Treatment of Feline Mammary Cancer

McNeill, C. J., K. U. Sorenmo, et al. (2009). "Evaluation of adjuvant doxorubicin-based chemotherapy for the treatment of feline mammary carcinoma." Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 23(1): 123-129.

Mammary carcinoma is the third most common cancer of cats. Female cats with a mean age of 10 to 12 years are primarily affected and approximately 90% of mammary tumors are malignant. Mammary tumors are characterized by local invasion into vasculature and surrounding tissues along with metastasis to distant locations such as draining lymph nodes, lungs, and other sites. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate whether adjuvant doxorubicin-based chemotherapy improved outcomes for cats with mammary carcinoma (MC) compared with surgery alone. Seventy-three cats with naturally occurring, biopsy-confirmed MC were included in the study. The surgery alone group contained 37 cats and 36 cats were in the surgery plus chemotherapy group (adjuvant doxorubicin-based chemotherapy). Median disease free survival and overall survival times were compared between groups. This study did not find a benefit to adjuvant doxorubicin-based chemotherapy in cats with MC. Additional studies are recommended to determine whether certain patients with negative prognostic factors (e.g., tumor size at time of surgical intervention) may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. [VT]
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Overley, B., F. S. Shofer, et al. (2005). "Association between ovarihysterectomy and feline mammary carcinoma." J Vet Intern Med 19(4): 560-3.
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Viste, J. R., S. L. Myers, et al. (2002). "Feline mammary adenocarcinoma: tumor size as a prognostic indicator." Can Vet J 43(1): 33-7.
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Deafness in White Cats

Cvejic, D., T. A. Steinberg, et al. (2009). "Unilateral and bilateral congenital sensorineural deafness in client-owned pure-breed white cats." J Vet Intern Med 23(2): 392-395.

Congenital deafness in white cats is well known. However, studies of the prevalence among purebred white cats have not been done. This study was performed at the Ludwig Maximilian University, Germany and the University of California, Davis and examined 84 client-owned pure breed white cats for hearing loss (31 British Shorthair, 14 Maine Coon, 11 Turkish Angora, 9 Persian, 6 Foreign White, 6 Norwegian Forest, 4 Highlander, 1 Balinese, 1 Devon Rex, and 1 Oriental Shorthair). Hearing was evaluated using click-evoked brainstem auditory evoked response. Overall, about 20% of the cats had hearing loss in either one, or both ears. In addition, blue-eyed cats were more likely to have hearing loss than cats of other eye colors. While this study does not represent a population cross-section, nor breed evaluation, and prevalence rates were not compared to non-white cats, these findings do support the conclusion that deafness among pure-breed white cats occurs as it does with mixed breed white cats. Neither the mechanism of inheritance nor the genetic basis for the condition is completely understood. [MK]
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Related articles:
Geigy, C. A., S. Heid, et al. (2007). "Does a pleiotropic gene explain deafness and blue irises in white cats?" Vet J 173(3): 548-53.
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Ryugo, D. K., H. B. Cahill, et al. (2003). "Separate forms of pathology in the cochlea of congenitally deaf white cats." Hear Res 181(1-2): 73-84.
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Bacterial Peritonitis in Cats

Culp, W. T., T. E. Zeldis, et al. (2009). "Primary bacterial peritonitis in dogs and cats: 24 cases (1990-2006)." J Am Vet Med Assoc 234(7): 906-13.

This retrospective study was performed to determine the clinical characteristics of primary bacterial peritonitis and to compare the characteristics of primary and secondary peritonitis in dogs and cats. Primary peritonitis is defined as an infection of the peritoneal cavity with no identifiable intraperitoneal source of infection or history of a peritoneal penetrating injury. Secondary peritonitis cases were identified by use of the first criteria and also had a confirmed source of bacterial leakage identified either during surgery or at necropsy. Nine cats met the inclusion criteria for primary peritonitis and 11 cats met the inclusion criteria for secondary peritonitis. The most common historical findings in cats with primary and secondary peritonitis were anorexia, lethargy, and vomiting. Weight loss was an additional common finding with secondary peritonitis in cats. Significantly more cats had tachypnea, pain on abdominal palpation, and abdominal distention with primary peritonitis than the secondary form. Additionally, significantly more cats with primary peritonitis had hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia than did cats with secondary peritonitis. Three types of bacteria were cultured from the peritoneal cavity of cats, including E. coli, Clostridium spp. and Streptococcus spp. The majority of cultures of primary and secondary peritonitis in cats were monobacterial. There was no significant difference in outcome detected between animals with primary versus secondary peritonitis. [VT]
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Ludwig, L. L., M. A. McLoughlin, et al. (1997). "Surgical treatment of bile peritonitis in 24 dogs and 2 cats: a retrospective study (1987-1994)." Vet Surg 26(2): 90-8.
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Esophageal Damage From a Hairball

Durocher, L., S. E. Johnson, et al. (2009). "Esophageal diverticulum associated with a trichobezoar in a cat." J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 45(3): 142-146.

