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Applied Clinical Veterinary Nursing > Nursing the Geriatric Cat > Flashcards

Nursing the Geriatric Cat Flashcards

1
Q

what age cats are considered senior?

A

11-14 years

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2
Q

what age cats are considered geriatric?

A

15+ years

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3
Q

what conditions commonly affect geriatric cats?

A

hyperthyroidism

hypertension

CKD

feline cognitive dysfunction

dental disease

DJD

diabetes mellitus

intestinal lymphoma

inflammatory bowel disease

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4
Q

what are the main signs of hyperthyroidism?

A

increased thirst, urination, appetite, weight loss

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5
Q

what systolic value is considered hypertensive?

A

> 160mmHg

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6
Q

what is the main issue associated with hypertension in geriatric cats?

A

vision issues - dilated pupils, blood in eyes, blindness

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7
Q

what are the main signs of CKD in geriatric cats?

A

lethargy, unkempt, weight loss, urine and blood build up of waste products

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8
Q

what are the main dental issues affecting geriatric cats?

A

gingivitis
periodontal disease
tooth resorption

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9
Q

what type of DJD are geriatric cats affected by?

A

osteoarthritis

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10
Q

why is inflammatory bowel disease sometime hard to identify in cats?

A

cats become ravenous because they cannot absorb the food they are eating - often misidentified for hyperthyroid initially

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11
Q

how can we begin to detect disease in geriatric cats?

A

pre-assessment forms - behavioural changes, other pets, household changes, current medications

history - parasite control, vaccination status, diet (&changes), confirm signalment

diagnostic parameters

clinical examination

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12
Q

what is the ideal standard feline consultation structure?

A

history-taking - pre-assessment form discussion, weight

BP measurement + discuss

clinical exam + discuss

diagnostic tests if required + discuss

recommendations

summarise and arrange a revisit

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13
Q

how does discussion of each point of the consultation help cats?

A

breaks up appointments, gives cat a break

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14
Q

what recommendations should we be giving about feline senior diets?

A

reduced energy, fat, calcium, phosphorous (kidney support)

increased fibre (not if underweight)

encourage wet over dry for hydration

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15
Q

what recommendations should we be giving around water intake for healthy senior cats?

A

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

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16
Q

why is it important to regularly monitor senior cats weight?

A

to ascertain trends - small mount lost monthly can add up and be indicative of a larger issue

calculate % loss

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17
Q

how can we calculate % weight loss?

A

(difference in weight / original weight) x 100

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18
Q

at what % weight loss would we be concerned?

A

5-10% is significant weight loss

> 10% is serious

19
Q

when is hypertension seen in cats?

A

primary - not common

secondary - CKD, hyperthyroidism, endocrine disorders

20
Q

what are the ocular effects of hypertension?

A

retinal oedema

retinal haemorrhage

retinal detachment

21
Q

what does hypertension do to the CVS?

A

left ventricular hypertrophy

22
Q

what does hypertension do tot he kidneys?

A

progressive renal failure

23
Q

what neurological signs are can be caused by hypertension?

A

bleeding into the CNS

ataxia

disorientation

seizures

coma/sudden death

24
Q

what do we need to consider when taking a blood pressure?

A

situational hypertension - can we do home visit?

travelling hypertension - how did they get here?

area for appointment - quiet, no foot traffic, dedicated room

25
Q

which aspect of the tail should the doppler probe be placed on?

A

ventral aspect - run finger along until find tiny dip in tail bone

26
Q

what is considered a hypotensive BP?

A

SBP <120mmHg

27
Q

what might cause hypotension in cats?

A

heart failure, shock, hypovolaemia

28
Q

what is a normal BP in cats?

A

120-160mmHg SBP

29
Q

what is considered a hypertensive BP?

A

> 180mmHg

30
Q

what can a SBP of 160-180mmHg be attributed to?

A

“grey area” - can be due to stress

31
Q

how can we make our clinical examination more cat-friendly?

A

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

32
Q

how might we identify DJD in senior cats?

A

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

33
Q

how can we assess the respiratory system of senior cats

A

auscultate systematically

observe pattern as well as rate

34
Q

how can we perform a very basic check of thyroid function?

A

palpate neck for a thyroid goitre

35
Q

how should we examine the muscles and joints?

A

check both asymmetry and range of motion

36
Q

what are the advantages of urinalysis?

A

gives basic useful information
cheap and easy
variable collection techniques

37
Q

what are the normal urine parameters in terms of: USG, protein, blood, glucose, ketones, UPC

A

USG >1.035

protein ≤1+

blood -ve

glucose -ve

ketones -ve

UPC <0.2

38
Q

what can we check for in urine under the microscope?

A

sediment and bacteriology

39
Q

should cats be starved for blood samples?

A

yes, generally 6 hours

40
Q

how does EDTA contamination affect blood results?

A

will increase potassium results

41
Q

what is important to remember when checking feline blood glucose?

A

ensure calibrated to feline setting - cats have smaller/different shape blood cells to dogs

42
Q

what type of T4 should we test for and why?

A

request total T4 - total is more specific/cheaper initially

free T4 not influenced by other illnesses but more expensive

43
Q

how can we accommodate older cats during restraint?

A

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?

44
Q
A

Applied Clinical Veterinary Nursing (31 decks)

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