JFMS Papers Make the News

The topics covered in two of the papers from the August edition of JFMS made the news in the UK this summer.

Clinical effects and outcome of feline permethrin spot-on poisonings reported to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) London, Sutton NM, Bates N and Campbell A(2007) Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 9, 335 highlighted the lethal risks of permethrin-based dog spot-on treatments being inappropriately applied to cats. A joint press release by VPIS and the Feline Advisory Bureau drew attention to the problem. The report is a review of 286 cases reported to VPIS where such canine spoton permethrin preparations have been used on cats. Of these cases, 97 per cent of the cats had signs of poisoning, 88 per cent had twitching or convulsions and 10.5 per cent of the cats died or were euthanased. Although these data are startling, the VPIS feels that they are an under-representation of the scale of the problem. The veterinary press often receives letters on the topic from vets in practice and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) highlighted the problem in 2000 - ‘These spot-on products are sold through UK pet stores or supermarkets and veterinary surgeons should be alert to the possibility of being presented with feline cases” (Gray, Veterinary Record 147, p556).

Permethrin is one of a group of insecticidal compounds called pyrethroids, which have widespread use in pet flea treatments, ant-killers, and other products for control of pest insects. Although pyrethroids are considered to have a low mammalian toxicity, they are toxic to cats because of metabolic deficiencies found only in felines. In the main problems seem to occur when they have been mistakenly or unwittingly used on cats, frequently causing severe illness and even death. Cats poisoned with permethrin may need two to three days of intensive veterinary treatment (see the veterinary section of the FAB website www.fabvets.org for an article on treatment).

There is more information on the different flea products available in the UK and how they work on the FAB website http://www.fabcats.org/owners/fleas ). Does this problem occur in other countries? Let us know via [e-mail]

The second paper was Feline diabetes mellitus in the UK: the prevalence within an insured cat population and a questionnaire-based putative risk factor analysis. McCann TM, Simpson KE, Shaw, DJ, Butt JA & Gunn-Moore DA (2007) Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 9, 289

A press release from the University of Edinburgh, where most of the authors are based, gained national coverage in the UK pointing out that increasing numbers of pet cats are being diagnosed with diabetes, with those that are overweight being over three times more likely to suffer from the condition - being male, neutered, overweight, and having reduced exercise among the main risk factors.

Professor Danièlle Gunn-Moore, from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University, said, ‘The lifestyle of cats, just like their owners, is changing. They are tending to eat too much, gain weight, and take less exercise. Unfortunately, just like people, cats will overeat if they are offered too much tasty food, particularly if they are bored and have little else to do. While cats would naturally exercise outside, many cats are now housebound (perhaps because they live in a flat or because their owners feel that it is too dangerous to let them out), so they have little to do all day but eat, sleep, and gain weight’.

Whereas previously the most common hormone problem in cats was hyperthyroidism, this has now been overtaken by diabetes. Between 85-95 per cent of diabetic cats suffer from type 2 diabetes, which is often referred to in humans as maturity onset diabetes and is most commonly seen in older overweight people.