Animal Care

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Mark Newton-Clarke MAVetMB PhD MRCVS, Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgeons

We all want to start 2022 on a positive note as after the Christmas cheer, January can fall a little flat. I am not great on New Year’s resolutions, partly because I’m now too old to get through my long list of things I want to improve! One recurring element of our lives and that of our pets, especially in January, is tackling the weight that may have been gained during the festivities. I like to put a positive spin on this, as in general, only healthy individuals put on extra pounds. When a cat or dog is presented to us in the clinic we always check their weight, as loss is an important clinical sign, assuming it isn’t deliberate (on the part of the owner).

Dogs and cats are very different in their responses to weight loss, due to evolutionary differences in their physiology and eating habits. Cats eat little and often, with the calorie intake at each meal estimated as being about equal to the nutrition provided by the average mouse. The vast majority of cats self-regulate their body weight, even though food is often provided ad-lib. Imagine what would happen if a full bowl of food was constantly provided for the average Labrador! However, some cats behave like greedy dogs and will over-eat, to the point of obesity. Almost always these cats were rescued from a feral existence where food was scarce and life was harsh. So who can blame them?

Whatever the cause, the fatty puss is far more likely to suffer from a variety of problems. Diabetes, respiratory disorders and urinary tract obstructions are all on that list and we are seeing more arthritis in elbows. The latter due to repeated heavy impacts from jumping down onto hard kitchen floors. Type 2 diabetes occurs in cats (but not dogs) and like humans, is strongly associated with body fat levels. As we all know, giving insulin for this form of diabetes does no good at all so blood sugar levels have to be controlled with drugs and diet. Luckily, weight loss often improves the situation and blood sugar levels can return to normal.

Obstructions in the urinary tract are back in the ‘Top Ten’ after a few years of slipping down the charts. We don’t know the reason why this should be,

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although diet must be involved in more ways than one. Lack of activity and the feline tendency to drink little water add to the risk that the cat’s urethra will block up with a waxy mixture of mineral crystals and protein, made in the bladder. This is exclusively a male problem, caused by the tiny aperture that urine has to exit the body. If you have ever seen a cat spraying, that impressive stream can only be produced with high pressure and a fine nozzle! When the nozzle gets blocked, the bladder cannot empty and the result is a urological emergency. The signs are constant attempts to use a litter tray and intense pain, although cats are good at hiding their feelings. This is not the time to wait and see, call your vet and impress on them that this is a genuine emergency. If you are really lucky, your poor cat will have a cystitis rather than

an obstruction – the signs being very similar but the outcomes very different.

So what do we do with the chubby puss? The key message is gradual weight loss as the feline metabolism is prone to over-active fat mobilisation in response to a crash diet. For dogs and humans this does not constitute a major problem, but for our feline friends this fat finds its way to the liver and results in hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver syndrome. A benign name for a potentially life threatening condition as treatment has a poor success rate, with many cats refusing to eat. And we all know that when a cat refuses to eat, it’s definite. Ironically, anorexia is a real problem for some cats as it seems to be the ‘go-to’ symptom for many diseases.

I often say, you can have a slim and hungry Labrador or a fat and hungry Labrador but you will always have a hungry Labrador! Not the only breed to have problems with satiety but we should remember where the vast majority of their food comes from. Us. So if there has been too much family sharing of turkey and potatoes in December, it’s time for some ration control. Key to this is have a standard measure for your dog food, as a handful can vary from day to day. Start off your canine ‘Weight Watcher’ with an accurate weight (drop into the surgery when we’re quiet and use the digital scales) and then repeat the weigh-in on a monthly basis. Increasing exercise has a very small effect on the canine waistline (hyperactive spaniels being the exception) so I’ll leave you with the good news that struggling through the winter storms is not necessary. Just feed less!

IS YOUR HERD OR FLOCK AT RISK? Gemma Loader BVetMed MRCVS, The Kingston Veterinary Group

Coccidiosis is a protozoal disease that invades the cells of the intestines in sheep and cattle. Coccidial oocysts (similar to eggs) will be present in most environments and a low level of exposure at a young age will result in an immunity against disease. Disease only occurs if animals are subject to heavy infections/challenges or if their resistance has decreased. Adults will be the initial source of disease, however due to their immunity it only clinically affects younger, naive animals.

The majority of the life cycle of this parasite occurs within the intestines of the host animal. This results in the production of thousands of oocysts which are shed in the faeces. The oocysts, once shed, require optimum temperature and moisture in order to mature and become infective. These conditions can occur in straw yards/pens as well as at pasture, predominantly in spring and autumn. Infection occurs via the ingestion of infective oocysts.

Coccidial parasites invade the cells of the intestinal wall causing damage to the gut lining. This in turn results in poor digestion and reduced water reabsorption. Clinical signs can vary from being just simply a decrease in weight gain to more significant effects such as bloody mucus diarrhoea with straining, lethargy, dehydration, weight loss and increased

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susceptibility to other infections. These signs occur relatively late on in the infection process when damage to the intestines has already taken place. Killing the parasite at this stage will not reverse this damage therefore long-term effects may persist e.g. poor growth rates.

The most important role of treatment in infected animals is to reduce both the severity of disease and the number of oocysts shed (which in turn decreases the risk of new infections in other susceptible animals). Treatment of clinical cases should include oral fluids with electrolytes to address dehydration, as well as coccidiostats to reduce disease severity and oocyst shedding. Affected animals should also be isolated to reduce the spread of infection.

Coccidiosis treatment is likely to be effective when it is instigated in the early stages of the coccidia life cycle – this is before clinical signs are seen. Therefore, a strategic plan of preventative treatment based on previous history of disease before clinical signs occur is much more effective and economically viable than reactive therapy in already infected animals. Most coccidiostatic drugs available for prevention and treatment will allow the animal to develop immunity against coccidiosis whilst preventing intestinal damage and economic losses.

Points to consider when it comes to prevention and control

• Employ management practices that reduce contact with faecal material - bed-up pens frequently, reduce stocking densities and use well-drained pastures. • Reduce faecal contamination of water and feed by raising buckets/troughs above ground level. Moving feed points around regularly. • Limit contact between animals of differing ages (i.e. early and late lambs) • Avoid over-grazing pastures as this will force animals to graze down to the roots of plants where they may pick up a higher number of oocysts. • Minimise stress in young animals, as this will increase their susceptibility to disease.