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One benefit of modern veterinary medicine is the prolongation and increase in quality of life for our patients. For example, the average domestic cat can now expect to lead a long and healthy life into their late teens. However, unfortunately with age can also come some challenges, and one such challenge which is becoming more recognised in moggies is the disease hyperthyroidism.

The thyroid gland is located in the neck in both cats and dogs. One of it’s most important jobs is to produce a hormone called thyroxine. Thyroxine has many functions in the body, such as helping to regulate temperature, heart rate and appetite. But sometimes production of thyroxine can go wrong. Cats in particular, can produce too much thyroxine, and this can be a problem. This is called hyperthyroidism.

The symptoms of hyperthyroidism can include weight loss, high heart rate and a ravenous appetite. Indeed, it is the combination of a skinny cat that eats a lot that first alerts an owner that there may be a problem. If left untreated, the cat can become very ill and is prone to heart disease. Luckily, modern veterinary medicine has provided us with several effective treatments. These include dietary modification, daily medicine and occasionally surgery. These treatments can reverse symptoms and allow the cat to lead a normal life again.

Hyperthyroidism can be diagnosed via a simple blood test carried out by your vet. If your cat has a persistently high blood thyroid concentration, combined with weight loss and an increased appetite, then hyperthyroidism is likely. A recent study has indicated that hyperthyroidism is more common than we first thought. Indeed, one school of thought is that many older cats should be considered for thyroid testing if they are off-form. But prompt diagnosis and treatment will ensure that your cat will not suffer the worst effects of this disease, but live to a ripe old age.

Following on from our article “Should You Feed Your Dog Raw Meat”, there has been a timely article on a related topic in the national press this week. A study carried out by vets at the University of Edinburgh has found that cats may have contracted TB from eating a “natural” raw food diet. This has not been conclusively proven, but the evidence is suggestive.

TB is short for “Tuberculosis”. It is a disease that affects many animals, including man. In times past it was known as “consumption”, as it consumed the people infected with it. They lost weight and wasted away, often with a hacking cough. TB has claimed many victims over the milenia. Famous victims include Keats, Shelley, Charlotte Bronte and Geroge Orwell. The causative agent is a bacteria called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. It is hard to kill and can lie dormant in the host for years. Indeed, it is thought that one quarter of the world’s population is currently infected with TB. Fatal cases occur overwhelmingly in the developing world. Pasteurisation of milk and control of TB in cattle by vets have helped stem the disease in Ireland. But we are ever vigilant for the return of this pernicious killer. Vets have a special role to play because TB has a reservoir in many animals like cattle and deer, and can cross the species barrier to infect man.

For these reasons the public health authorities are alert to any sign that the incidence of TB is on the increase. So when a group of house cats began developing symptoms, vets became concerned. These cats were all kept indoors, so their diet was predictable. The only common feature was that they were fed a raw venison-based diet. It is reasonable to conclude that the diet may have contained the TB bug and this passed to the cats. Normally TB is spread in the air by coughing animals, but it can cause infection when eaten. While we can’t be sure that cats can spread TB to people, given that the disease is so serious it is wise to be cautious.

The good news in this story is that the disease was quickly identified. The cats are no longer fed this particular diet as a precaution. It is better to stick to non-raw diets for pets from pet food companies as these are prepared to strict standards, and reduce the chances of disease spreading via the food. The government has a robust TB control program in cattle and is ever vigilant for the return of this victorian killer. You can do your bit by consulting your vet if you have any questions.

The evenings are drawing in as we near the darkest day of the year.  I’ve begun to notice that it is getting darker and darker as I drive home from work.  The headlights of oncoming cars on the road are glaring more noticeably than they did even a few weeks ago.  Yet even on the mundane commute home there are wonders to behold.  I am referring in particular to “cats eyes”.  Not the actual eyes of a cat, but those small glass beads in the middle of the white line, reflecting the lights of your vehicle to illuminate the centre of the carriageway.

