Page 11 - Clinical Connections - Spring 2023

Research News

ROTTWEILERS - GREATEST MOST COMMON DISEASES IONISED HYPERCALCAEMIA
RISK OF CRANIAL CRUCIATE IN PET CATS REVEALED IN CATS AND CONCURRENT
LIGAMENT RUPTURE UROLITHIASIS
RVC VetCompass research has revealed
A VetCompass study has explored factors what are the most common disorders VetCompass research has explored
for cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture in diagnosed by veterinary surgeons in cats the diagnoses associated with ionised
dogs and how it is managed. The research across the UK. Overall health patterns were hypercalcaemia in cats and the prevalence
also identifies which breeds are most at risk. reported from a random sample of 18,249 of concurrent urolithiasis among cats
The research findings will help owners cats from a study population of 1,255,130. referred to the QMHA.
and vets identify dogs at most risk of On average, each cat was diagnosed The study involved both Queen Mother
CCL rupture and highlight the clinical with one condition per year. The most Hospital Animals Internal Medicine Service
rationales used in first opinion practice to common disorders were gum disease and the VetCompass team. The research
decide between surgical and non-surgical (15.23%), obesity (11.58%), general dental covers the largest group of cats with ionised
management. disease (9.23%), overgrown nails (5.23%), hypercalcaemia yet reported in the literature.
The study included 1,000 CCL rupture flea infestation (5.07%) and heart murmur A defined pathological cause for
cases and a random selection of 500,000 (4.44%). Risks for these conditions varied hypercalcaemia was identified in just
other dogs without CCL injury. The breeds widely between ages and sex. Average over half of the 238 cats with ionised
at most risk of CCL rupture, compared with annual disorder count was higher in males hypercalcaemia, with acute kidney injury
crossbreeds, were Rottweiler (x 3.66 times than females, and higher in older cats than (13% of cases), malignancy associated
risk), bichon frisé (x 2.09), West Highland younger cats (10.1%), idiopathic hypercalcaemia
white terrier (x 1.80) and golden retriever (x Females and males had different risk (10.1%) and chronic kidney disease/renal
1.69). The breeds with the lowest risk were for almost half of the 30 most common diet associated (8.4%) the most common
cockapoo (x 0.26), Chihuahua (x 0.31), conditions. For example, female cats had diagnoses. Only 2% of cats were diagnosed
shih-tzu (x 0.41) and German shepherd dog higher risk than males for poor quality of with primary hyperparathyroidism or a toxic
(x 0.43). life, post-operative wound complication, cause.
Common disorders in cats
Factors affecting opting for surgery or not over-grooming, flea bite hypersensitivity, Urolithiasis was identified in 83.3%
had not previously been epidemiologically hyperthyroidism, and overgrown nail(s). of acute kidney injury associated
Cats are popular companion animals in the UK. The human-animal bond shared
between cats and their owners can be beneficial to both people and cats. To ensure
a good quality of life for their cats, it is important for owners to understand which
analysed. Insured dogs and dogs weighing Males had higher risk for periodontal hypercalcaemia, 72.7% of iatrogenic
medical conditions may commonly affect their pets so they can take a proactive role
in the healthcare of their cats.
over 20kg were more likely to receive surgical disease, road traffic accidents, heart hypercalcaemia, 61.1% of CKD/renal diet-
This study aimed to identify the most common disorders diagnosed in cats in the UK
and explore how aging and male/female status affected these. This information can
management, while dogs older than nine murmur, lameness, obesity, abscess wound associated hypercalcaemia and 50% of
help owners take a more informed role in caring for their cats and help veterinary
teams to focus on targetted preventative healthcare.
Total number of
years and those concurrently experiencing and cat bite injuries. Average age of cats in idiopathic hypercalcaemia cases that were
the study
cats in the study
another major clinical problem were less The study findings provide vets, vet imaged (<50% for other diagnoses).
A random
sample of
likely to receive surgical management. nurses, breeders and owners with new The proportion of ionised hypercalcaemic
18,249 cats
5.67
years
evidence to better understand and predict cats with concurrent urolithiasis highlights
from an overall
population of
1, 255,130 cats in
Other key findings include: the disorder occurrence. the need for further studies into calcium-
VetCompass

