Figure 1. Velagliflozin (Senvelgo) is marketed as a solution for oral administration. It does not require any changes in dose, specific feeding times or glucose monitoring. It can produce diarrhoea in the first two to three weeks and careful monitoring for ketosis is important.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor treatment in diabetic cats

Cats with diabetes mellitus typically experience a condition that is comparable to type 2 diabetes in humans, and is characterised by relative insulin deficiency and insulin resistance (Gostelow and...

Figure 1. Doppler ultrasound device.

Cats are not small dogs: assessment and stabilisation of emergency presentation

The purpose of the cardiovascular triage is to assess perfusion parameters. Identification of abnormalities allows determination of the presence and severity of shock. Shock is defined as the...

Figure 1. Common fracture locations that are generally found in combination. (1) Sacroiliac luxation. (2) Iliac body fracture. (3) Acetabular fracture. (4) Pubic fracture. (5) Ischial fracture.

Decision making in feline pelvic fracture repair

A thorough history and clinical examination are essential starting points in fracture assessment. Clinical examination should start with an assessment of the cardiovascular and neurological systems to...

Figure 1. Gingival hyperaemia associated with early gingivitis.

Feline oral inflammation: diagnosis and options for treatment

Periodontal disease is the most common disease in companion dogs and cats, affecting 80–85% of animals at 2–3 years of age (Stepaniuk, 2019). This disease is caused by subgingival bacterial plaque,...

Is it time to re-evaluate anti-parasitic use in companion animals?

Parasites for which prophylactic and/or therapeutic drug use is common range across the spectrum of protozoa, helminths and arthropods. A non-exhaustive summary of common parasites, their geographic...

Figure 1. Occasional knuckling of the right hindlimb was noted.

Suspected hindlimb peripheral nerve damage in a feline patient

Ideally, examination of the feline patient should begin with gait analysis in order to determine which limb(s) is affected, and to identify whether a true lameness is present or whether the patient is...

Figure 3. Intraoperative photograph of a proximal duodenal mass (arrow) in a cat with feline gastrointestinal sclerosing fibroplasia.

Understanding feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia

Surgical removal of the mass has been performed in most cases with feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia. However, several studies have also reported medical management with...

Why could thrombolysis be an option for cats with acute aortic thromboembolism?

The age distribution is middle-aged to older cats, with the mean or median age at admission between 7 and 12 years old (Smith et al, 2003; Borgeat et al, 2014; Guillaumin et al, 2020). Male cats are...

Figure 2. Left lateral plain radiograph of cat with cystolith and ureterolith at the level of the distal ureter/ureterovesicular junction.

Clinical presentation of feline urolithiasis and associated diagnostic testing

The diagnostic approach and the urgency of investigation of cats with suspected urolithiasis is dependent on their clinical presentation; with obvious requirement for urgency in any cat where...

Figure 2. Right parasternal long axis view from a cavalier King Charles spaniel with suspected infective endocarditis. There is an irregular, thickened, hyperechogenic polypoid structure attached to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve (oscillating lesion).

Infective endocarditis in dogs and cats

The normal endocardium is resistant to adherence of pathogens, but it can become susceptible when damaged. Mechanical or inflammatory lesions can cause bacterial seeding within the endothelium. In one...

Figure 1. Body condition scoring chart for dogs.

Malnutrition in dogs and cats

There is clear evidence that malnourished people have poorer outcomes in a number of diseases. There is similar evidence in canine and feline medicine to support the notion that malnourished patients...

Figure 2. Try and allow a cat time to acclimatise in the clinic before blood pressure measurement and keep them as relaxed as possible.

Secondary hypertension and its treatment in cats

The aim of treatment is to reverse or ideally prevent target organ damage from occurring, therefore treatment of cats with moderate to high risk of target organ damage is recommended. Clinicians may...

Figure 2. Severe crusting and small erosions on the nasal planum and bridge of the nose in a cat with pemphigus foliaceus.

Pemphigus foliaceus in cats

Pemphigus foliaceus is an antibody-mediated autoimmune skin disease. Autoantibodies belonging to the IgG subclass attack and destroy the desmosomes, the special structures connecting one keratinocyte...

Figure 1. Flowchart for interpreting Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) questionnare scores.

Osteoarthritis in small animals: tools for diagnosis and monitoring

There are many available, validated, client metrology instruments for canine patients. The most readily accessible in the UK are the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) questionnaire, the Helsinki...

Figure 1. Blood pressure measurement using Doppler methodology.

Feline blood pressure measurement: when is it needed?

Systemic hypertension is a potentially life-threatening condition and four body systems are especially vulnerable to the damaging impact of high systemic blood pressure. These so-called target organs...