Group Of Healthy Cats Research Articles

Does preappointment gabapentin affect neurological examination findings? A prospective, randomized and blinded study in healthy cats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a preappointment oral dose of gabapentin on the neurological examination of cats. A prospective, randomized and blinded clinical trial was conducted in 35 client-owned healthy cats. Cats were scheduled for two appointments and randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or a 100 mg gabapentin capsule prior to the second veterinary visit. A neurological examination was performed during each visit, and the results were compared between groups. Normal/abnormal response rates for each test were based on the number of cats that allowed the test to be performed. Gabapentin was administered to 17 cats. Gait and postural reactions were significantly affected in the gabapentin group. Comparing the gabapentin with the placebo groups, proprioceptive ataxia was identified in 4/17 (23.5%) vs 0/18 cats (P = 0.0288); paw placement deficits were seen in 10/11 (90.9%) vs 1/4 (25%) cats; table tactile placement deficits were identified in 13/17 (76.5%) vs 0/18 cats (P <0.0001); hopping deficits were seen in 5/17 (29.4%) vs 0/16 cats (P = 0.0185); and abnormalities on wheelbarrowing and extensor postural thrust were reported in 5/17 (29.4%) vs 0/18 cats (P = 0.0129). These results had no correlation with age or dose/kg received. No significant difference was noted in the assessment of level and content of consciousness, posture, cranial nerves and spinal nerves. No significant differences were noted in test compliance or examination duration. Gabapentin significantly altered gait analyses and postural reactions in this group of healthy cats. The administration of gabapentin could lead to false-positive results and, possibly, an incorrect identification of neurological lesions. In contrast, gabapentin did not impair the assessment of cranial nerves and spinal reflexes, which can be assessed in patients receiving the drug.

Effects of oral trazodone on echocardiographic and hemodynamic variables in healthy cats.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral trazodone on echocardiographic variables, heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) in healthy cats. Client-owned domestic cats between 2 and 8 years of age were recruited. Cats were considered healthy based on physical examination, complete blood count, blood chemistry profile, urinalysis, total thyroxine concentration, non-invasive BP measurement by Doppler method and a screening transthoracic echocardiogram with simultaneous electrocardiogram. Echocardiographic variables assessed pre-trazodone and 90-120 mins post-trazodone (50 mg PO) included left ventricular internal diameter in systole and diastole, interventricular septal and left ventricular free-wall thickness in systole and diastole, left atrial size, left auricular function and left ventricular diastolic function assessed by spectral Doppler transmitral and pulmonary venous flow velocities, and tissue Doppler profiles. Mean echocardiographic and hemodynamic variables were calculated for pre- and post-trazodone examinations for each cat. Pre- and post-trazodone variables were analyzed with a paired t-test with significance set at P <0.05. Twelve healthy cats were evaluated. Trazodone was administered to all cats and a sedative effect was observed. There were no clinically significant differences in any echocardiographic variables post-trazodone administration. Systolic BP was significantly decreased after trazodone (P = 0.001) with no significant change in HR. Trazodone did not alter echocardiographic variables, in a clinically relevant manner, in this group of healthy cats. Trazodone may aid in obtaining transthoracic echocardiograms without affecting HR or echocardiographic variables but may significantly lower BP in healthy cats.

Serum biomarkers of oxidative stress in cats with feline infectious peritonitis

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the possible presence of oxidative stress in cats naturally affected by feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) by investigating two antioxidant biomarkers in serum: paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). PON1 was measured by spectrophotometric assays using three different substrates: p-nitrophenyl acetate (pNA), phenyl acetate (PA) and 5-thiobutil butyrolactone (TBBL), in order to evaluate possible differences between them. The PA and TBBL assays for PON1 and the assay for TAC were validated, providing acceptable precision and linearity although PA and TAC assays showed limit of detection higher than the values found in some cats with FIP. Cats with FIP and other inflammatory conditions showed lower PON1 values compared with a group of healthy cats with the three assays used, and cats with FIP showed significant decreased TAC concentrations. This study demonstrated the existence of oxidative stress in cats with FIP.

Plasma lactate measurements in healthy cats

The primary objective was to determine if venous plasma lactate is affected by struggling during venipuncture in clinically normal, healthy cats. Additional objectives were to evaluate the effects of venipuncture site, age, sex, and time (0-24 h) on plasma lactate concentrations in healthy cats. Prospective clinical study. Private veterinary referral center. Twenty-one healthy, privately owned, sexually altered, adult cats. Blood was collected via jugular or medial saphenous venipuncture at the time of study entry and at 6 and 24 hours later. In healthy cats, there were no significant differences in lactate concentrations statified by degree of struggling at time 0 (P = 0.33), time 6 (P = 0.23), or at time 24 (P = 0.41), venipuncture site (P = 0.58), age (P = 0.62), sex (P = 0.06), or time (P = 0.13). Most cats had mild to moderate struggling scores. Venous plasma lactate concentrations for this group of healthy adult cats had a mean of 1.63 mmol/L; 95% CI: 1.34-1.92, SD: 0.62, and a minimum-maximum range of 0.37-2.81 mmol/L. The occurrence of mild to moderate struggling during venipuncture, venipuncture site, age, sex, and time did not affect plasma lactate concentrations in this group of healthy cats. Our results suggest that plasma lactate can be reliably measured in cats. Further studies are warranted in sick cats to determine if plasma lactate measurements can be utilized as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker.

Value of α1-acid glycoprotein in the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is notoriously difficult to differentiate from the many other diseases with similar clinical signs and at present the only conclusive diagnostic test is the histopathological examination...

Relationship of lower urinary tract signs to seropositivity for feline immunodeficiency virus in cats.

A group of 41 cats with signs of lower urinary tract disease was compared to a group of 41 cats without any history of disease for prevalence of seropositivity for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The group of healthy cats was similar in age and gender to the group of cats with signs of lower urinary tract disease. Three of the cats with lower urinary tract disease and one control cat were seropositive for FIV. This difference was not statistically significant. The most common cause of lower urinary tract signs was idiopathic. Only 7 cats had urinary tract infection, most associated with perineal urethrostomy or catheterization. Six of the cats with bacterial urinary tract infections were FIV negative.

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgA in the serum of cats

SUMMARY An elisa for detection of Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgA in feline serum was developed. A group of cats (n = 7) was inoculated orally with T gondii bradyzoites. Toxoplasma gondii-specific serum IgM, IgG, and IgA responses were followed sequentially by use of the ELISA for 34 weeks. Serum IgA was detected later than IgM or IgG, and was detected in most cats on week 34 after inoculation. None of the cats was seropositive for IgA during the oocyst-shedding period. A group of client-owned cats with suspected clinical toxoplasmosis and a group of healthy cats were tested for Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgA in serum. A trend toward association of T gondii-specific IgA in serum of cats with ocular disease was observed.