Veterinary Help

Sarcoptic mange is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei and can lead to severe pruritus in dogs. It is contagious from dog to dog and can also be transmitted to humans.

The most notable clinical sign is a severe pruritus. Unlike itching due to allergies, it is minimally if at all responsive to steroids. Dogs typically also have hair loss on the ear tips, elbows and hocks. With chronic, untreated infestation, hair loss may also be seen on the trunk. The hair loss can be severe with crusts, thickening of the skin and secondary skin infections.

The mite is transmitted by dog to dog contact. The mites do not live in bedding or on surfaces as fleas do. Infected dogs will develop clinical signs several weeks to over a month after contact. Dogs are the preferred host but the mite can temporarily cause problems with humans leading to a pruritic rash that usually resolves after treatment of the infected dog. A physician may need to be contacted in cases of human infestation.

A positive diagnosis can be made by finding the mites or their eggs on a skin scraping. The mites and eggs can be very difficult to find so in cases of suspected infection these dogs are usually treated even with a negative test.

Treatment is most often application of several doses of selemectin which is the main ingredient in a common monthly heartworm prevention. Since some dogs can be asymptomatic carriers, all dogs that the infected dog is in contact with need to be treated. A response to treatment is usually noted in 1-2 weeks. Secondary bacterial skin infections need to be addressed as
well.

Feline Leukemia (FeLV) is a viral disease transmitted either from mother to kittens via milk or the placenta or from cat to cat via saliva and urine. It is often referred to as a “disease of friendly cats” since close contact is required for transmission. This includes grooming, and sharing food or water bowels.

The outcome of exposure to the virus varies widely. This is dependent on both viral and host factors. The viral strain, dose and length of exposure affect the chances of infection as does the cats age, immune system and concurrent disease status. Young cats are most susceptible to infection. Once infected, cats either clear the infection completely or remain infected. For cats that do not clear the infection there are two courses the disease may take. One is for the virus to become latent in some cells during which time all routine FeLV tests will be negative. This infection can be reactivated in times of stress. The other course is for cats to become immediately and persistently viremic. Tests on these cats will come up positive and they are infectious to other cats.

Clinical signs of FeLV infection are extremely variable, usually nonspecific and depend on the type of disease process present. These processes can be either neoplastic (as the name implies) or non-neoplastic. The two most common forms of cancer caused by the virus are lymphoma (lymphosarcoma) and leukemia. Non-neoplastic disease is typically due to immunosuppression and includes gastrointestinal disease, upper respiratory disease, skin problems, and dental disease. Often cats initially present for not eating well, fever, weight loss, lethargy or depression.

Testing for Feline Leukemia virus is readily available and easily performed with a blood sample. Testing is recommended on any at risk cats (outdoors, new cats being introduced into environment), sick cats and kittens. A single positive response indicates exposure and retesting in 12 weeks is recommended to confirm persistent infection. There is a vaccine available and it does not interfere with testing.

There is no treatment for FeLV infection but good preventative health care can allow these cats to lead long healthy lives. They do best indoors in a closed environment to prevent infecting other cats and limit their exposure to other infectious agents. It is recommended that infected cats have exams every 6 months to monitor weight and catch any problems early. They typically take longer to clear infections so it is recommended to begin treatment sooner and continue longer than would be done with a non infected cat. They should have year round parasite prevention and deworming as well as good dental care. These cats should also be spayed or neutered.

There is a vaccine available to protect from Feline Leukemia virus. It is typically recommended for cats that are at risk - living in a house hold with a known infected cat or access to the outdoors. This vaccine has been implicated in association with vaccine associated fibrosarcomas (a very rare but potentially deadly tumor) so it is typically only used in cats that are at risk as stated above. Vaccine protocols should be discussed with your veterinarian and established on your cats particular needs.

Hypothyroidism is caused by a decrease in production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. This usually occurs due to either atrophy of the thyroid gland where thyroid tissue is replaced by inactive tissue, or immune mediated inflammation where the immune system inappropriately destroys thyroid tissue. It is very uncommon for hypothyroidism to be due to a tumor or the thyroid gland or surrounding tissue.

This disease typically occurs in older, large breed dogs. Clinical signs are usually vague, affecting multiple organ systems and slow to develop. The changes that appear are often initially attributed to “old age” by owners. Affected dogs tend to be less active, less interested in their surroundings, intolerant of cold and prone to weight gain.

Changes in the skin and hair coat are often noted including dry flakey skin, thinning of hair, dry coat, loss of coat luster and an increase in skin infections. In rare cases some dogs will develop edema in the face causing puffy eyelids, forehead and cheeks.

Reproductive problems and decreased fertility can occur in both males and females if dogs are intact.

