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Anxiety and Compulsive Disorders in Cats

Decatur Ga Vet — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:23:47 +0000

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Cats

This is a behavioral disorder where a cat will engage in repetitive, exaggerated behaviors that are seemingly without purpose. For example, grooming to the extent that fur is rubbed off; compulsive pacing; repetitive vocalizations; and eating, sucking, or chewing on fabric. If it continues over a long period of time, it may become fixed behavior, no longer requiring the situation or environmental trigger that started the behavior in the first place. The behaviors may reinforce themselves due to the release of pain-relieving chemicals in the brain. The behavior may become a mechanism for coping when the cat is confronted with conditions that conflict with its needs, and owners may be unintentionally reinforcing the behavior by giving the cat attention or food when it behaves compulsively.

Age and gender do not seem to be factors in compulsive behavior. Some breeds or family lines may be predisposed to behavioral compulsions, with Siamese and other Asian breeds overrepresented as commonly exhibiting repetitive meowing and fabric-chewing behavior.

Symptoms and Types

Repetitive vocalization (meowing)
Excessive grooming: May follow environmental change
Compulsive pacing: May begin intermittently and increase in frequency
Sucking: May be directed at a person or object, often begins spontaneously
Fabric chewing: Some cats show preference for a specific type or texture, and some cats will even ingest the fabric

Causes

Owner’s response plays a role in the compulsive behavior
Behaviors may quickly increase in frequency if they are reinforced in some way by the owner, as with feeding or attention
Stress due to changes in surroundings
More common in indoor cats due to the stress of confinement
Mental disorder

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your pet, taking into account the background history of symptoms and possible incidents that might have precipitated this condition. The history you provide may give your veterinarian clues as to what is underlying your cat’s behavioral problems. A complete blood profile will be conducted, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, and a urinalysis, in order to begin the process of confirming or ruling out physical and mental causes for the behavior. There may be an underlying illness, or, it may be in response to confinement, conflict, stress, anxiety, or frustration. If your doctor suspects neurological causes for the behaviors, a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan, or a magnetic resonance image (MRI) can be used to examine the brain and spinal cord.

If there is excessive grooming behavior, your veterinarian will take skin scrapings for laboratory examination, and possibly a skin biopsy (tissue sample) in order to determine whether there are parasites or other detectable skin disorder. Skin reactions that appear to be food related will require diet modification in order to confirm the relation.

Your doctor will be most concerned with ruling out any medical causes, such as psychomotor seizures, before a definitive diagnosis is made. Following are some things your doctor will be taking into consideration:

Itching:
- External parasites
- Fungal dermatitis
- Bacterial dermatitis
- Allergic dermatitis (including food allergies)
- Skin cancer
- Skin rash

Pain:
- Nervous system disorders
- Rupture of a vertebral disc (spine) and associated inflammation of a nerve
- Acute sensitivity to touch or other stimuli

Compulsive pacing:
- Normal sexual behavior
- Barrier frustration from confinement
- Nervous system disorders
- Chronic pain
- Brain lesions from tumors or trauma
- Following a seizure
- Metabolic and hormonal disorders
- Vitamin deficiency
- Liver disorder
- Hyperthyroidism
- Lead intoxication
- Kidney failure
- Thiamin deficiency

Repetitive vocalization:
- Normal sexual behavior
- Hearing loss
- Hyperthyroidism
- Lead poisoning
- Hypertension

Fabric sucking/chewing:
- Lead poisoning
- Hyperthyroidism
- Thiamin deficiency

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/behavioral/c_ct_compulsive_disorders

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Anxiety and Compulsive Disorders in Dogs

Decatur Ga Vet — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:27:20 +0000

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Dogs

Compulsive disorder is characterized by a repetitious, relatively unchanging sequence of activities or movements that has no obvious purpose or function. Although the behavior is usually derived from normal maintenance behaviors (such as grooming, eating, and walking), the repetitive behavior interferes with normal behavioral functioning. It is referred to as “OCD” or “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.”

The most commonly observed obsessive-compulsive behaviors are spinning, tail chasing, self-mutilation, hallucinating (fly biting), circling, fence running, hair/air biting, pica (appetite for non-food substances such as dirt, rocks or feces), pacing, staring, and vocalizing. Some dogs also show the potential for aggression.

No breed, gender or age of dog is more likely to have obsessive-compulsive disorders, although the specific type of OCD displayed may be affected by breed, such as spinning as opposed to self-mutilation. As with other anxiety disorders, onset of OCD begins early, around 12 to 24 months of age, as the dog developmentally matures (generally defined as occurring at 12 to 36 months of age in dogs). If you are observing early signs of obsessive behavior in your dog, and it is descended from a line where other dogs are affected, early intervention is critical.