This report describes an unusual case of esophageal obstruction and subsequent esophageal diverticulum in a 9-year old, neutered male domestic longhair cat associated with a hairball (trichobezoar). The patient was originally diagnosed with esophageal obstruction secondary to a hairball, and the hairball was removed endoscopically. Nine months later, the cat presented for persistent regurgitation. Contrast radiography with fluoroscopy revealed an esophageal diverticulum at the thoracic inlet with decreased esophageal motility distal to the diverticulum. Esophagostomy revealed the presence of a hairball within the diverticulum that was removed. With medical therapy and a canned diet, the cat did well for 2 months until it died suddenly. [SL]
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Owen, M. C., P. J. Morris, et al. (2005). "Concurrent gastro-oesophageal intussusception, trichobezoar and hiatal hernia in a cat." N Z Vet J 53(5): 371-4.
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Barrs, V. R., J. A. Beatty, et al. (1999). "Intestinal obstruction by trichobezoars in five cats." J Feline Med Surg 1(4): 199-207.
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Diabetes in Australian Cats

Lederer, R., J. S. Rand, et al. (2009). "Frequency of feline diabetes mellitus and breed predisposition in domestic cats in Australia." Vet J 179(2): 254-8.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in cats seen at two large cat clinics in Brisbane, Australia over a 5 year period was evaluated. Data was analyzed by comparing diagnosis among Burmese as compared to domestic short- and long-haired cats, and between males and females. Ninety-three of 12,576 cats seen at the clinic were diagnosed with diabetes, giving a 5-year period prevalence of 7.4 per 1000 cats. Burmese cats in this population were three times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than other cats. In addition, males were more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than females. Interestingly, Burmese cats were two years older on average at the time of diagnosis than the short- or long-haired cats. The underlying mechanism predisposing Burmese cats in Australia to diabetes mellitus is not known, but may be related to elevated amounts of lipids (e.g. triglycerides) in the blood, and inherited disorders of Burmese in Australia. [MK]
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Rand, J., L. Bobbermien, et al. (1997). "Over representation of Burmese cats with diabetes mellitus." Aust Vet J 75(6): 402-405.
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McCann, T. M., K. E. Simpson, et al. (2007). "Feline diabetes mellitus in the UK: the prevalence within an insured cat population and a questionnaire-based putative risk factor analysis." J Feline Med Surg 9(4): 289-99.
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Skin Lesions Associated with FIP

Declercq, J., H. De Bosschere, et al. (2008). "Papular cutaneous lesions in a cat associated with feline infectious peritonitis." Vet Dermatol 19(5): 255-8.

This paper describes unusual lesions associated with a case of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)– slightly raised intradermal papules that were not painful nor itchy. The 7 month old intact male domestic shorthair cat also had other indicators of FIP, such as fever, anterior uveitis, respiratory distress, and kidney abnormalities. The skin lesions were on the neck and thorax and difficult to see in these haired areas. Histopathologic analysis of these lesions along with immunohistochemistry revealed typical FIP lesions. If detected early in the disease process, analysis of similar skin lesions may help provide a diagnosis. [MK]
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Cannon, M. J., M. A. Silkstone, et al. (2005). "Cutaneous lesions associated with coronavirus-induced vasculitis in a cat with feline infectious peritonitis and concurrent feline immunodeficiency virus infection." J Feline Med Surg 7(4): 233-6.
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FeLV Shedding in Feces

Gomes-Keller, M. A., E. Gonczi, et al. (2009). "Fecal shedding of infectious feline leukemia virus and its nucleic acids: a transmission potential." Vet Microbiol 134(3-4): 208-17.

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is an important pathogen of cats that is associated with cancer and immunodeficiency. Transmission of the virus occurs primarily via saliva. These investigators examined fecal shedding of the virus by testing for viral RNA and DNA, as well as by virus cultivation from rectal swabs of infected cats. They found that cats testing positive using common in-clinic test kits for FeLV antigen also shed virus in feces, and the majority of them were infectious to other cats. None of these FeLV-shedding cats showed any gastrointestinal signs of disease. However, it appears that the viral load in feces is small, and while it did lead to exposure and antibody production against the virus in uninfected cats in contact with virus-positive feces, these cats did not become antigen-positive on in-clinic test kits. Viral genetic material was found in tissues from a minority of these exposed cats, indicating transmission via feces is possible. While secondary to saliva as a means of virus spread, these results indicate that sharing of litter pans between infected and susceptible cats does bear some risk for transmission of FeLV. [MK]
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Gomes-Keller, M. A., R. Tandon, et al. (2006). "Shedding of feline leukemia virus RNA in saliva is a consistent feature in viremic cats." Vet Microbiol 112(1): 11-21.
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Levy, J., C. Crawford, et al. (2008). "2008 American Association of Feline Practitioners' feline retrovirus management guidelines." Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 10(3): 300-316.
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Spinal Cord Disease in Cats

Gonçalves R, Platt SR, Llabrés-Díaz FJ, et al. Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings in 92 cats with clinical signs of spinal cord disease. Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 2009;11:53-59.

