2025 Spring into Feline Medicine

Attendees will learn the mechanism of action of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, and cat-specific considerations. This session will discuss how to identify signs of chronic pain in cats, for example, due to degenerative joint disease, but also discuss other sources of pain that could benefit from NSAID treatment, such as dental disease, and cancer-related pain. Adverse effects of NSAIDs will be discussed and how to minimize them, including optimizing communication with caregivers around water intake and monitoring. Use of NSAIDs in cats with comorbidities will be discussed including chronic kidney disease with an overview of the evidence in this area. Case examples will illustrate key points, tips, tricks, and pitfalls!

Paraneoplastic syndrome are cancer-associated alterations in bodily structure and/or function that are not directly related to the physical effects of the primary or metastatic tumor. They can be divided into gastrointestinal, endocrinologic, hematologic, cutaneous, renal, and neurologic manifestations of cancer. During the lecture, we will explore the paraneoplastic syndromes that have been described in our feline patient.

This lecture will focus on decision-making with regard to the treatment of feline pyothorax. The lecture will address management options (medical vs. surgical) and strategies for feline pyothorax. Indications for chest tube placement, insertion, and management will be reviewed. The lecture will also touch on cats developing pneumothorax and options in these patients, including the indications and techniques for blood patch pleurodesis.

Feline leukemia is an important cause of illness and death in cats worldwide. While veterinarians have made much progress in reducing FeLV infections and illness in many parts of Canada, there is still much work to be done. This session will present up-to-date information on prevalence, associated diseases, and the importance of prevention with vaccination, especially for kittens. As well, new insights on the behavior of FeLV infection and how this influences testing will be shared.

Hypertension is a common problem in older cats, particularly those with chronic kidney disease, and can often pose a therapeutic challenge. This lecture aims to discuss the management of hypertension and where to go when first-line treatments are not adequately controlling the disease. Hypokalemia, azotemia, and hypertension are also often found in cats with primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA), so PHA is a significant differential diagnosis for CKD. The lecture will cover when to consider testing for PHA in cats with CKD and refractory hypertension and how to reach a diagnosis, in addition to medical and surgical management options for cats with PHA.  

This lecture will discuss the top trends regarding calls received from an international animal poison control center for potential poisonings in cats. This includes the top toxins, breeds, most common exposures based on age, and how these factors affect exposures, clinical signs, and outcomes. We will also discuss several of these toxins in a case-based review.

Nutritional management of feline diabetes focuses on minimizing glucose fluctuations and maintaining healthy body weight through individualized dietary plans. Key strategies include feeding low-carbohydrate diets (≤35g/1000 kcal or ≤12% ME), incorporating fiber to slow glucose absorption, and offering small, frequent meals to stabilize glucose levels and reduce post-prandial hyperglycemia. Studies suggest that complex carbohydrates and total dietary fiber (TDF) content are more relevant to glucose control than crude fiber alone. While traditional twice-daily feeding aligns with insulin administration, more frequent meal portioning may better minimize glucose fluctuations and improve activity levels, highlighting the need for tailored, practical approaches to dietary and feeding methods in feline diabetics.

This presentation offers a comprehensive overview of feline blood transfusions for veterinarians seeking to enhance their clinical practice. Key topics include practical recommendations for blood collection and transfusion techniques, supported by commented videos. We will address the appropriate use of blood products with a focus on feline-specific considerations, the critical role of AB blood typing for success, and explore the nuances of crossmatching—when it’s necessary, why it matters, and how to perform it effectively. Attendees will gain the knowledge and confidence to implement safe and effective blood transfusion protocols, ensuring optimal care for their feline patients.

Our feline patients commonly suffer from chronic conditions such as hyperthyroidism, renal disease, chronic enteropathy, and obesity. Oftentimes, multiple health conditions may occur concurrently in the same patient, which can present a management challenge for both the clinician and the caregiver. In this session, we will discuss the management of common comorbidities in cats, using a case-based approach. Management of obesity in the context of chronic diseases will be integrated into the discussion with special attention paid to the “obesity paradox” as well as the prognostic value of body weight monitoring. We will also focus on how to prioritize interventions for multimorbidity to meet the caregiver where they are, and ensure that our treatment approaches are feasible and sustainable while minimizing stress to the patient.

In this session, Dr. Adam Rudinsky, will review the problem of hypercalcemia in cats. Hypercalcemia in cats is commonly associated with kidney disease, idiopathic hypercalcemia (IHC), neoplasia, and a few other less common disorders and presents both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians. We will discuss how prevalent, concerning, and important hypercalcemia is to the health and well-being of our feline patient population with a focus on recent literature that has evolved the way we address this clinical concern. Join us to update your practice and have some calci-fun with a review state of the art strategies to screen, diagnose, and treat your hypercalcemic feline patients. 

In this session, Dr. Lappin will spend a few minutes updating the attendees on any new developments in infectious causes of rhinitis like SARS-CoV-2 and H5N1 virus. We will then have a discussion on any new developments on how to best find the diagnosis. We will then emphasize updates on classic antibiotic and anti-viral treatments. Dr. Lappin will also discuss how to use immune stimulating probiotics and lessening stress in the management of the affected cats.

Performing a neurological examination can be a difficult task for any practitioner with a willing patient. Cats can have a higher level of examination difficulty due to their lack of motivation to participate in the clinic. When general practitioners are asked about their concerns regarding these cases, stressful statements are often made, which can contribute to an emotionally charged environment for all involved. Preparation and a level-headed, practical approach will typically result in a productive appointment where evaluation is performed with minimal stress. Ultimately with a few techniques and observations, the general practitioner can accurately localize the problem and recommend the correct next steps in diagnostics and treatment. It is important to remember that success will depend on the participation of a team surrounding the veterinarian who is comfortable working with feline patients. Key important differences in the feline neurologic evaluation will be reviewed such as eliminating unnecessary tests, decreasing the number of times tests are performed, and reviewing history and video from the client.