Symptoms and Types

Signs of self mutilation – missing hair, raw skin, focus is commonly on the tail, forelimbs, and distal extremities
The dog’s behavior intensifies over time and cannot be interrupted even with physical restraint, increases in frequency or duration, and interferes with normal functioning
Frequent tail chasing, especially if the tail tip is missing (however, not all dogs that tail chase will mutilate their tails)
May be seen in young dogs, but onset is more common during social maturity; playfulness decreases with age, OCD increases
A solitary focus may have seemed to spur the behavior (for example, chasing a mouse that the patient could not catch) – but usually no direct cause is evident
May see self-induced injuries and lack of condition that may be associated with increased motor activity and repetitive behaviors
Behavior worsens with time

Causes

Illness or painful physical condition may increase a dog’s anxieties and contribute to these problems
Kenneling and confinement may be associated with spinning
Degenerative (for example, aging and related nervous-system changes), anatomic, infectious (primarily central nervous system [CNS] viral conditions), and toxic (for example, lead poisoning) causes may lead to signs, but abnormal behavior likely is rooted in primary or secondary abnormal nervous system chemical activity

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam on your dog. You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health, including a background history of symptoms, any information you have about your dog’s familial line, and possible incidents that might have precipitated the behavior. Your veterinarian will order a blood chemical profile, a complete blood count, an electrolyte panel and a urinalysis in order to rule out underlying physical causes or disease.

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/behavioral/c_dg_compulsive_disorders

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Antibodies that Attack Blood Cells at Lower Temperatures in Cats

Decatur Ga Vet — Sun, 13 May 2012 00:23:46 +0000

Cold Agglutinin Disease in Cats

This is a rare type II autoimmune disorder in which antibodies that attack red blood cells have enhanced activity at temperatures of less than 99° F (37.2° C). The term agglutinin refers to an antibody that causes antigens, such as red blood cells or bacteria, to adhere to each each other.

Cold agglutinins with low thermal capacity are usually associated with direct red blood cell agglutination (adhesion) at low body temperatures in the peripheral blood vessel network (i.e., the vessels outside of the main circulatory network). Cold limbs or other peripheral clotting phenomena are initiated or intensified by exposure to cold.

Fixation of complement and hemolysis (the release of hemogloblin in the blood stream when a red blood cell breaks) is a warm-reactive process occurring at high body temperatures; therefore, patients may have very high concentrations of cold agglutinins, but these antibodies may be unable to hemolyze red blood cells (erythrocytes) at the warmer temperatures achieved in the bloodstream.

Most cold agglutinins cause little or no shortening of red blood cell life span. High thermal amplitude cold agglutinins (rare) may cause sustained hemolysis, but the resulting anemia is often mild and stable. Exposure to cold may enhance binding of cold agglutinins and complement mediated release of hemoglobin within the vessels (intravascular hemolysis).

A low titer (concentration test) of naturally-occurring cold agglutinins (usually 1:32 or less) may be found in healthy cats, but this is without clinical significance. The disease has a genetic basis; however, mean age and range, breed, and sex predilections are unknown. The condition is more likely to occur in colder climates.

Symptoms and Types

History of cold exposure
Acrocyanosis (blueness of skin) associated with sludging of red blood cell clumps in the blood vessel network of the skin
Erythema (redness of the skin)
Skin ulceration (with secondary crusting/necrosis)
Dry, gangrenous necrosis of ear tips, tail tip, nose, and feet
Affected areas may be painful
Anemia may or may not be evident: associated with pallor, weakness, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), tachypnea (rapid breathing), jaundice, change of skin color, mild splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen), and soft heart murmur

Causes

Primary disease – idiopathic (unknown)
Secondary disease in cats – associated with upper respiratory infection
Cold exposure is a risk factor

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your cat, taking into account the background history of symptoms and possible incidents that might have precipitated this condition. Diagnosis is made by the historical findings, such as exposure to cold, the results of the physical examination, and demonstrating cold agglutination (adhesion of red blood cells) in vitro.

Skin lesions typically present as inflammation of the blood vessels in the skin (erythema), acrocyanosis, and ulceration of the tips of the ears and tail, nose and feet. Other associated conditions to rule out include hepatocutaneous syndrome(skin disease caused caused by liver disease); erythema multiforme (reaction to infection or medication); toxic epidermic necrolysis (blistering and peeling); dermatomyositis (skin rash caused by a muscle disease), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) – bleeding into the skin; systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); lymphoreticular neoplasms (cancer caused by proliferation of red cells in the lymphs); frostbite; lead poisoning; and pemphigus (an autoimmune disease).

