Library
-
Diabetes mellitus is an inability to regulate blood glucose caused by a loss of insulin production (Type I) or inadequate insulin supply or resistance (Type II). Dogs need insulin injections to manage diabetes. Sometimes special diets may help manage the disease. Response to insulin needs to be monitored to ensure adequate dosing and to avoid hypoglycemia caused by insulin overdose. Blood glucose curves are most commonly used for this including: in-clinic blood glucose curves, home glucose curves with hand-held glucometers and continuous glucose monitoring systems. Urine glucose testing and fructosamine testing may also be used to manage the disease. Hypoglycemia is the consequence of administering too much insulin compared to the amount of food ingested. Signs can range from lethargy to seizures and coma. It can be managed acutely with administration of sugar syrup to the gums but more severely affected dogs will need IV dextrose solutions.
-
Urate bladder stones are most commonly the result of a genetic abnormality in breeds such as dalmatians. Other causes include liver diseases such as portosystemic shunts. The most common signs that a dog has bladder stones are difficulty urinating and blood in the urine. Strategies for treating urate bladder stones in dogs include medical dissolution and removal. Dogs that have experienced urate bladder stones will often be fed a therapeutic diet for life. Dogs with liver disease will need to be treated appropriately prior to addressing urate bladder stone management.
-
Eclampsia in cats is a rare emergent condition of hypocalcemia that generally occurs one to four weeks after giving birth but can occur before. Risk factors include a poor diet, abnormal parathyroid gland, and calcium supplementation during pregnancy. Signs of eclampsia start as restlessness, panting, and stiffness and can progress to disorientation, tremors, inability to walk, and convulsions. Treatment includes intravenous fluids, careful intravenous calcium supplementation, and other supportive medications followed by oral supplementation and weaning kittens as soon as possible or supplementing their diet with milk replacer.
-
Eclampsia in dogs is an emergent condition of hypocalcemia that generally occurs one to four weeks after whelping but can also occur shortly before giving birth. Risk factors include a poor diet, small breed dogs, abnormal parathyroid gland, and calcium supplementation during pregnancy. Signs of eclampsia start as restlessness, panting, and stiffness and can progress to disorientation, tremors, inability to walk, and convulsions. Treatment includes intravenous fluids, careful intravenous calcium supplementation, and other supportive medications. This is followed by oral supplementation and weaning puppies as soon as possible or supplementing their diet with milk replacer.
-
Diabetes is an inability of the body to regulate blood sugar caused by an abnormality of the pancreas. It is the second-most common endocrine disease in cats. It causes increased thirst, urination, appetite, and weight loss. Cats most commonly have type 2 diabetes, caused by decreased insulin production or insulin resistance, and it is often associated with obesity. Diabetes is diagnosed by measuring increased levels of glucose in the urine and blood. Diabetes treatment includes insulin injections and dietary changes. Changes in blood sugar must be monitored regularly.
-
Miconazole topical is an antifungal used in the treatment of skin infections caused by yeast in cats and dogs. It may be used “off-label” or “extra label” for other conditions and in other animals. It may be specially compounded and/or combined into a formulation with other medications. Miconazole topical comes in a variety of forms.
-
Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) includes a set of clinical signs associated with abnormal urination and is the diagnosis when there is no identifiable cause of the clinical signs. Cats often suffer waxing and waning of symptoms such as straining to urinate, blood in urine, and inappropriate urination. Treatment and prognosis are discussed.
-
Glaucoma is a disease of the eye in which the pressure within the eye, called intraocular pressure (IOP), is increased. Glaucoma is caused by inadequate drainage of aqueous fluid. Glaucoma is classified as primary or secondary. High intraocular pressure causes damage to occur in the retina and the optic nerve. Blindness can occur very quickly unless the increased IOP is reduced. Analgesics to control the pain and medications that decrease fluid production and promote drainage are often prescribed to treat glaucoma. The prognosis depends to a degree upon the underlying cause of the glaucoma.
-
Struvite bladder stones are one of the most common bladder stones in cats. In some cats, struvite bladder stones form because of a urinary tract infection. Signs of bladder stones typically include frequent urination, straining to urinate, blood in the urine, and urinating outside of the litterbox. If your cat is having urinary issues, your veterinarian will first recommend a urinalysis. Blood tests, abdominal X-rays, and ultrasound may also be recommended. Medical dissolution and surgical removal are two categories of treatment. Cats who have developed struvite bladder stones are likely to experience a recurrence later in life, unless the conditions that led to the formation of stones can be corrected.
-
Struvite bladder stones are one of the more common bladder stones found in dogs. Struvite bladder stones usually form as a complication of a bladder infection caused by bacteria, and if the urine becomes exceptionally concentrated and acidic. The most common signs that a dog has bladder stones are blood in the urine (hematuria) and straining to urinate (dysuria). There are three primary treatment strategies for struvite bladder stones: 1) feeding a special diet to dissolve the stone(s), 2) non-surgical removal by urohydropropulsion (flushing out the stones) and 3) surgical removal. Dogs that have experienced struvite bladder stones will often be fed a therapeutic diet for life.
