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Enhance His Coat, Improve His Health the Most Common Neurological Expert information on medicine, behavior and health from a world leader in veterinary medicine Enhance His Coat, Improve His Health Tracking aparasite's path in the body; alerting first responders. Regular grooming and a high-quality diet keep hair andfur in top Weight Loss: Cause for Con(ern 3 condition to prevent infection and protect against the elements It can reflect disease from cancer to liver, kidney and heart disease. cat's coat is his Animal Hospital. "A glory. Whether dull, dry and unkempt Why Do They Cover Utter Boxes? 5 A it's soft, thick fur, coat doesn't offer as Are they being fastidious or hiding long flowing hair or much protection as a their presence from predators? the suede-like skin healthy one." Ask Elizabeth 8 of a hairless breed, The message is in­ This unusual syndrome commonly the coat is more than escapable: Enhance the results in skin rippling on the back. an adornment. "The coat and you enhance skin and hair buffer your cat's well-being. IN THE NEWS .•. the animal from his The two most important environment ­ heat, elements to consider are Astudy ofstem cells to cold, sun, wind - -g diet and grooming. and make it more ,~ improve kidney function '" Aclinical trial under way at difficult for the skin Selkirk Rex boast distinctive curls. Quality Protein. A Colorado State University is using to get infected," says high-quality diet results stem celis to treat cats with late­ dermatologist William H. Miller, Jr., VMD, in gleaming fur with a resilient texture. Cats stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). Medical Director of Cornell University's are obligate carnivores, meaning that their diet "There's alot of hype around stem (continued on page 4) celis right now," says lead re­ searcher Stephen Dow, DVM, PhD. "Unfortunately, alot of the claims are unsubstantiated. We hope to The Most Common Neurological Disease show whether the cells make a Many illnesses can cause epilepsy, but an array of difference in cats with CKD." The researchers want to deter­ medications will help manage this difficult disease mine if the injection of stem cells in 20 cats will improve kidney A dvances in medications have given veteri­ side effects include liver disease and increased function, reduce side effects such .l""\.narians and cat owners more choices for thirst, urination and appetite. Thankfully, as innammation and fibrosis, and controlling seizures with fewer side effects. The these reactions are rare in cats. Zonisamide delay the disease's progression. most commonly used medications are phe­ and levetiracetam are prescribed on their Researcher Jessica Quimby, nobarbital and the newer drugs zonisamide own or as "add on" medications to lower the DVM, PhD, DACVIM, says the and levetiracetam. "These anti-epileptic amount ofphenobarbital needed. Both have study is about one-third com­ medications modify neural transmission in relatively few side effects. Potassium bromide, pleted, too early for results. "I can the brain to reduce the number of seizures an which is frequently prescribed to treat seizures say, though, that the cats have animal experiences," says neurologist Sofia in dogs, cannot be used in cats because it can all been tolerating the stem cell Cerda-Gonzalez, DVM, Assistant Professor of lead to life-threatening allergic airway disease. treatments very well." Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Cornell For more information, please University College of Veterinary Medicine. A Daily Dose. Zonisamide has relatively few visit the Feline Health Center at Phenobarbital can cause problems if a side effects and a lower level of sedation com­ www.vet.comell.edu/fhcl. .:. cat has an allergy to it. In addition, potential pared to phenobarbital, Dr. Cerda-Gonzalez (continued on page 6) CatWatch : SHORT TAKES Tracking aparasite as Karolinska Institute and the Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control. "It would EDITOR IN CHIEF Bruce G. Kornreich, DVM, Ph.D., it invades the brain now be worth studying the links that exist DiplACVIM It's common knowledge that pregnant between toxoplasmosis, the GABA systems EDITOR women should avoid litter boxes to avoid and major public health threats" Betty Liddick contact with toxoplasma The parasite In another study, scientists infected ART DIRECTOR found in cat feces can cause toxoplasmosis, Mary Francis McGavic mice with toxoplasma and then traced the a disease that may movement of infected ADVISORY BOARD James A. Flanders, DVM, Dipl cause a number of dendritic cells through the ACVS, Associate Profes sor, developmental Clinical SCiencE', body, where it spread and abnormalities in d continued to affect the Marc S. Kraus, DVM, Dipl ACVIM, Senior Lecturer, Clinical Sciences developing fetuses and GABA system, according neurologic, ocular and Margaret C. McEntee, DVM, to the results published in Dipl AC 1M, DACVR, other potentially severe the scientific journal PLoS Professor of Oncology problems in people with