A diagnosis of anemia should be demonstrated by blood tests to help distinguish warm antibody hemolytic anemia (autoimmune disease) from other causes of red blood cell destruction/loss. Macroscopic hemagglutination (clumping of red blood cells) in vitro may lead to rouleaux formation (stacks of red blood cells, as with coin rolls); mimicking erythrocyte agglutination (red blood cell clumping) on a glass slide.

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/cardiovascular/c_ct_cold_agglutinin_disease

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Anticoagulant Poisoning in Dogs

Decatur Ga Vet — Sat, 12 May 2012 21:27:20 +0000

Anticoagulant Rodenticide Poisoning in Dogs

The purpose of an anticoagulant is to prevent the coagulation (clotting) of blood. These agents are commonly used in rat and mouse poisons, and are one of the most common household poisons, accounting for a large number of accidental poisoning among dogs. When ingested by an animal, anticoagulants block the synthesis of vitamin K, an essential component for normal blood clotting, which results in spontaneous and uncontrolled bleeding.

Normally, dogs that have mild anticoagulant poisoning will not show signs of poisoning for several days, but as the poison begins to affect the system, the dog will become weak and pale due to blood loss. The bleeding may be external; this may be displayed as a nose bleed, bloody vomit, or bleeding from the rectum. Dogs can also suffer from unseen internal bleeding; bleeding into the chest or abdomen, for example, is fatal if it not diagnosed in time.

Symptoms and Types

Here are some of the most common symptoms of anticoagulant poisoning:

Weak, wobbly, unstable
Nose bleeds
Blood in vomit
Blood in stools
Bleeding from rectum
Bruises and hematomas under the skin
Hemorrhages (excessive bleeding) in the gums
Ascites (swelling of the belly) due to accumulation of blood in the abdomen
Difficulty in breathing due to blood in the lungs (this will make a rattling or crackling sound)

Causes

The main cause of anticoagulant poisoning is from the ingestion of rodent poison. If you suspect that your dog has come into contact with rat or mouse poison, and you are seeing some of the symptoms listed above, you will need to bring your dog to a veterinarian before your pet’s health becomes critical.

Keep in mind that outdoor dogs (or dogs that go outside frequently) are at risk of rodent poisoning. It might be in a neighbor’s yard, in a trash bag, or in an alleyway. Dogs that engage in chasing and killing rodents may also be susceptible to this type of poisoning. Even if you do not live in an area where rats or mice are a concern, rodent poison may be used for other common suburban pests like raccoons, opossums, or squirrels.

Some of the main anticoagulant chemicals that can be found in rodent poisons (or other household products) are:

Warfarin
Hydroxycoumadin
Brodifacoum
Bromadiolone
Pindone
Diphacinone
Diphenadione
Chlorohacinone

The first kind of anticoagulants are cumulative poisons. These poisons contain warfarin and hydroxycoumadin as main anticoagulants and they require multiple feedings that take several days to kill a rodent.

The second type of anticoagulant is deadlier, killing rodents in a single serving dose rather than over time. These deadlier anticoagulant poisons contain indanedione class products, like pindone, diphacinone, diphenadione and chlorohacinone, all of which are extremely toxic. Rodenticides that contain the ingredients bromadiolone and brodifacoum, for example, are 50 to 200 times more poisonous than the kind that contain warfarin and hydroxycoumadin.

Another cause of anticoagulant poisoning in dogs is the accidental ingestion of medication. Heparin, a common drug for treating blood clotting in humans, can have a toxic effect on animals. Often, dogs that have access to medications will eat what they have found, either because the drugs are within reach, or because the drug cabinet is kept unlocked.

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your dog, taking into account the background history of symptoms and possible incidents that might have precipitated this condition. You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health and recent activities. A complete blood profile will be conducted, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, and a urinalysis. In addition, your doctor will check the time it takes the dog’s blood to clot to determine to severity of the poisoning.

If you have a sample of the poison, you will need to take that with you to the veterinarian’s office; bringing samples of the dog’s vomit and/or stool may also be helpful.

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/digestive/e_multi_anticoagulant_poisoning

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Antibodies that Attack Blood Cells at Lower Temperatures in Dogs

Decatur Ga Vet — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:27:19 +0000

Cold Agglutinin Disease in Dogs

The term agglutinin refers to an antibody that causes antigens, such as red blood cells or bacteria, to adhere to each each other. Cold agglutinins with low thermal capacity are usually associated with direct red blood cell agglutination (adhesion) at low body temperatures in the peripheral blood vessel network (i.e., the vessels outside of the main circulatory network). Cold limbs or other peripheral clotting phenomena are initiated or intensified by exposure to cold. This is a rare type II autoimmune disorder in which antibodies that attack red blood cells have enhanced activity at temperatures of less than 99° F (37.2° C).