Cat’s eyes, or reflecting road studs, are a world famous safety feature of road travel invented in the UK in the 1930’s.  The idea was to find a way to guide traffic in the dark, rain or fog.  The inventor, a Mr Percy Shaw of Halifax, was inspired to invent the reflective beads by the shine of  a real cat’s eye.  This shine is created by an anatomical quirk in the cat’s eye – the tapetum lucidum.  This is a latin term meaning “bright tapestry”.  The tapetum is a highly reflective layer of tissue behind the retina.  Its purpose is to reflect light coming into the eye, enabling the animal to see in the dark.

Cats, dogs and horses, among other animals, have a tapetum lucidum.  Humans, sadly, do not.  Therefore these animals can see in the dark much better than we can.  You are all familiar with the tapetum lucidum.  If you snap a photograph of your pet in the dark, you will likely see two bright lights emanating from their eyes.  It is this effect that Mr Percy Shaw sought to copy with his ingenious invention.  The light generated by the “road” cat’s eyes contributed greatly to commuter safety.  The invention came into its own during the London Blitz whenever a blackout was imposed, aiding clandestine travel at night.  After World War II, cats’ eyes spread across the world, and they are now used in a variety of colours in motorways in many countries.

So next time you see a cat’s eye in the road at night, you know that this simple invention has saved many lives.  Percy Shaw had the genius to apply simple observation of natural phenomena to real-world situations to provide a practical solution.  And, of course, we must also thank the cat!

In our last column we covered ultrasound scanning as a way to image your pet. This week, we’re going to look at another way of seeing inside the animal body: the CAT Scan.  “CAT” is an abbreviation of “computed tomography”. This is derived from the Greek words “tome”, meaning “slice”, and “graphi” which means “to write”.  The reason this name is used is because CAT scans make images of the body in slices.  These slices are then assembled to make a study of the body.

A CAT scanner is a type of x-ray machine. It is very large and looks like a doughnut. Inside the doughnut is an x-ray tube and a semi-circle of sensors. The patient lies on a tray that can move in and out of the doughnut. Images are generated when X-rays pass through the body to the sensors in a rotating arc. As the tray moves in and out of the doughnut, these images are generated in slices. These slices are then transmitted to a computer to form a complete picture of the area under examination. The images can be two-dimensional or three-dimensional depending on the computer and the requirements of the vet.

The use of CAT scans has exploded in recent decades as the price of these machines has come down. It is now reasonably routine for pets to be scanned for a range of conditions. These conditions include fractures, spinal problems, tumours and virtually any other issue you can think of in the body. When we have an animal that is undergoing a CAT scan they generally require sedation or even full anaesthesia. The reason for this is that we cannot have an animal standing up and walking off a scanner in the middle of a scan! This means that when your pet undergoes a CAT scan they usually have to be admitted to hospital for at least a day.

CAT scans have some advantages over traditional X-ray images. CAT scans have better resolution than traditional radiographs and because a number of images are taken CAT scans avoid the superimposition of structures that can happen on a plain one-dimensional X-ray. This means that interpretation of these images can often give more information than would otherwise be achievable with a normal x-ray.

CAT scans also have some disadvantages. One disadvantage is the cost of the machine.  Purchase and operation of CAT scanners is expensive. Another disadvantage is the radiation dose that the patients can receive during the scan. Clinicians are aware of the need to reduce radiation exposure in patients. Therefore only patients which require a scan will undergo one.  The clinician must undertake a cost-benefit analysis before ordering a scan for any particular patient to balance the risk of the scan against the benefits of increasing the knowledge of a patient’s condition.

CAT scans have undoubtedly moved veterinary medicine forward over the past two decades. They have enabled us to see deeper into the body of an animal than we have ever been able to see before. They provide more information on cases that enable us to tailor treatments better to the individual animal and improve patient outcomes.  We hope that in the future costs will come down even further to broaden their use in general practice.

