Feline diabetes pill gets FDA green lightDecember 9, 2022Bexacat has been approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for improved glycemic control in diabetic cats. Developed by Elanco Animal Health, the oral medication, which contains the active ingredient bexagliflozin, marks the first sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor (i.e. not insulin) approved by FDA in any animal species, the agency reports.
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27-year-old 'Flossie' crowned world's oldest living catNovember 25, 2022Born in 1995, Flossie had her record verified on Nov. 10 at the age of 26 years and 316 days. The feline, who was born into a cat colony in Merseyside, England, and adopted as a young stray, lives with her current owner, Vicki Green, in the town of Orpington in London. The two were matched through U.K. feline welfare charity, Cats Protection. After living within the same family for nearly 25 years, Flossie was relinquished to the organization after outliving two of her previous owners.
Nonsurgical feline sterilization methods to be exploredNovember 22, 2022Controlling the skyrocketing population of free-roaming cats in the United States and improving overall feline health are the dual goals of two recently launched studies. Morris Animal Foundation has announced funding for research projects at the University of Georgia and Tufts University, both of which will focus on developing methods for nonsurgical cat sterilization to control reproductive capacity. Researchers at the University of Georgia will work to develop an oral vaccine to decrease male cat fertility by reducing reproductive hormone levels, while scientists at Tufts will focus on decreasing hormone levels in female cats through an injectable medication. Currently, there are an estimated 60 million to 100 million free-roaming, community cats in the U.S., Morris Animal Foundation reports. The newly funded projects hope to develop strategies for controlling this population beyond trap/neuter/release programs, effectively reducing the number of cats entering animal shelters. "The importance of finding viable, safe, humane, and cost-effective techniques for nonsurgical sterilization in community cats cannot be overstated," says Morris Animal Foundation's vice president of scientific operations, Kathy Tietje, PhD, MBA. "We're excited about these innovative projects and their impact on population control of this specific group …
Feline-friendly approach improves patient experienceNovember 15, 2022The International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) have jointly published two guidelines detailing how veterinarians can best implement positive, respectful interactions with feline patients and reduce stress associated with the veterinary environment.
Feline interaction particularly therapeutic for emotional humansOctober 26, 2022While cats are often not included in on-site animal therapy programs aimed at reducing human stress, a new study suggests feline interactions are particularly beneficial for those with strong and highly reactive emotions.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveMe-OUCH! The Physiology of Osteoarthritis in CatsOctober 6, 2022In this session: Kristin Cooley, BA, CVT, VTS (anesthesia/analgesia), VCC, will review pain physiology in general and delve into the specifics of OA, as well as discuss some treatment options.
2022 They Ate What?! X-ray Contest winnersOctober 1, 2022Check out the WINNER of the 15th annual Veterinary Practice News They Ate What?! X-ray Contest!
FIP guidelines offer hope for quick diagnosisSeptember 30, 2022The 2022 AAFP/EveryCat Feline Infectious Peritonitis Diagnosis Guidelines detail characteristics and pathogenesis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a fatal but difficult-to-detect disease caused by feline coronavirus (FCoV).
Exploring alternatives to scruffing catsSeptember 27, 2022Scruffing refers to a restraining technique involving firmly grasping the loose skin of a cat’s back, located between the shoulder blades. While scruffing is often meant for safely controlling and settling a cat, research shows the contrary. The scruffing method is often counterproductive, causing many cats to resist or even fight back more aggressively than when alternative handling is performed.
Perivulvar skin fold disease in obese catsAugust 10, 2022Have you treated a female cat for recurrent bacterial cystitis? Was it an overweight to obese cat? If both are true, you may have noted severe dermatitis was present in the perivulvar and perianal areas. This group of findings is typical when an obese female cat has perivulvar skin fold disease.
