Nursing the Geriatric Cat Flashcards
what age cats are considered senior?
11-14 years
what age cats are considered geriatric?
15+ years
what conditions commonly affect geriatric cats?
hyperthyroidism
hypertension
CKD
feline cognitive dysfunction
dental disease
DJD
diabetes mellitus
intestinal lymphoma
inflammatory bowel disease
what are the main signs of hyperthyroidism?
increased thirst, urination, appetite, weight loss
what systolic value is considered hypertensive?
> 160mmHg
what is the main issue associated with hypertension in geriatric cats?
vision issues - dilated pupils, blood in eyes, blindness
what are the main signs of CKD in geriatric cats?
lethargy, unkempt, weight loss, urine and blood build up of waste products
what are the main dental issues affecting geriatric cats?
gingivitis
periodontal disease
tooth resorption
what type of DJD are geriatric cats affected by?
osteoarthritis
why is inflammatory bowel disease sometime hard to identify in cats?
cats become ravenous because they cannot absorb the food they are eating - often misidentified for hyperthyroid initially
how can we begin to detect disease in geriatric cats?
pre-assessment forms - behavioural changes, other pets, household changes, current medications
history - parasite control, vaccination status, diet (&changes), confirm signalment
diagnostic parameters
clinical examination
what is the ideal standard feline consultation structure?
history-taking - pre-assessment form discussion, weight
BP measurement + discuss
clinical exam + discuss
diagnostic tests if required + discuss
recommendations
summarise and arrange a revisit
how does discussion of each point of the consultation help cats?
breaks up appointments, gives cat a break
what recommendations should we be giving about feline senior diets?
reduced energy, fat, calcium, phosphorous (kidney support)
increased fibre (not if underweight)
encourage wet over dry for hydration
what recommendations should we be giving around water intake for healthy senior cats?
very important in maintaining acid-base balance and osmoregulation
should always be readily available - how many + where
methods of encouraging water intake
periodic measurement of water intake - 6 monthly
why is it important to regularly monitor senior cats weight?
to ascertain trends - small mount lost monthly can add up and be indicative of a larger issue
calculate % loss
how can we calculate % weight loss?
(difference in weight / original weight) x 100
at what % weight loss would we be concerned?
5-10% is significant weight loss
> 10% is serious
when is hypertension seen in cats?
primary - not common
secondary - CKD, hyperthyroidism, endocrine disorders
what are the ocular effects of hypertension?
retinal oedema
retinal haemorrhage
retinal detachment
what does hypertension do to the CVS?
left ventricular hypertrophy
what does hypertension do tot he kidneys?
progressive renal failure
what neurological signs are can be caused by hypertension?
bleeding into the CNS
ataxia
disorientation
seizures
coma/sudden death
what do we need to consider when taking a blood pressure?
situational hypertension - can we do home visit?
travelling hypertension - how did they get here?
area for appointment - quiet, no foot traffic, dedicated room
which aspect of the tail should the doppler probe be placed on?
ventral aspect - run finger along until find tiny dip in tail bone
what is considered a hypotensive BP?
SBP <120mmHg
what might cause hypotension in cats?
heart failure, shock, hypovolaemia
what is a normal BP in cats?
120-160mmHg SBP
what is considered a hypertensive BP?
> 180mmHg
what can a SBP of 160-180mmHg be attributed to?
“grey area” - can be due to stress
how can we make our clinical examination more cat-friendly?
use a clinical examination form to direct handling
allow cat to come out of carrier of own accord (if possible)
do not restrict to the examination table
use a non-slip mat, blankets, bedding
examine from head-to-toe
how might we identify DJD in senior cats?
examine/gait observation/behaviour/home videos
stilted on hindlimbs
t-l spine arched
muscle loss over femurs
goes to sit in sternal then rolls into lateral to improve comfort
how can we assess the respiratory system of senior cats
auscultate systematically
observe pattern as well as rate
how can we perform a very basic check of thyroid function?
palpate neck for a thyroid goitre
how should we examine the muscles and joints?
check both asymmetry and range of motion
what are the advantages of urinalysis?
gives basic useful information
cheap and easy
variable collection techniques
what are the normal urine parameters in terms of: USG, protein, blood, glucose, ketones, UPC
USG >1.035
protein ≤1+
blood -ve
glucose -ve
ketones -ve
UPC <0.2
what can we check for in urine under the microscope?
sediment and bacteriology
should cats be starved for blood samples?
yes, generally 6 hours
how does EDTA contamination affect blood results?
will increase potassium results
what is important to remember when checking feline blood glucose?
ensure calibrated to feline setting - cats have smaller/different shape blood cells to dogs
what type of T4 should we test for and why?
request total T4 - total is more specific/cheaper initially
free T4 not influenced by other illnesses but more expensive
how can we accommodate older cats during restraint?
consider temperament, presence of disease/injury, preference, age (DJD?)
push from behind to extend limbs rather than pull
try not to restrain legs if possible - towel wrap?
