Maddie's Insatiable Appetite!

Meet Maddie, a scrawny 14 year old tortoiseshell cat who is always in search of a meal.
A check up revealed Maddie had lost nearly 17% of her body weight in the past year. This was despite her ravenous appetite and regular snacks around the neighbourhood.

A blood test revealed grossly elevated levels of thyroid hormone circulating in her body. She was suffering from an endocrine disease called hyperthyroidism. This condition is not uncommon in older cats and an overproduction of thyroid hormone results in an out-of-control metabolic rate, upsetting the regulation of carbohydrates, fats, and protein as well as the function of the heart.

What is an Endocrine Disease?

An endocrine disease is a fancy way of describing a disease that is caused by a hormonal imbalance. These diseases are relatively common and can greatly affect your pet’s quality of life. Some diseases can even be life threatening if they are not diagnosed and treated correctly.

Endocrine diseases can develop because a gland is not functioning properly or the control of the gland is faulty.

When too much hormone is produced, the disease is referred to as a hyper disease. Tumours and abnormal tissue growth commonly cause an overproduction of hormone.

A hypo disease occurs when too little hormone is produced. Endocrine glands that are destroyed, removed, or just stop working cause these diseases.

Howling at the Moon

Recently the STVC Team had a group training session with Anastasia from "Howling at the Moon" regarding grief and compassion fatigue, giving us some great hints on what signs to look out for and how to deal with stress, not just for ourselves but our fellow workmates, friends, families and our clients.

Anastasia has a long history of experience in a number of different places and when she lost her cat suddenly one day she discovered there is not a lot of help out there for pet owners who are trying to deal with the loss of their beloved furry friend. This led to her to starting Howling at the Moon offering pet loss counselling...friends and family are great in these situations but they don't always know what to say or understand what you are going through...

www.howlingatthemoon.info

Vomiting and when to worry

There are many causes of vomiting including pancreatitis, an intestinal obstruction from a bone or a piece of string (especially in cats), liver or kidney disease, or endocrine diseases such as diabetes.

If your pet has had a good old technicolor yawn, what should you do?

Assuming your pet is bright and otherwise well after a one-off vomit, keep a close eye on them over the next 24 hours. It's best to withhold food for a few hours (gastric rest) and offer fluids for re-hydration. Providing a bland diet (steamed chicken and rice) for a few days may be all they need.