No abstract

A 14-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for weakness, lethargy, decreased appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, and seizures. On physical examination, the cat appeared disoriented and had an inconsistent menace response. An insulinoma was diagnosed on the basis of normal serum insulin activity in conjunction with profound hypoglycemia and histologic examination (with immunohistochemical staining for chromogranin A and insulin) of a pancreatic mass that was removed surgically. Blood glucose concentration was within reference limits after surgery. However, neurologic abnormalities persisted, and the cat was euthanatized. Chronic hypoglycemia, associated with insulinomas, can cause irreversible neuronal changes in cats; therefore, rapid diagnosis and treatment of hypoglycemic conditions are of critical importance.

No abstract

A prospective study was undertaken to compare intravenous tetracosactrin at doses of 5 microg/kg and 250 microg for diagnosing hyperadrenocorticism in dogs. Both healthy dogs and dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism were evaluated with the two doses of the drug, and serum cortisol concentrations were compared at 60 minutes post-stimulation. Some of the dogs had additional samples taken at 90 and 120 minutes. For four dogs with hyperadrenocorticism, timed samples were also obtained at 150, 180 and 240 minutes post-injection. Cortisol concentrations 60 minutes after stimulation with either 5 microg/kg or 250 microg intravenous tetracosactrin were similar for both healthy dogs and dogs with hyperadrenocorticism. The lower dose can therefore be used for diagnosing hyperadrenocorticism in dogs.

Traumatic rib fracture in cats is associated with intrathoracic and concurrent orthopedic injury. Aggressive treatment of cats with traumatic rib fracture is warranted, because the prognosis is generally favorable. Diagnosis and treatment of intrathoracic injury associated with traumatic rib fracture in cats should precede management of concurrent orthopedic injury.