There is a fairly old joke about a bloke going to a doctor complaining of a mystery illness.  The doctor is stumped so he turns to a cat who paws at the man, slowly shakes her head and walks off.  The doctor then asks a Labrador to give the man the once over.  The Labrador sniffs the patient, shakes his head, and leaves the room.  The doc then hands the patient a bill for £1000.  The bloke is furious – he exclaims – you didn’t do anything except let a few animals into the consultation room.  The doctor calmly explains that he did.  He requested a cat scan and a lab test!

OK, so perhaps the joke isn’t as funny as I thought when I first heard it.  But this week in the news we saw a great example of how technology is changing the world of medicine.  Headlines related how Google Health had used a computer to diagnose particular cancers as successfully as experienced and skilled doctors.  It is an encouraging example of combining powerful technology and medical skills to improve patient outcomes.  This got me thinking – could we use tech to help our animal patients?

Change is coming.  And it’s exciting.  One obvious area that we can use computing power to improve diagnosis is in assessing x-rays, scans and test results.  When vets look at these tests, they are evaluating them for patterns.  Certain patterns mean that their patients are suffering from this or that disease.  If we can train a computer to look for the same patterns, then we can increase the accuracy and rate of diagnosis.  A computer is very good at repeating the same task over and over.  The computer will not replace the vet, but will add and extra opinion that can be very useful in tricky cases.

Another area which is promising is patient-side diagnostics for disease.  If we could take a sample from a patient and run a test telling us what bug is causing that disease within 5 minutes, then we can get treatment started sooner.  E.g. at the moment it takes us about a  week to culture bacteria, and find out what antibiotic kills them.  If we can speed this up, then we can treat the disease quickly, and also save antibiotics by only using the correct one for the first time, every time.

3D printing is perhaps another technology that is already changing how things are done in surgery.  Orthopaedics is the science of fixing bones.  In order to fix broken bones we often have to fix them together with bits of metal – plates and pins.  Every patient is different, so it can be hard to find the correct size of pin to suit the patient.  Now, though, we can scan the patient’s bones, measure their length and actually print an implant that is tailor-made for the patient.  This can improve the chances of success of any surgery.

These are just a few areas that technology is likely to change patient care in veterinary medicine.  It will be interesting to revisit this article in a few years to see if any of my predictions have come true.  Watch this space!

It’s that time of year again for the farmers of Lecale – the time to start preparing your herds for housing during the winter months. As covered in previous issues, a big threat to the health of cattle at housing is calf pneumonia. We have seen a lot of pneumonia in the past weeks even in cattle grasinging in the fields. We suspect that the culprit in this case is lungworm, and we will cover that disease in another article. For this article I would like to discuss the spread of viral and bacterial pneumonia as a result of close contact of animals at housing.

Calf pneumonia, also known as bovine respiratory disease (BRD), is a prevalent and potentially devastating condition that can affect young cattle, especially in their first few months of life. This illness not only impacts the health and growth of the calves but can also lead to significant economic losses. At Downe Vet Clinic, we advocate for a proactive, three-pronged approach to prevent calf pneumonia: maintaining excellent hygiene, providing balanced nutrition, and implementing a strategic vaccination program.

Understanding Calf Pneumonia
Calf pneumonia is caused by a combination of viral and bacterial pathogens that exploit stressors such as poor ventilation, sudden changes in weather, or inadequate nutrition. These factors weaken a calf’s immune system, making it more susceptible to respiratory infections. Early and consistent preventive measures are crucial in reducing the incidence and severity of this disease.

The Importance of Hygiene: Good hygiene is fundamental in preventing calf pneumonia. By maintaining a clean environment, you reduce the number of pathogens that calves are exposed to, thereby lowering the risk of infection.

Clean and Dry Housing: Ensure that calf pens are regularly cleaned, dry, and well-bedded. Wet, dirty bedding can harbour harmful bacteria and viruses that lead to respiratory problems. Regularly removing soiled bedding and replacing it with fresh material is essential.