based urolith formation, especially as these
• The average age at first diagnosis of Most common cat breeds uroliths were incidentally detected in many
CCL rupture was 7.4 years of these cats with idiopathic hypercalcaemia.
British Short Hair (3.01%) was the most common cat breed in the UK,
• Dogs aged 6 to < 9 years had the followed by Ragdoll (1.82%) and Bengal (1.22%). Other common breeds These results help highlight the more
included Maine Coon (0.93%), Persian (0.73%) and Siamese (0.68%).
greatest risk (x 3.24) of CCL rupture common diagnoses associated with ionised
diagnosis compared with dogs < 3 British Short Hair cats (moggies) hypercalcaemia in cats, emphasising that
Crossbreed
represented
years 87.98% of cats the three most likely aetiologies include
• Dogs weighing more than 30kg (x 2.19) in the study. kidney-related causes, neoplasia and
and insured (x 2.79) were most likely to Bengal idiopathic hypercalcaemia.
have surgery Ragdoll
• Dogs over 12 years (x 0.26) and with a Research paper: Broughton et al. (2023) ‘Ionized
comorbidity (x 0.38) were least likely to hypercalcemia in 238 cats from a referral hospital
have surgery population (2009-2019)’, Journal of Veterinary Internal
Medicine
Most common cat disorders
Research paper: C. Pegram et al. (2023) ‘Risk Research paper: O’Neill et al. (2023) ‘Commonly
diagnosed disorders in domestic cats in the UK,
factors for unilateral cranial cruciate ligament Most common specific disorders diagnosed in cats in the UK
rupture diagnosis and for clinical management in dogs and their associations with sex and age’, Journal of
under primary veterinary care in the UK’, The Veterinary Feline Medicine and Surgery Periodontal disease
Journal Obesity
Non-specified dental disease average
Specific disorders Heart murmur disorder. The average
The
Overgrown nail(s)
disorder count
Flea infestation
per year was one
annual disorder count
was higher in males
Weight loss
than females, and
higher in older cats
Vomiting
than younger
cats.
Abscess
Diarrhoea
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Percentage of cats affected (%) Spring 2023 11
Most common cat disorder groups
Most common disorder groups diagnosed in cats in the UK
Dental disorder
Obesity
Skin disorder
Enteropathy
Disorder groups Parasite infestation
Heart disease
Traumatic injury
Claw/nail disorder
Thin/underweight
Eye disorder
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Percentage of cats affected (%)
Female cats had higher
frequency than males for six
specific disorders:
• poor quality of life Male cats had higher
• post-operative wound frequency than females for
complication eight specific disorders:
• over-grooming • periodontal disease
• flea bite hypersensitivity • road traffic accident (RTA)
• overgrown nail(s) • heart murmur
• hyperthyroidism • lameness
• obesity
• abscess
• wound
• cat bite injury
Younger cats (under 8 years) had higher frequency than older cats for four disorders:
cat bite injury, flea infestation, road traffic accident and post-operative wound
complication. Older cats (over 8 years) had higher frequency for 23 disorders.
Conclusions
Several These
disorders were results can assist
noted with differential The high frequency of veterinarians, veterinary
risk by age and male/ potentially preventable nurses, cat breeders and
female, suggesting some disorders such as dental cat owners by providing an
useful welfare opportunities disease and obesity suggests the evidence base to understand
for veterinary professionals value of improved veterinary and predict disorder
to target tailored veterinary communication and education occurrence, and to identify
care to specific higher risk of cat-owners. key health and welfare
groups of cats. opportunities for their
cats.
CLICK TO READ THE FULL STUDY
O’Neill et al. (2023) “Commonly diagnosed disorders in domestic cats in the UK, and their associations with sex and age”, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery,
DOI: 10.1177/1098612X231155016
RVC VetCompass https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass carries out welfare research based on anonymised clinical information shared from over 30%
of UK veterinary practices. We are very grateful to the owners and veterinary professionals who contribute to VetCompass research.