litter tray as they find it harder to get into the tray. This leads to house soiling and other abnormal toileting behaviours.

Cats with chronic joint pain show other significant changes like overgrown nails and a scruffy or matted coat, as it becomes harder to groom. Changes in character are also common such as being more distant, more vocal, and even becoming aggressive.

Now this is the time to mention the second reason why osteoarthritis often slips under the radar. All these changes (if they are noticed) are often seen as something to be expected from an older cat and not as manifestations of a condition that needs to be addressed.

There are many options to consider: weight loss to reduce unnecessary strain on affected joints, medication and acupuncture to help with pain relief, and physiotherapy.

Simple environmental changes such as enabling easy access to all important resources such as food, water, and providing low-sided litter trays can make a huge difference in the life of an arthritic cat. Ramps or steps can help reach higher levels, well-padded beds offer extra comfort and a helping hand with grooming will be greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately, osteoarthritis has no cure but there is plenty that can be done to improve quality of life, reduce the possibility of further joint damage, and most importantly, to bring much needed comfort to cats struggling to cope.

If you’re concerned that your cat may be affected by osteoarthritis, schedule an appointment with your vet to discuss treatment options!

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Cats

Cryptorchidism

Cryptorchidism is described as the failure of one or both testicles to descend to the scrotum. This descent usually happens in about 2 to 6 months as animals are born with testicles that reside in their abdomen and then slowly but surely descend to their final position.

As far as we know, what causes testicles to not descend correctly is most likely genetic but there isn’t much information available in cats. It’s much more frequent and most often talked about in dogs, especially because there are several dog breeds who have a higher incidence – for cats there is about a 1 to 1.7% incidence overall.

They can be palpated if they are retained in the inguinal canal but if they are still in the abdomen, advanced imaging like an ultrasound will be required to see if they are really there or if for some reason they failed to form at all.

This distinction is particularly important because, while a retained testicle by itself is not painful, these abdominal or inguinal testicles are at a much higher risk of cancer or of twisting the blood vessels, nerves and muscles that support them. Be on the lookout for acute abdominal pain in your cat, as this might indicate a torsion has happened and needs to be seen by a vet!

Cats that only have one retained testicle may still be fertile but as it is a genetic condition, it’s best to remove these cats from the breeding pool to lower the risk of other animals with retained testicles.

Do you suspect your purring partner may have cryptorchidism? Bring them over to your vet. They will be more than happy to do the necessary tests to confirm what is going on and recommend the best way to proceed!

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Dogs

Blood in a dog’s urine

Spotting blood in a dog’s pee is usually an alarming finding for pet owners. This is definitely a sign that should not be ignored but there are several conditions that can cause the appearance of blood in a dog’s urine. More than often the reason behind it can be treated.

The presence of an abnormally high number of red blood cells in your pet’s urine causing it to turn from a clear or yellow colour to a reddish-pink colour, is also called haematuria. In some cases, haematuria is not visible to the naked eye and may only be detected when your pet’s urine is examined through a microscope.

The list for the most common causes of haematuria is long but it typically includes urinary tract infections, the formation of urinary crystals and sometimes of bladders stones (urolithiasis), prostatic disease, trauma, and urinary tumours.

Bacterial urinary tract infections are common in our canine friends (particularly in females) and pooches struggling with recurrent bacterial infections have a higher chance of developing urinary stones or uroliths. These are literally rocks that are formed within our pet’s urinary tract. These uroliths can block a dog’s urethra, causing urinating difficulties, and if they become big enough, they can even be palpated through a dog’s abdomen.

Prostatic disease in males includes a wide range of issues such as inflammation (prostatitis), abscesses, cysts, and neoplasia (benign or malignant). All tumours located in the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra can cause the appearance of blood in urine.

It is very important to take your pet to the vet for a thorough investigation of the cause or causes of haematuria. It’s not uncommon for a dog to have more than one issue causing these clinical signs.

Although it may not be the most exciting aspect of our dogs’ lives (for us humans, at least), keeping an eye on our dogs’ urine is one of many ways to monitor their health. Any changes in frequency, quantity, colour, and detecting any kind of discomfort while urinating can be an indicator of a potential health issue.

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