Proper Ventilation: Adequate ventilation is critical to minimising the buildup of ammonia and moisture in calf housing, both of which can irritate the respiratory tract and increase vulnerability to infections. Ensure good airflow without creating drafts that could chill young calves.

Routine Disinfection: Regularly disinfect feeding equipment, water troughs, and housing areas to reduce the pathogen load in the environment. Use effective disinfectants and adhere to recommended protocols to ensure thorough cleaning.

Colostrum Management: Providing high-quality colostrum within the first few hours of life is vital for boosting calves’ immunity. Proper handling and feeding techniques are necessary to prevent contamination and ensure that calves receive the full benefits of colostrum.

The dog walkers among you may have noticed signs in local beauty spots that Blue Green Algae is back in our lakes and ponds. But what is this stuff, and is it dangerous for your dog?

Blue Green Algae is not actually algae at all. It is a type of bacteria called cyanobacteria. It is called “blue / green algae because it looks like, well, Algae that is greenish blue. “Cyano” means blue in Greek, and the cyanobacteria are usually blue or green when seen in large numbers by the human eye. Cyanobacteria live in water, like lakes and ponds. Usually they pose no problems as their numbers are small. However, under certain conditions and during certain times of the year, cyanobacteria may produce an “Algal Bloom”. You may notice this as a green / blue or even mud-red colour on the water of your local lake or pond. These algal blooms can cause problems to fish, animals and even people.

The problem with algal blooms is that the bacteria can produce toxins (known as cyanotoxins). These toxins can have a wide range of effects on animals, people and fish. Symptoms vary from rashes to causing vomiting, diarrhoea and even organ failure in large doses. The symptoms an animal can develop depends on lots of factors: how long was the animal in contact with the water, did it drink the water, what type of cyanobacteria are present? So it can be hard to predict if an animal will be sick and what symptoms they will have after coming into contact with cyanotoxins. The best advice is to avoid contact with any water where an algal bloom is suspected. Local authorities are vigilant about posting notices near affected lakes and ponds.

If your dog loves swimming and unwittingly jumps into water where there is an algal bloom, there are a few steps you can take. Firstly call your dog out of the water. It is prudent to take sensible precautions like wearing gloves / goggles and refraining from entering the water yourself. Wash the coat of the dog with fresh, clean water to stop the dog licking his coat. Call your vet. They can make your dog vomit just in case the dog has ingested any water. The sooner the better. In more serious cases your vet may admit your pet for blood tests and supportive treatment.

In most of the cases we have treated the outcome is good. However, prevention is better than cure, and adhering to local restrictions is the best advice. Blue Green algae are normally an important part of our ecosystem, but algal blooms are not. Enjoy the summer with your dog, and stay safe.

Blue-tongue is an insect-borne disease of ruminants – sheep, cattle, goats etc. It is a virus (BTV) spread by the culicoides midge. Originating in warmer climes, over the early part of the 21st century it is working its way up to the countries of Northern Europe. Several cases have been identified in Britain over the past twenty years, and it is a notifiable disease. This means that, when diagnosed, the Department of Agriculture should be notified.

The symptoms of infection with BTV include fever, salivation, facial swelling and tongue swelling. The tongue can appear “blue” with swelling, but although this gives the name of the disease, only a minority of affected animals will have this symptom. There is usually nasal discharge, and affected animals will make a “snoring” noise. Crusting of the nose is also apparent. Some animals develop foot lesions, and become lame. Infected animals can lose weight. The disease affects sheep more than cattle. Most of the time cattle who are infected are asymptomatic.

The spread of the disease relies on the vector – the midge. So infection patterns usually subside in the winter when cold temperatures kill the midge, but rise with warmer weather. One theory for the spread of the disease northwards is that we are having warmer, wetter winters. We no longer have heavy frosts that kill the vector. At present, the most likely route for BTV spread in Northern Ireland is the import of an infected animal. It is for this reason that imported animals are subject to strict certification and health checks prior to travel.

