Journal of feline medicine and surgery
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This study was conducted to validate an ultrasound-guided technique to block the sciatic nerve in cats. An anatomical study was first carried out in four feline cadavers to evaluate the feasibility of the glutea (cranial and caudal), femoris and poplitea ultrasonographical approaches for the sciatic nerve block. The results showed that the femoris approach was optimal because the region was free of vascular and bony structures, and the needle was easily visualised in-plane. ⋯ A dose of 2 mg/kg lidocaine 2% diluted in saline to a final volume of 1 ml was administered in all cats. The blockade was successful in all cases and the cats recovered uneventfully. This study shows the usefulness of the femoris approach in performing an ultrasound-guided blockade of the sciatic nerve in cats.
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J. Feline Med. Surg. · Aug 2011
Case ReportsDorsal spinous process impingement syndrome ('kissing spine') in a cat: imaging appearance and surgical management.
Spinal pain is an important clinical presentation in feline patients, but the underlying causes can often be difficult to elucidate. Dorsal spinous process impingement syndrome ('kissing spine' or in human patients 'Baastrup syndrome') is a significant cause of spinal pain in equine and human patients and radiographically is characterised by a close approximation of adjacent spinous processes with reactive bone sclerosis affecting these spinous processes. ⋯ Radiographs revealed close approximation of the dorsal spinous processes of the seventh, eighth and ninth thoracic vertebrae (T7, T8 and T9), with associated reactive bone sclerosis. Surgical resection of the T8 dorsal spinous process resulted in complete resolution of the clinical signs with no evidence of recurrence 9 months after surgery.
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J. Feline Med. Surg. · Apr 2011
Prevalence of echocardiographic evidence of cardiac disease in apparently healthy cats with murmurs.
The objective of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of echocardiographic evidence of heart disease in apparently healthy cats with heart murmurs. Thirty-two privately owned domestic cats were examined. ⋯ The prevalence of echocardiographic evidence of heart disease in this population of cats was 53%. Therefore, identification of a heart murmur on routine physical examination in apparently healthy cats warrants further investigation.
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Food allergy is recognized as a cause of non-seasonal dermatologic disease and pruritus in cats, though its exact prevalence remains unknown. Feline food allergy can also be associated with gastrointestinal, neurologic, respiratory and behavioral components. ⋯ Recent literature has revealed that there is marked variability in the clinical picture, response to treatment and outcome in food-allergic cats. This article reviews published literature and highlights clinically relevant observations pertinent to feline food allergy.
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J. Feline Med. Surg. · Jun 2010
Controlled Clinical TrialEffects of multiple oral dosing of itraconazole on the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine in cats.
Itraconazole (Icz) has been known to increase the cyclosporine (CsA) trough level in human transplant patients. However, the interaction of Icz with CsA has not been reported in cats. ⋯ Co-administration of Icz with CsA resulted in significant increases of oral bioavailability of CsA. The results of our study suggest that administration of multiple therapeutic doses of Icz may decrease the required CsA dosage in CsA-based immunosuppressive therapy used for renal transplantation in cats.