Ringworm in dogs and cats

Ringworm is an uncommon disease of dogs, but cats, especially the longhaired breeds, are more frequently infected. Of the several dermatophytes involved, Microsporum canis causes 94 per cent of ringworm in cats and 65 per cent in dogs. This species is highly contagious for man but the true incidence of human infection is unknown. Ringworm caused by M canis usually responds readily to treatment, but when the infection establishes in a colony of cats, eradication can be difficult and expensive. Other forms of ringworm in dogs and cats are caused by dermatophytes acquired from wild animals, mainly small rodents such as mice and voles. This is an uncommon and trivial disease of cats, but some infections in dogs can be remarkably persistent and difficult to resolve.     

Histoplasmosis in dogs and cats

Histoplasma capsulatum is endemic throughout most of the United States with a high prevalence of infections in the Midwest and South. Histoplasmosis is the second most common systemic fungal disease in cats that may be more susceptible than dogs. Infection occurs by inhalation of conidia from the mycelial phase, which subsequently convert to the yeast form. Histoplasma capsulatum is phagocytized and harbored by cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system. Infection may be subclinical or cause clinical pulmonary granulomatous disease or dissemination. Disseminated disease predominantly affects the liver, spleen, gastrointestinal tract, bone and bone marrow, integument, and eyes. Primary gastrointestinal histoplasmosis also occurs. Clinical signs of histoplasmosis often are nonspecific, including chronic wasting, fever, anorexia, respiratory signs, and lameness. Gastrointestinal signs (eg, diarrhea with hematochezia or melena) are common in dogs. The definitive diagnosis is made by identification of the yeast in tissue samples. Itraconazole is the treatment of choice.     

Sporozoa in dogs and cats

SUMMARY Faecal samples from 110 dogs and 71 cats were examined for sporozoan parasites by flotation. Isospora spp were present in 5.5% dogs and 4.2% cats; Sarcocystis spp in 20.9% dogs and 1.4% cats. 74.5% dogs and 77.5% cats were fed raw meat from various sources; beef was fed most often. Animals fed raw meat were more frequently infected with protozoa. No Toxoplasma oocysts were found. The results are compared with those from other surveys in Australia and New Zealand.     

Proteinuria in dogs and cats

Proteinuria is defined as the presence of protein in the urine. Normally, circulating serum proteins are blocked by the glomerulus due to size and/or charge. Any small proteins that pass through a healthy glomerulus are reabsorbed by the renal tubules or broken down by renal tubular epithelial cells. Persistent proteinuria, in the absence of lower urinary tract disease or reproductive tract disease, is usually an indication of renal damage or dysfunction. Less commonly persistent proteinuria can be caused by increased circulating levels of low molecular weight proteins. This article reviews mechanisms of proteinuria in dogs and cats and discusses the importance of screening for and ultimately treating proteinuria.     

Adnexal surgery in dogs and cats

Abnormalities in eyelid position and function can lead to chronic irritation of cornea and conjunctiva. Corneal ulceration, vascularization and pigmentation are common consequences. Loss of vision, or loss of the globe may be the end result. The combination of ptosis and entropion of the upper eyelid is commonly seen in breeds with abundant forehead skin folds. Treatment options include surgical reduction of skin folds, suspending the brows, enforced secondary granulation of the upper eyelid, or a combination of procedures. Lid-shortening procedures reduce corneal exposure, improve functional blinking and reduce likelihood of traumatic proptosis. Although a lateral canthoplasty is technically easier to perform, a medial canthoplasty is the preferred method of eyelid shortening. An involuted lateral canthus with entropion is seen in certain dog breeds with a broad skull base and redundant facial skin. Surgical correction is by either applying traction to the lateral canthus, or by resection of the lateral canthal ligament. A combination of entropion, ectropion and macroblepharon may result in the presence of diamond shaped eyelids. Surgical correction involves the combination of several procedures. Upper eyelid agenesis is a congenital absence of part of the upper eyelid in cats. Treatment options include a skin-orbicularis flap from the lower eyelid with a conjunctival pedical graft, the transposition of the lower eyelid to the upper eyelid, cross lid flap and subdermal plexus flap, and subdermal collagen injection. Several techniques for reconstruction of upper and lower eyelid defects are described.     

Peritoneal dialysis in dogs and cats

The peritoneal dialysis was carried out in dogs for the fist time in 1946. Since then, this method of therapy has been applied more and more frequently in veterinary medicine. The dialysis therapy is mainly recommended in the acute renal failure. Accordingly to the time period over which dialysis is performed and the flow pattern of the dialysate, different types of the peritoneal dialysis are distinguished. In carnivores, intermittent peritoneal dialysis is the most commonly applied method of dialysotherapy. However, despite a considerable effectiveness of this method, complications including uncontrolled transportation of elements and proteins or problems with catheter occur quite often. This article describes indications and contraindications which enable to qualify animal patients for dialysotherapy, and detailed principles of peritoneal dialysis procedure.