We like to share interesting cases with you when possible - this month vet John tells of a recent visit from a patient following a seizure at home and why it is a good idea to take these events seriously and have them checked out by your vet. 

"Recently a dog presented after experiencing a seizure at home. Thankfully she had recovered well from the seizure.

In these situations tests are done to see if any cause for the seizures can be seen. Blood tests in this instance revealed that there was a very low calcium level, coupled with an elevated phosphorus level. What does this mean? Calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood are closely related and are controlled by parathyroid hormone, produced by the parathyroid gland. 

In this case further testing revealed a rare condition, hypoparathyroidism, meaning not enough parathyroid hormone was being produced. This has allowed us to start the patient on appropriate medication to help regulate the calcium levels in the blood. Fortunately with early detection and proper care, the prognosis for patients with hypoparathyroidism is good.

Regular monitoring will be needed but at this stage we are seeing a good response to treatment and a happy patient and owner."

Molly the Cairn Terrier visited late one afternoon. She had been ‘off colour’ for a few days. Molly usually had an excellent appetite but over the past few weeks she had lost a lot of weight. 

On examination, Molly was dehydrated and had lost 20% of her body weight over three months. A blood test revealed her blood sugar levels were very high and a diagnosis of diabetes was made.

A quick urine test also showed that there was glucose in her urine and unfortunately confirmed the presence of ketones, a potentially life threatening condition that can occur when the body can no longer cope with the disease. 

Diabetes in pets is similar to type 1 diabetes in people and generally needs administration of insulin once or twice daily to control the condition. The body fails to produce enough insulin to help move sugar from the blood stream into the cells for energy.

The four main signs include:

1. Increased appetite
2. Weight loss
3. Increased thirst
4. Increased urination

Molly needed intensive care. She was placed on an intravenous drip and insulin therapy was commenced. Thankfully she responded well and started to improve overnight.

Treatment of diabetes is life long and involves regular blood tests and monitoring. Some patients do not respond as we would expect and further investigation into other diseases sometimes needs to be considered.

If you notice any changes to your pet’s daily habits such as a change in appetite or thirst, it’s a good idea to arrange a check up with us as soon as possible.

An endocrine disease is a fancy medical term used to describe a disease caused by a hormonal imbalance. These diseases are pretty common and can unfortunately affect your pet’s quality of llife.

Endocrine diseases can even be life threatening if they are not diagnosed and treated correctly (diabetes and Addison's disease are good examples).

Endocrine diseases can develop because 1) a gland is not functioning properly or 2) the control of the gland is faulty.

When too much hormone is produced, the disease is referred to as a hyper disease. Tumours and abnormal tissue growth commonly cause an overproduction of hormone.

A hypo disease occurs when too little hormone is produced. Endocrine glands that are destroyed, removed, or simply stop working cause these diseases.

The following changes may be an early indication of an endocrine problem:

• Changes in appetite and thirst
• Changes in weight
• Changes in coat and skin
• Changes in behaviour

Diagnosis of the cause of the endocrine disease is absolutely essential if treatment is to be successful. Sometimes diagnosis and treatment can be costly and not all endocrine diseases behave as we predict they will, so communication between vet and owner is very important. Management of these disease may involve multiple vet visits and blood tests until the disease is under control. 

If you notice any of the mentioned changes above, phone us to arrange a check up for your pet. Early intervention is very helpful when it come to the treatment of endocrine disease.