A low titer (concentration test) of naturally-occurring cold agglutinins (usually 1:32 or less) may be found in healthy dogs, but this is without clinical significance. The disease has a genetic basis; however, mean age and range, breed, and sex predilections are unknown. The condition is more likely to occur in colder climates.

Symptoms and Types

History of cold exposure
Acrocyanosis (blueness of skin) associated with sludging of red blood cell clumps in the blood vessel network of the skin
Erythema (redness of the skin)
Skin ulceration (with secondary crusting/necrosis)
Dry, gangrenous necrosis of ear tips, tail tip, nose, and feet
Affected areas may be painful
Anemia may or may not be evident: associated with pallor, weakness, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), tachypnea (rapid breathing), jaundice, change of skin color, mild splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen), and soft heart murmur

Causes

Primary disease ‒ idiopathic (unknown)
Secondary disease in dogs ‒ neonatal destruction of red blood cells by antibodies and lead intoxication
Exposure to cold is a risk factor

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your dog, taking into account the background history of symptoms and possible incidents that might have precipitated this condition. Diagnosis is made by the historical findings, such as exposure to cold, the results of the physical examination, and demonstrating cold agglutination (adhesion of red blood cells) in vitro.

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/cardiovascular/c_dg_cold_agglutinin_disease

Technorati Tags: dog health, Dr. Max Katz, Veterinarian Decatur Ga

Antibiotic-resistant Bacterial Infections in Cats

Decatur Ga Vet — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:23:45 +0000

L-Form Bacterial Infections in Cats

L-form bacterial infections are caused by bacterial variants with defective or absent cell walls. That is, L-form bacteria are defective variations of bacterial cells, which can be almost any type of bacteria. L-forms are different from most other forms of bacteria in the respect that cell walls are an important component of organized cell division. While L-forms are still able to divide, creating more of themselves, they lack the same organizational structure as bacteria with cell walls. L-forms replicate without regard to size, big and small, rather than being of one standard size. They have been found throughout nature, in humans, animals, and plants.

L-form bacteria are formed as a spontaneous variant of bacteria, or when cell wall synthesis is inhibited or impaired by antibiotics (e.g., penicillin), specific immunoglobulins, or lysosomal enzymes that degrade the cell walls. They can be induced from virtually all gram- positive and negative bacteria under suitable conditions. They occur sporadically in cats, and are most common in free-roaming cats of all ages.

Symptoms and Types

The site of infection is typically a surgical or bite wound. Other signs of L-form bactera infection include:

Cellulitis (infection of the skin and underlying tissues)
Fever
Arthritis
Synovitis (inflammation of synovial membrane, the soft tissue that lines the surfaces within the joints that possess cavities [e.g., elbow, wrist, knee])

Causes

Bites, scratches, or trauma may allow the organism to enter the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Formation is also encouraged by antibiotic treatment of the host, resistance of the host, suitability of the site for establishment of the infective bacterium, and relatively low to moderate virulence of the infecting bacterium.

Diagnosis

L-form bacteria are difficult organisms to isolate and identify. Using a process of differential diagnosis, which is guided by deeper inspection of the apparent outward symptoms, ruling out each of the more common causes until the correct disorder is settled upon and can be treated appropriately, the veterinarian will make a diagnosis by putting all of the signs and symptoms together, along with any consistent laboratory results, to come to a conclusion. Your doctor will also collect some of the fluid from any draining lesions, as well as joint fluid for analysis.

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/endocrine/c_ct_l-form_bacterial_infections

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Anemia, Regenerative in Cats

Decatur Ga Vet — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:48:50 +0000

Regenerative Anemia in Cats

Regenerative anemia occurs when the body loses blood faster than it can be regenerated, despite the fact that red blood cells are being produced in the bone marrow.

