Top Feline Shelter Medicine Diseases

Question 1

what is the classic case presentation of a cat with otodectic mange?

Answer 1

mostly seen in kittens - scratching at the ears, shaking head, inflammation inside the pinna, dark brown waxy debris in the ears, & barely visible white specs moving in debris (may see mild alopecia, redness, or pruritus on head/neck)

Question 2

what is the etiology of otodectic mange?

Answer 2

otodectes cynotis

Question 3

how are ear mites diagnosed?

Answer 3

otoscopic exam seeing white moving specs & microscopic exam of mites in debris in mineral oil

Question 4

how are ear mites treated in the scope of shelter medicine?

Answer 4

preferably, all shleter animals should be treated, clean the external ear canal with ceruminolytic cleanser, & systemic treatment with topical selamectin is cost effective for kittens if prepackaged dosages for large dogs are divided among kittens by weight

Question 5

T/F: ear mites are very contagious between puppies & kittens

Answer 5

TRUE

Question 6

what is the zoonotic potential of ear mites?

Answer 6

very low but they can bite humans

Question 7

T/F: approximately 1/3 of all shelter cats are symptomatic carriers for feline trichomoniasis

Answer 7

TRUE

Question 8

what clinical signs are seen in shelter cats with trichomoniasis?

Answer 8

chronic diarrhea that may progress from large to mized bowel diarrhea that is yellow green, malodorous, hematochezia, fecal incontence, tenesmus, & flatuelence

Question 9

what cats are commonly affected by trichomoniasis?

Answer 9

usually densely housed kittens/cats under 2 years old

Question 10

what is the etiology of trichomoniasis?

Answer 10

tritrichomonas foetus - protozoa

Question 11

how is trichomoniasis diagnosed?

Answer 11

PCR is the gold standard but can also do a protozoal culture in house with the InPouch feline test which is less expensive than PCR

Question 12

what is remission like for cats with trichomoniasis?

Answer 12

remission may occur in 5-24 months but relapses are common - infection may persist & be lifelong

Question 13

how is trichomoniasis prevented?

Answer 13

decrease housing density by increasing the amount of space per cat

Question 14

is metronidazole effective againts trichomoniasis?

Answer 14

nope

Question 15

what is used to treat trichomoniasis?

Answer 15

ronidazole

Question 16

what are the disadvantages of using ronidazole for trichomoniasis?

Answer 16

narrow margin of safety, drug-resistance is becoming more common, don’t use in pregnant queens, & it is expensive

Question 17

T/F: hygiene & disinfection of facilities is not nearly as effective as decreasing cat housing density when treating trichomoniasis

Answer 17

TRUE

Question 18

what is fading kitten syndrome?

Answer 18

occurs secondary to vertical transmission of FeLV with hypothermia, dehydration, inability to nurse, & early mortality

Question 19

what are the clinical signs seen with FeLV?

Answer 19

pale/icteric mucus membranes, lymphadenopathy, fever, neuro signs depending on location of lymphoma, chronic ulcerative proliferative gingivostomatitis

Question 20

what cats are commonly infected with FIV?

Answer 20

outdoor male cats

Question 21

what are the early signs of FIV? what are the chronic signs?

Answer 21

early - fever & lymphadenopathy, chronic -

Question 22

what are the 4 subtypes of FeLV?

Answer 22

FeLV-A: original virus, source of natural infection, other types mutated from this virus, FeLV-B: high incidence of neoplasia, FeLV-C:increases likelihood of erythroid hypoplasia & severe anemia, & FeLV-T: causes destruction of t lymphocytes & immunodeficiency

Question 23

how is FeLV diagnosed?

Answer 23

snap test antigen test

Question 24

what is seen on a CBC of a cat with FIV?

Answer 24

non-regenerative normochromic anemia due to bone marrow suppression

Question 25

how is FIV/FeLV prevented?

Answer 25

FeLV vaccination, spay/neuter pets, keep infected cats separated, keep surfaces clean

Question 26

how is FeLV related anemia treated?

