The Andys Veterinary Clinic Blog
...a veterinary fraternity discussion forum
Welcome
Thursday, February 21, 2013
FEEDING RABBITS
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The Cancer Patient and Nutrition
When cancer is diagnosed in a dog, there are one of three situations:
- Neoplasia without nutritional complications
- Neoplasia with anorexia
- Neoplasia with cachexia
In general, anorexia results in weight loss primarily of adipose tissue, while patients with cachexia will lose nearly equal amounts of skeletal muscle and fat mass.
The Role of Nutrition in Cancer
The demise of the patient with neoplasia is not always due to the neoplasia itself, but to the overwhelming loss of body condition.
- Inhibiting tumor growth
- Preventing or managing cachexia
A well balanced diet is important to take care of both cachexia and tumour growth. When the protein concentration in the dog food increases, the quality of the food is often better meaning that a decrease in the overall nutritional balance of the food increases the incidence of neoplasia.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs and Cats
Bacterial infections (urinary tract, respiratory tract).
Cataract , retinopathy (rare).
Peripheral neuropathy.
Glomerulosclerosis (rare).
Cutaneous xanthomata, ulcerative dermatosis.
Ketoacidosis
- Depression.
- Tachypnea.
- Acute onset vomiting.
- Abdominal pain (due to pancreatitis).
- Abdominal distension.
- Slow deep breathing (Kussmaul respiration).
- Profound dehydration.
- Smell of acetone on breath.
- Hypothermia.
- Slow capillary refill time.
- Coma.
- Weakness.
- Lethargy.
- Coma.
- Hyperadenocorticism .
- Renal disease .
- Hyperosmolar diabetes mellitus .
- Hepatic disease .
- Neoplasia.
- Hypercalcaemia .
- Diabetes insipidus .
- Psychogenic polydipsia .
- Consistent from day to day (to prevent unnecessary alterations in insulin requirement).
- High in complex carbohydrates so that glucose is released in a steady fashion from the gut.
- Given so that glucose absorption from the gut coincides with peak action of administered insulin.
- Of the correct calorific value to take diabetics weight to optimal weight.
- Fat restricted.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
CARDIOMYOPATHY IN CATS
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Kennel Cough
Symptoms
Treatment and prevention
Sunday, November 28, 2010
CORNEAL ULCERS
Definition
The cornea is the transparent, shiny membrane which makes up the front of the
eyeball. Think of it as a clear window. To understand a corneal ulcer,
you must first understand how the cornea is constructed.
The cornea is comprised of three layers. The most superficial layer is the
epithelium. This layer is comprised of many very thin layers of
cells. Below the epithelium is the stroma, and the deepest layer is
DescemetÃs membrane. Because all of these layers of the cornea are clear,
it is not possible to see them without special stains which colour particular
cells and highlight them when looked at with a microscope.
An erosion of few layers of the epithelium is called a corneal erosion or a
corneal abrasion. A corneal ulcer is an erosion through the entire epithelium
and into the stroma. If the erosion goes through the epithelium
and stroma to the level of Descemet's membrane, a descemetocele exists.
If Descemet's membrane ruptures, the liquid inside the eyeball leaks out, the
eye collapses and irreparable damage can occur.
Mechanism of occurance
There are several causes for corneal ulcers in dogs. The most common is
trauma. An ulcer may result from blunt trauma, such as a dog rubbing its
eye on the carpet, or due to a laceration, such as a cat scratch. The
second most common cause is chemical burn of the cornea. This may happen
when irritating shampoo gets in the eye.
Less common causes of corneal ulcers include bacterial infections, viral infections,
and other diseases. These may originate in the eye or develop secondary to disease
elsewhere in the body. Examples of other diseases include Epithelial Dystrophy (a
weakening of the cornea which can be inherited in breeds such as the Boxer),
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (drying of the cornea due to abnormal tear
formation), which occurs in breeds such as the West Highland White Terrier and
diseases of the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, and
hypothyroidism).