Skin fragility in a cat presenting with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism.

Case Summary: A case of skin fragility in an 8-year-old domestic shorthair cat with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism is described. The cat was referred to the Feline Centre at Langford Small Animal Hospital with a 2-month history of multiple skin wounds with no known traumatic aetiology. A low-dose dexamethasone suppression test was performed before referral, which was consistent with hyperadrenocorticism.

The effect of non-absorbent hydrophobic sand litter on the urine protein-to-creatinine ratio in feline urine.

Background: Proteinuria can be quantified through the measurement of the urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC). Voided urine samples in cats are often exposed to a non-absorbable litter substrate prior to collection and urinalysis. Little is known about the effect exposure to such substrates has on pre-analytical variability of UPC measurements.

Unusual presentation of vitamin D-dependent rickets type II in a kitten.

Case Summary: A 15-week-old kitten presented with a 1-month history of intermittent generalised tremors and abdominal distension. Hypocalcaemia associated with increased 1,25-vitamin D was consistent with vitamin D-dependent rickets type II. The bone appearance on CT scan was most consistent with the changes typically seen with nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism and less typical of the changes seen with rickets.

Whole-Blood Taurine Concentrations in Cats With Intestinal Disease.

Background: Increased delivery of taurine-conjugated bile acids to the distal bowel can lead to dysbiosis resulting in colitis in mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease. A similar situation also could occur in cats with intestinal disease and might therefore result in decreased whole-body taurine concentration.

Hypothesis/objectives: To determine whether whole-blood taurine concentrations are decreased at the time of diagnosis in cats with intestinal disease and to correlate concentrations with clinical and laboratory variables.