Spinal cord disease is a diagnostic challenge in cats. As well, no antemortem studies on the relative frequency of the different etiologies responsible for feline spinal cord disease, such as lymphoma, feline infectious peritonitis, and intervertebral disc disease, exist in the literature. MRI is a noninvasive tool that represents the method of choice for imaging the spinal cord in human patients. The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of an abnormal MRI in cats with clinical signs of spinal cord disease; to examine the relationship between the patient’s clinical characteristics and MRI findings; to identify potential predictors of a poor outcome and to investigate the outcome of cats with a normal MRI study. The authors reviewed the medical records of 92 cats with spinal cord disease that had undergone an MRI study. Seven diagnostic categories were determined on the basis of MRI and other findings: neoplastic (25 cats), inflammatory or infectious (13), traumatic (8), vascular (6), degenerative (5), anomalous (3), and those cats with a normal MRI study (32). The most important predictors of an abnormal MRI study were the presence of spinal pain and the severity of clinical signs. Of the 32 cats with a normal MRI study, only 9 died due to spinal disease. Of the 60 cats with abnormal MRI findings, 37 died due to their disease. [SL]
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Negrin A, Schatzberg S, Platt SR. The paralyzed cat. Neuroanatomic diagnosis and specific spinal cord diseases. J Feline Med Surg 2009;11:361-372.
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Harris JE, Dhupa S. Lumbosacral intervertebral disk disease in six cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2008;44:109-115.
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Tritrichomonas Diarrhea in Cats

Stockdale HD, Givens MD, Dykstra CC, et al. Tritrichomonas foetus infections in surveyed pet cats. Vet Parasitol 2009;160:13-17.

Tritrichomonas foetus causes chronic large bowel diarrhea in cats associated with blood or mucus, flatulence, tenesmus, vomiting, weight loss, and anal irritation. Most reports in the literature are since 1996. The objective of this was to estimate the prevalence of T. foetus in pet cats across the United States. Fecal samples from 173 cats across the U.S. were submitted by veterinarians. Thirty-two pedigreed cats were represented. In this study population, 10% of the cats were positive for T. foetus. All positive cats had chronic large bowel diarrhea. There was no correlation between breed or gender and infection with T. foetus. Other enteric pathogens, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, were present in nine of the 17 positive cats. The results of this study suggest that trichomoniasis is a disease of younger male and female cats of all breeds. [SL]
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Gunn-Moore DA, McCann TM, Reed N, et al. Prevalence of Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cats with diarrhoea in the UK. J Feline Med Surg 2007;9:214-218.
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Gookin JL, Copple CN, Papich MG, et al. Efficacy of ronidazole for treatment of feline Tritrichomonas foetus infection. J Vet Intern Med 2006;20:536-543.
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Portal Vein Thrombosis in Cats

Rogers, C. L., T. E. O'Toole, et al. (2008). "Portal vein thrombosis in cats: 6 cases (2001-2006)." J Vet Intern Med 22(2): 282-7.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) refers to development of thrombi within the hepatic portal venous system. All 6 cats in this case series diagnosed with PVT also had concurrent liver disease. Three of the six cats had evidence of congenital portosystemic shunt. Such local disease conditions as neoplasia and inflammation of the liver and pancreas are also risk factors. Presenting clinical signs included lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, ptyalism, dyspnea, abdominal distension, and acute collapse. The major physical examination finding was abdominal pain. Ultrasonographic examination found an abnormal echogenic structure presumed to be thrombus within the portal vein in 5 cats. Five cats received anticoagulation therapy with the majority treated with low molecular weight heparin (dalteparin). With low numbers treated and inconsistent response, continued studies would be needed to determine the efficacy of low molecular weight heparin in treating feline PVT. In conclusion, PVT is a recognized clinical entity in cats and appears to be associated with concurrent hepatic disease. [VT]
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Lamb, C. R. (1998). "Ultrasonography of portosystemic shunts in dogs and cats." Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 28(4): 725-53.
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Thyroid Carcinoma in Cats

Hibbert, A., T. Gruffydd-Jones, et al. (2009). "Feline thyroid carcinoma: diagnosis and response to high-dose radioactive iodine treatment." Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 11(2): 116-124.

Thyroid carcinoma is considered to be the cause of hyperthyroidism in 1 to 3% of hyperthyroid cats. Eight cats were included in the study based on pre-mortem histopathologic diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma, scintigraphic evaluation, and sole treatment with high-dose radioiodine. Scintigraphic findings were variable and could not distinguish whether the thyroid tissue was malignant. In all cases, histopathology confirmed malignancy, and the authors recommend histopathology should be done in every case of thyroid surgery. Successful treatment of carcinomas with radioiodine requires ablative doses three- to 10-fold higher than those used for thyroid adenoma. High-dose radioiodine was well tolerated in this group of cats and none of the cats developed clinical hypothyroidism after treatment. The study indicated that the prognosis for cats with thyroid carcinoma and treated with high-dose radioiodine is good, and extended survival times are common. [VT]
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Barber, L. G. (2007). "Thyroid tumors in dogs and cats." Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 37(4): 755-73, vii.
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Peterson, M. E. (2006). "Radioiodine treatment of hyperthyroidism." Clin Tech Small Anim Pract 21(1): 34-9.
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