Diseases of the geriatric cat

Hyperthyroidism is a common condition of senior and geriatric cats that is present in 6% of cats over the age of nine years old. Similarly chronic kidney disease is common in old cats, hence it is not uncommon for cats with CKD to have concurrent hyperthyroidism, and vice versa. This chapter includes sections on hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney disease in cats; systemic effects of hyperthyroidism; systemic effects of treatment of hyperthyroidism; effect of iatrogenic hypothyroidism on renal function; predictors of the development of azotaemia following treatment of hyperthyroid cats; and management of hyperthyroid cats with concurrent, or masked, CKD. Case examples: Cat with polydipsia, diarrhoea and weight loss; Cat with weight loss and polyphagia; Cat with polydipsia, polyphagia and diarrhoea

Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are the most common endocrine disorders of dogs and cats, respectively, and testing for these diseases is frequently carried out in practice. Interpretation relies on a good understanding of thyroid physiology and the myriad factors, other than thyroid disease and including assay methodology, that can affect tests of thyroid function.The chapter looks at physiology of the thyroid gland, laboratory methods for assessment of thyroid function, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. This section also contains a selection of case examples.

  Sam Taylor, RCVS Specialist in Feline Medicine, on how to make clinics more effective at dealing with cats.

Constipation is a common clinical sign in cats of all ages, but is especially seen in older cats (>10 years). It is characterized by infrequent, incomplete or difficult defecation, with passage of hard or dry faeces. This chapter covers aetiology, clinical approach, diagnostic investigations and treatment.

Polydipsia is a reasonably common clinical sign reported by owners of older cats. Most commonly polydipsia occurs as a compensatory response to polyuria, and therefore polyuria and polydipsia are usually grouped together when considering differential diagnoses and the diagnostic approach. Regardless of the cat’s lifestyle, polydipsia is more frequently the clinical sign noticed by owners and is therefore the focus in this chapter. The chapter will look at water intakeand approach to diagnosis.

Anaemia of inflammation and neoplasia, also knowns as the ‘anaemia of chronic disease’, is an anaemia that accompanies and complicates infectious, non-infectious and neoplastic disorders. It is the most common type of anaemia in small animal and human medicine, and is one of the most prevalent anaemias in hospitalized patients. The chapter looks at pathophysiology; clinical presentation; diagnosis; treatment.

Orthopaedic conditions are common in both dogs and cats, and there are two main scenarios where rehabilitation and palliative care are appropriate: acute cases, including fractures, dislocation and ligament ruptures or sprains; chronic conditions, such as degenerative joint disease. The most important considerations for supportive care are: to alleviate pain; and to maintain function and improve mobility of the patient. Case examples: Leg amputation in a cat; Total hip replacement in a dog; Hip dysplasia in a puppy – conservative management; Cruciate ligament repair in a dog; Tibial fracture repair in a cat; Patellar luxation in a dog; Humeral fracture in a dog; Osteoarthritis in a dog; Elbow arthritis in an elderly cat.

Advances in veterinary medicine in recent years have greatly helped to increase the longevity of pets and so veterinary surgeons and owners are now encountering an increasing number of age-related medical and behavioural problems. This chapter deals with patient evaluation, diagnosis, senior pet behavioural problems, cognitive dysfunction syndrome, prognosis, follow-up.