Hypothyroidism can also affect the nervous system. Neuropathy can occur leading to weakness, exercise intolerance, ataxia or paralysis. Changes to the vestibular nerve which controls the vestibular system in the ear can cause “stroke like” episodes where the dogs are having trouble righting themselves and are unable to stand. They may have drooping of one side of the face and drooling if the facial nerve is affected.

Congenital hypothyroidism, also called cretinism,is very rare in dogs and leads to failure of these pets to grow properly.

Diagnosis of hypothyroidism is made based on clinical signs and changes on blood work. The most commonly evaluated value is the total T4 which is a good screening test for hypothyroidism. In some cases where the total T4 level is low normal and hypothyroidism is still suspected it may be necessary to evaluate additional thyroid hormone levels.

Treatment is supplementation with a synthetic form of thyroid hormone, usually given twice daily in pill form. Side effects are rare but can include excitability, nervousness and panting if the dose is too high. Activity levels often increase after 1-2 weeks of therapy. Improvements in weight, skin condition and other clinical signs take longer to appear - often 4-8 weeks or longer. 4-8 weeks after starting dogs on supplement, a recheck of thyroid hormone levels is needed to ensure they are at the proper dose. Form there levels are typically checked every 6-12 months or as clinically indicated.

Idiopathic vestibular disease is also referred to as old dog vestibular disease or geriatric vestibular syndrome because it is typically seen in older dogs. Clinical signs are acute in onset and are often described as a stroke. This is due to disruption of the peripheral vestibular system that controls balance.

Signs seen with this disease are consistent with those expected in other peripheral vestibular diseases - peripheral meaning not involving the brain but the vestibulocochlear nerve in the ear. Patients may be unable to stand, fall to one side, tilt the head to one side or have an abnormal flicking of the eyes called nystagmus.

Diagnostics involve ruling out other potential causes of peripheral vestibular disease that can be treated. The most common being middle or inner ear infection. This involves an otoscopic exam - in some cases anesthesia is required. X-rays of the skull may be indicated to evaluate the inner ear. Lab work is evaluated to rule out hypothyroidism as a possible cause.

Treatment is supportive as the clinical signs will typically resolve on their own over a few days to several weeks. Some patients are nauseated so anti-emetics are indicated in these cases. Intravenous fluids can be given if the patient will not eat.

The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a retrovirus that is transmitted from cat to cat via direct inoculation. It is often referred to as a disease of unfriendly cats because bite wounds are the most common mode of transmission. Infection is for life as there is not cure. The virus can cause acute disease but many cats remain asymptomatic and healthy for years after infection.

The virus is spread most commonly by bite wounds and as a result intact male cats are most prone to infection. Outdoor cats are also at higher risk than indoor cats in stable populations. There appears to be wide variability in the ability of queens to pass the virus on to kittens though the placenta or milk depending on the mothers immunity, blood levels of virus and the strain of the virus.

Clinical signs after initial infection may include fever, low blood cell counts, and infection though this phase often goes unnoticed. Most infected cats are asymptomatic carries who will not show signs of illness for months to many years after infection.

Because the virus suppresses the immune system, infected cats are susceptible to secondary infections and cancer. It is complications of these secondary diseases that tend to be most problematic. These can include chronic skin disease, gastrointestinal disease, respiratory disease and dental disease (gingivitis, stomatitis, periodontitis). These cats may also have recurrent eye problems.

Diagnosis is by an antibody test called a serum ELISA test. This test looks for antibodies produced in response to the virus and can be quickly performed at most veterinary hospitals. While these tests are very reliable, a positive test needs to be confirmed with a Western Blot assay that can be run at most commercial laboratories. Cats that should be tested include any new cat or kitten prior to introducing into the household, any sick cat or any at risk cat (outdoors, fights). It is important to note that FIV antibodies are passed from mother to kittens and they will persist for up to 6 months. Therefore any positive test on a kitten under 6 months of age needs to be repeated after 6 months as the test will likely be negative after antibodies clear. The FIV vaccine will also interfere with testing as it will cause a positive antibody response. There is currently no way to differentiate an infected cat from a vaccinated cat.

Treatment for infected cats is supportive and involves environmental management as well. These cats do best when kept strictly indoors in a stable house hold. This prevents them from spreading the disease to cats outside, prevents fighting in the house and decreases these cats exposure to other infectious diseases. Routine dental care needed to help keep the mouth healthy and prevent serious periodontal infection. Any type of infection (urinary, respiratory, skin, dental, etc.) needs to be treated aggressively - more so than with an uninfected cat. These cats need to be examined every 6 months with full lab work and urinalysis every 6-12 months with the goal being to catch any problems early. They need year round flea and heartworm prevention and regular dewormings as well. These cats should also be spayed or neutered.