Answer 26

erythropoietin or darbopoietin +/- steroids if the others aren’t effective & if severe, blood transfusion

Question 27

how is FIV stomatitis treated?

Answer 27

AZT, antibiotics, & if persistent, removal of all teeth

Question 28

how is FeLV transmitted?

Answer 28

horizontal through social contact or biting or vertical transmission through utero

Question 29

how is FIV transmitted?

Answer 29

transmitted through biting - high incidence of FeLV negative b-cell lymphoma

Question 30

what is the classic case presentation of a cat with an upper respiratory tract infection from calicivirus or herpes virus?

Answer 30

usually seen in kittens, stomatitis/gingivitis/oronasal ulceration in stomatitis, anorexia, lethargy, ocular discharge, nasal discharge, sneezing, & in herpes virus, dendritic corneal ulcers

Question 31

how are feline upper respiratory tract infections prevented?

Answer 31

vaccination with modified-live or killed FCV/FHV starting at 6-9 weeks of age & then every 3-4 weeks until kitten is atleast 16 weeks old, then annually

Question 32

how are feline upper respiratory tract infections treated?

Answer 32

mainly supportive care, oxygen/fluids if needed, broad spectrum antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infections, nebulization, & keeping eyes/nose clean

Question 33

what bacteria can cause feline upper respiratory infections?

Answer 33

bordetella bronchiseptica & chlamydophila felis

Question 34

what is pseudomycetomas?

Answer 34

pyogranulomatous draining nodules in generalized dermatophytosis

Question 35

what is the most common etiology of dermatophytosis in cats?

Answer 35

microsporum canis

Question 36

what is the classic case presentation of a shelter cat with ringworm?

Answer 36

kittens most commonly affected on head/extremities, patchy alopecia, often circular or ring like, scaling, crusting, & sometimes pruritus

Question 37

how is ringworm treated in shelter cats?

Answer 37

clip long haired cats, combo miconazole/chlorhexidine rinses, lime sulfur dips, itraconazole

Question 38

what is the potential complication of ringworm in devon rex cats?

Answer 38

eosinophilic/mastocytic dermatitis

Question 39

T/F: ringworm is difficult to eradicate from shelters & expensive to treat

Answer 39

TRUE

Question 40

if a cat is put on griseofulvin for ringworm, what must be monitored?

Answer 40

CBC every 2 weeks, then monthly - don’t use in pregnant or FIV positive cats!!!

Question 41

what is the classic case presentation of a cat with panleuk?

Answer 41

fever or hypothermia, depression, anorexia, vomiting, rapid dehydration, thick bowel loops, diarrhea, +/- sudden death (fading kitten syndrome)

Question 42

why will cats get cerebellar hypoplasia from panleuk?

Answer 42

in utero or perinatal infection

Question 43

how is panleuk diagnosed?

Answer 43

leukopenia/neutropenia (50-3,000 WBC), can do a snap parvo test

Question 44

what treatment is used for panleuk?

Answer 44

supportive care only - isolation, aggressive iv fluid, broad spectrum antibiotics

Question 45

what cats have the highest mortality from panleuk?

Answer 45

kittens under 5 months

Question 46

T/F: a WBC count under 2,000 from panleuk Is associated with a worse prognosis

Answer 46

TRUE

Question 47

T/F: long haired cats with ringworm tend to have persistent infections (years) where infections in in short haired cats may be self-limiting

Answer 47

TRUE

Question 48

what signs are seen with cerecellar hypoplasia cats infected by panleuk in utero?

Answer 48

hypermetria, ataxia with no weakness, intention tremors, & head bobbing

Question 49

how is panleuk prevented?

Answer 49

vaccination with the inactivated or modified live starting at 6-9 weeks, booster every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age, & then annually

Question 50

T/F: a pregnant queen cannot be vaccinated with the modified live vaccine for panleukopenia

Answer 50

TRUE