Medical Research on Maui's Condition

I've decided to study Maui's symptoms and condition more closely to assist in a much more accurate diagnosis.

Here's us at Amber Vet ultra sound scan visit, 30 Sept 2015

I currently suspect she may have a deficiency of taurine causing her condition (I suspect dilated cardiomyopathy.)

What are the effects of taurine deficiency?

Taurine deficiency causes feline central retinal degeneration (FCRD), eventually leading to irreversible blindness, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and reduced fertility in female cats.

source: http://www.cat-world.com.au/taurine

What happens if taurine levels are deficient?

Clinical signs of taurine deficiency are slow to develop. It can take between five months and two years before symptoms become apparent, depending on the cat's life stage.

If taurine levels are deficient, the retinal cells of the eyes will eventually degenerate, impairing the vision. This condition is referred to as feline central retinal degeneration (CRD). Deficiency of taurine will also lead to a weakening of the muscle cells in the heart, causing a condition called dilated cardiomyopathy. Taurine is a component of bile salts, and its deficiency may cause digestive disturbances.

source: http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/taurine-in-cats/3857

ASTHMA

A glossary of medical terms will be used in this page:

dyspnea- difficult breathing	tachypnea- fast respiratory rate
pneumothorax- excess air in the thorax	bronchi- large breathing tubes in the thorax
alveoli- where oxygen goes from lungs to the blood	thorax- chest
pneumonia- infection in the lungs	hypertrophy– excessive growth of a cell or organ
necropsy- animal autopsy	bronchiole- small breathing tubes in thorax bradycardia- low heart rate

Pathophysiology

Something (smoke, pollen, perfume, pollution) stimulates the bronchi and bronchioles, causing them to become inflamed and swell (edema). This sets up a hypersensitivy reaction causing the smooth muscle in them to constrict.   Sometimes the smooth muscle hypertrophies (gets larger) and causes long term problems.

When the smooth muscle in the bronchi and bronchioles constrict  breathing becomes harder. In addition, cells that normally produce mucous in small quantities might increase their production and literally clog up the air passages. If enough mucous production and constriction occurs the alveoli are unable to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide to the red blood cells. Obviously, this is a serious problem because your pet can no longer exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide at the alveoli. This is crucial to say the least.

A type of white blood cell called eosinophils starts releasing chemicals known as mediators. These chemicals cause scarring of the breathing passage adding to the problem.

Unfortunately, chronic asthma can increase the blood pressure (hypertension) in the lungs leading to potential failure of the right side of the heart. It can also progress and cause emphysema.

Emphysema

Emphysema gradually damages the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs, making you progressively more short of breath. Emphysema is one of several diseases known collectively as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Smoking is the leading cause of emphysema.

Your lungs' alveoli are clustered like bunches of grapes. In emphysema, the inner walls of the air sacs weaken and eventually rupture — creating one larger air space instead of many small ones. This reduces the surface area of the lungs and, in turn, the amount of oxygen that reaches your bloodstream.

When you exhale, the damaged alveoli don't work properly and old air becomes trapped, leaving no room for fresh, oxygen-rich air to enter. Treatment may slow the progression of emphysema, but it can't reverse the damage.

Emphysema damages the inner walls of the lungs' air sacs (alveoli), causing them to eventually rupture. This creates one larger air space instead of many small ones and reduces the surface area available for gas exchange.


source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/emphysema/basics/definition/con-20014218
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/emphysema/multimedia/emphysema/img-20007614

Symptoms

Symptoms of asthma can be chronic, acute, or intermittent. The classic signs of a cat with asthma are wheezing or coughing. If you are observant you might have noticed an slight increase in your cats respiratory rate or effort prior to the wheezing or coughing. Other symptoms are sneezing and labored breathing. As time progresses you might even observe a poor appetite (anorexia), weight loss, or lethargy, although these are not common symptoms.

The wheezing or coughing can vary in severity. Your cat might extend its neck or even breathe with an open mouth when severe. If mild all you might notice is an increased respiratory rate when your cat is at rest.