Symptoms and Types

Pale gums
Pale eyes and ears
Weakness
Rapid heart beat
Depression
Sleeping more than normal
Failure to groom
Weak appetite
Excessive panting
Heart murmur
Hemolytic anemia:
- Yellow gums
- Yellowing of whites of eyes

Causes

Parasites (worms)
Fleas
Wound
Cancer
Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as aspirin and ibuprofen
Hemolytic anemia, which can be due to :
- Ingestion of toxic materials
- Ingestion of pennies
- Ingestion of onions and/or acetaminophen
- Bacterial and viral infections
- Defective red blood cells
- Autoimmune disease
- Parasites of the blood

Diagnosis

Complete blood test (CBC)
Packed cell volume test (PCV)
Urinalysis
Bone marrow aspirate

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/cardiovascular/c_ct_anemia_regenerative

Technorati Tags: cat health, Decatur Ga, Dr. Max Katz

Antibiotic-resistant Bacterial Infections in Dogs

Decatur Ga Vet — Sun, 06 May 2012 21:52:05 +0000

L-Form Bacterial Infections in Dogs

L-form bacteria are formed as a spontaneous variant of bacteria with defective or absent cell walls, or when cell wall synthesis is inhibited or impaired by antibiotics (e.g., penicillin), specific immunoglobulins, or lysosomal enzymes that degrade the cell walls. L-form bacteria are defective variations of regular bacterial cells, which can be almost any type of bacteria. L-forms are different from most other forms of bacteria in the respect that cell walls are an important component of organized cell division. While L-forms are still able to divide, creating more of themselves, they lack the same organizational structure as bacteria with cell walls. L-forms replicate without regard to size, big and small, rather than being of one standard size. They have been found throughout nature, in humans, animals, and plants.

They can be induced from virtually all gram- positive and negative bacteria under suitable conditions. They occur sporadically in dogs.

Symptoms and Types

Arthritis

Causes

Diagnosis

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/endocrine/c_dg_l-form_bacterial_infections

Technorati Tags: dog health, Dr. Max Katz, Veterinarian Decatur Ga

Anemia, Nonregenerative in Cats

Decatur Ga Vet — Sat, 05 May 2012 22:48:49 +0000

Nonregenerative Anemia in Cats

A decrease in red blood cells is referred to as anemia. Typically, bone marrow will respond to this loss by increasing red blood cell production. However, in non-regenerative anemia, the bone marrow response is inadequate when compared to the increased need. For this reason, cats that suffer from anemia caused by lead poisoning or feline leukemia are in a very dangerous situation. Also, pets that become anemic over a period of time will fare better than those that have a sudden onset of anemia. When the anemia progresses slowly, the body has time to adjust to the decreased red blood cell count. Animals that become anemic quickly may die because of the sudden loss in red blood cells and oxygen.

There are three kinds of anemia: blood loss anemia caused by blood leaking out of the vascular system, as in the case of a wound; hemolytic anemia resulting from the destruction of red blood cells circulating within the blood stream; and non-regenerative anemia, which is caused by a decrease in red cell production.

Symptoms and Types

Pale gums or mucous membranes
Eyes and ears may be pale as well
Weakness
Depression
Sleeping more than normal
Stops grooming itself
Decreased appetite
Increased breathing and heart rate

Causes

Bone marrow disease
Infections (feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus)
Abscesses
Cancer
Kidney failure
Drugs
Toxic chemicals
Radiation
Lead poisoning
Inherited disorders

Diagnosis

Anemia is generally a symptom of another disease. Therefore, diagnosis is based on your cat’s health history and clinical symptoms, physical examination, complete blood counts, urinalysis, iron testing, and bone marrow testing.

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/cardiovascular/c_ct_anemia_nonregenerative

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Anemia, Regenerative in Dogs

Decatur Ga Vet — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:52:03 +0000

Regenerative Anemia in Dogs

Blood is made up a cellular portion, and a liquid portion called plasma. This cellular makeup of blood includes the red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells. When there are not enough red blood cells, the body is said to be anemic. One type of anemia, regenerative anemia, occurs when the body loses blood faster than it can be regenerated, despite the fact that new red blood cells are being produced in the bone marrow.

This condition can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how regenerateive anemia affects cats, please visit this page in the PetMD health library.

Symptoms and Types

Pale gums
Pale eyes and ears
Weakness
Rapid heart beat
Depression
Sleeping more than normal
Failure to groom
Weak appetite
Excessive panting
Heart murmur
Hemolytic anemia:
- Yellow gums
- Yellowing of whites of eyes

Causes

Parasites (worms)
Fleas
Wound
Cancer
Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as aspirin and ibuprofen
Hemolytic anemia, which can be due to :
- Ingestion of toxic materials
- Ingestion of pennies
- Ingestion of onions and/or acetaminophen
- Bacterial and viral infections
- Defective red blood cells
- Autoimmune disease
- Parasites of the blood

Diagnosis

Complete blood test (CBC)
Packed cell volume test (PCV)
Urinalysis
Bone marrow aspirate

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/cardiovascular/c_multi_anemia_regenerative

Technorati Tags: dog health, Dr. Max Katz, Veterinarian Decatur Ga