Treatment of BTV infection is symptomatic, and even with treatment, sadly some animals die. At present there is no licensed vaccination for BTV permitted for general use in Northern Ireland. If you suspect a case of BTV, contact your vet, or local Divisional Veterinary Office for advice.

Further information is available from DAERA: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/bluetongue

So finally May is here – and summer has begun! Our ancestors celebrated this month as the feast of Bealtaine. This feast traditionally begins on May 1st – May day. Various activities are associated with this day – from washing your face in the dew to maintain a youthful complexion, to various animal-related practices. It is the animals of course that we are interested in. May was the time to drive the cattle to summer pasture – perhaps on higher ground. The more clement weather meant that they could survive outside. One local tradition was to herd the cattle between two bonfires. This was designed to drive off disease which could spread as various herds mixed. It was even customary to take a lit branch from the bonfire to light the fire in your home. This would confer protection to your household too.

Horse owners look forward to the summer weather. After enduring the dark winter months mucking out and conditioning their horses, they are finally read for the summer competitions. Now, in the 21st century, we too have to protect our animals from disease. These days we tend not to light bonfires but vaccinate our animals. This is important, as disease tends to spread where animals come and meet – like at horse shows, pony club camp or competitions. It is important that you consult with your vet to ensure that your horse is fully vaccinated prior to going to these events. Many events have strict rules about which vaccines they require, and also insist upon evidence of vaccination in the form of a passport or vaccination card.

The two main diseases we vaccinate horses against are influenza and tetanus. There have been widespread media reports of fatal cases of influenza in horses in England in the spring. To vaccinate for these diseases usually requires a starter course of repeat injections followed by regular boosters. The time interval depends on the product used, but your vet can advise you. It is normal to rest your horse for a day following vaccination to allow time to recover. The vet will then record the date and place of vaccination in your horse’s passport. NB it is a legal requirement that your horse has a passport for recording vaccinations and medical treatment in.

Prevention is better than cure. The vaccines that we use are very good at protecting your horse from disease so you can go out and enjoy yourself. No vaccination is 100% effective, but vaccination is still essential where groups of horses mix. The key is to get yourself organised early and contact your vet to book a vaccination well in advance of travelling to any show or camp. If you need more information please give us a ring on 02844614225.

The sun is (almost) out in Lecale, and lots of you will be blowing the cobwebs off your barbecue in the hope of lighting it for one or two evenings this summer. Barbecues are very popular in this part of the world, in spite of the climate. It’s as if just lighting one will raise the ambient temperature on your patio by a few degrees. However, barbecues are very tempting not only to ourselves, but also our four legged friends. They are not without their dangers.

First off, the obvious one – burns. Barbecues are hot, and meat is often cooked on them. This could prove irresistible to a hungry Labrador. They are not used to this meat emporium in the back garden, and could get curious. So be aware and keep your dog away while the barbie is hot.

Bones and skewers. At the end of the meal, there are often discarded bones and skewers. Contrary to popular culture, bones can be difficult for dogs to eat. They can splinter and damage the oesophagus and stomach, particularly if your dog isn’t used to them. The same goes for skewers – the dog can be attracted to them by their contents and not realise that they are sharp.

Corn-on-the-cob may seem benign to us, but believe it or not can be lethal to dogs if it gets stuck in their stomach or gut. We have had to surgically remove many corn-on-the-cob leftovers from dogs. The same goes for tinfoil that has been used to wrap meat up. In addition, many of the ingredients used in barbecue entertaining can be toxic to dogs; e.g. garlic, onions, alcohol and chocolate.

Barbecue food is not noted for being low-calorie. The high fat content of the food can also have unpleasant side effects in dogs. A high fat diet can stimulate inflammation of the pancreas – pancreatitis in some breeds. This is a painful abdominal condition that can cause your dog to lose appetite and become depressed. It can be serious and is best diagnosed by a blood test at your vet. Hospitalisation may be necessary.

So, to sum up – have fun at your barbecue, but be aware of the risks to your pets. Dispose of all waste sensibly and remove temptation. Prevention is better than cure!