Source: http://www.lbah.com/word/asthma/
More: http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/asthma-in-cats/55

http://www.brandonlakesanimalhospital.com/client-resources/breed-info/himalayan/

Feline Asthma

Asthma, which causes inflammation and narrowing of the small airways of the lungs, is fairly common in cats. Certain cat breeds, including your Himalayan, are especially at risk. Asthma is a life-threatening condition that can require emergency treatment. Cats with asthma often have a wheezing cough; some owners may describe it as a “hairball cough,” but really when cats have a hairball, they typically don’t cough, they vomit. Coughing is much more likely to be a serious problem in a cat than in a human or a dog, for example, and any cough that lasts longer than a day or recurs over time should be checked out. Cats with asthma can be treated with inhalers as well as oral medications that help open the airways and reduce inflammation. Prompt treatment is needed for wheezing, gasping, coughing or any sign of respiratory distress in your cat.

Parasites

All kinds of worms and bugs can invade your Himmy’s body, inside and out. Everything from fleas and ticks to ear mites can infest her skin and ears. Hookworms, roundworms, heartworms, and whipworms can get into her system in a number of ways: drinking unclean water, walking on contaminated soil, or being bitten by an infected mosquito. Some of these parasites can be transmitted to you or a family member and are a serious concern for everyone. For your feline friend, these parasites can cause pain, discomfort, and even death, so it’s important that we test for them on a regular basis. Many types of parasites can be detected with a fecal exam, so it’s a good idea to bring a fresh stool sample (in a stink-proof container, please) with your pet for her twice-a-year wellness exams. We’ll also recommend preventive medication as necessary to keep her healthy.

Parasites

All kinds of worms and bugs can invade your Himmy’s body, inside and out. Everything from fleas and ticks to ear mites can infest her skin and ears. Hookworms, roundworms, heartworms, and whipworms can get into her system in a number of ways: drinking unclean water, walking on contaminated soil, or being bitten by an infected mosquito. Some of these parasites can be transmitted to you or a family member and are a serious concern for everyone. For your feline friend, these parasites can cause pain, discomfort, and even death, so it’s important that we test for them on a regular basis. Many types of parasites can be detected with a fecal exam, so it’s a good idea to bring a fresh stool sample (in a stink-proof container, please) with your pet for her twice-a-year wellness exams. We’ll also recommend preventive medication as necessary to keep her healthy.

Allergies/Atopy

In humans, an allergy to pollen, mold, or dust makes people sneeze and their eyes itch. In cats it makes the skin itchy. We call this form of allergy “atopy.” Commonly, the legs, belly, face, and ears are very likely to have this problem. Symptoms typically start between the ages of one and three and can get worse every year. Licking (over grooming) the affected areas, rubbing the face, and frequent ear infections are the most common signs. You may notice thinner or shortened hair in those areas or red, sore skin lesions. We will need to investigate the cause of the problem since food allergies and mites can cause similar signs. The good news is that there are many treatment options available for this condition.

CAT SINGAPURA

http://www.brandonlakesanimalhospital.com/client-resources/breed-info/singapura/

Heart Disease

Cardiomyopathy is the medical term for heart muscle disease, either a primary inherited condition or secondary to other diseases that damage the heart. The most common form, called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is a thickening of the heart muscle often caused by an overactive thyroid gland. Another example is dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, which can be caused by a dietary deficiency of the amino acid taurine. While DCM was a big problem in the past, all major cat food producers now add taurine to cat food, so DCM is rarely seen in cats with high-quality diets today.

Catching signs of cardiomyopathy early is important, but a cat’s normal tendency to hide illness can make symptoms difficult to spot. The first thing a pet parent usually notices is rapid breathing, lethargy, and a poor appetite. These symptoms may appear to come on suddenly, often between a few hours to a few days, but in most cases, the cat has actually been suffering quietly for weeks to months and is now in serious trouble.

For a few breeds of cats, genetic testing is available for a specific gene abnormality that causes HCM. Most cats with cardiomyopathy have a heart murmur that can be detected during a wellness physical exam, but a specific diagnosis requires more advanced medical imaging. Finding this problem early, when treatment is most effective, is another important reason to have your pet evaluated twice a year for life.

Acupunture treatments: http://www.brandonlakesanimalhospital.com/services/acupuncture/


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