Pathogens. William H. Miller, Jr., V, D, ACVD, compromised immune Professor, Chninical Sci ences "We've shown for the systems, Arrows Indicate toxoplasma thaI Ilona Rodan, DVM, Dipl ABVP first time how the parasite Wisconsin Cat Care Clinic, Research in recent infected a dendritic ceil, which is part behaves in the body of Madison, WI of the immune system. years has shown an its host, by which I mean association between how it enters the brain and toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia, depression manipulates the host by taking over one of the CornellUniversity and anxiety, Studies also suggest that the ;,= . College of brain's neurotransmitters," Dr. Barragan says. (i)-- Veterinary Medicine disease can inAuence levels of human However, he is careful to point out, "At the aggression, extroversion and risk-taking. Now same time, it's important to emphasize that For information on your cat's health, viSit the Cornell University College of a study by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden humans have lived with this parasite for many Ve teri nary Medicine, Cornell Feline suggests a mechanism by which toxoplasma millennia, so today's carriers of toxoplasma He Ith Center webSite at may inAuence the behavior of its hosts, wwwvet.comell.edu/fhcl. need not be particularly worried ," In this study, researchers found that human People contract the parasite by eatitl9 dendritic cells - an important part of the the undercooked Aesh of infected animals immune system - secreted the chemical or through contact with cat feces, but the gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) after being immune system usually prevents them from infected with toxoplasma. GABA inhibits becoming ill, Although cats usually shed feelings of fear and anxiety. Abnormalities CatWarc/!' (ISSN 1095-9092) the organism only for a few days after being _ is pu "shed nlonrhly of GABA metabolism have previously been infected, and the chance of human exposure for 539 per ye r by demonstrated in people with depreSSion, :].. Belvoir Media roup, IS relatively small, a number of precautionary LLC, BOO Connecticut schizophrenia, bipolar diseases, anxiety measures are recommended to reduce the Belvoir Ave., Norwalk, CT 06854­ 1631. Rubert En glander , syndrome and other mental health disorders. chance of exposure, according to the Cornell Chairman and CEO; Timothy H. Cole, Previous research has also shown that rats Executive Vice President, Editoria l Feline Health Center. For more informatiotl, Directo r, Philip L. Penny, Chi ef infected with toxoplasma become unafraid of please visit the center's website at wwwvet. perating Officer; Greg Ki ng, Executive cats and are attracted by their scent, making Vice Pre sident, Mar keting Director; Ron cornell.edu/ fhc! Goldberg, ChrefFlna cial Office r; Tom them easy prey. The role of GABA In this Canfield, Vice Presidem, Circ utation . 102012 Be lvo" Media Group, LLC toxoplamsa-induced behavioral change in cats Keeping Them Safe was not investigated. Pet owners who sign up for email alerts Postmaster: Send address cor rections o Cat Watch, PO. Box 8535, Bi Sandy, "For toxoplasma to from the ASPCA will receive TX 75755-8535. make cells in the immune IN CASE OF FIRE OR EMERGENCY free Pet Safety Packs. They For Customer Service defense secrete GABA include an ASPCA Animal or Subscription information, visit wwwcatwatchnew\letter.com/cs was as surprising as it was Poison Control magnet and or call toll free: 800-8 29-8893. unexpected, and is very a window decal alerting Express written permission 15 clever of the parasite," rescue personnel that pets required to reproduce, in any manne r, the contents of this Issue, says study leader Antonio are inside the home. For either in fu ll or in part. For more more information, use the information, write to Permissions, Barragan, MD, PhD., a CatWatch, 800 Connec ticut Av , researcher at the Center keywords "pet safety pack" Norwalk, Connec ieut 06854-1631. for Infectious Medicine at at wwwaspca.org . •:. 2 CatWatch MARCH 2013 HEALTH When Weight Loss Is Cause for Alarm It can reflect a serious underlying condition from cancer to liver, kidney and heart disease, especially among seniors ost owners know that an older If weight loss has been progressive, with no change in lifestyle or activity. a thorough physical exam and lab tests are warranted. M feline who has turned into a fat cat may be ill or, at the very least, may have a shorter lifespan than his thinner may order blood and thyroid hor­ counterpart. However, owners whose mone tests. Treatment can include AWARNING ON CANNED FISH senior cats appear to have lost weight anti-thyroid drugs, removal of the FOR HUMANS for no discernible reason need to be thyroid gland or injections of radioac­ concerned, too. tive iodine. These injections can cure It's best not to feed your cat "lfthe weight loss in a senior cat is hyperthyroidism but must be ad­ canned fish products meant for visually apparent, it is time to contact ministered at specialized facilities.
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