Liz Bode

Replying to scott@vtx-cpd.com 20/08/2024 - 23:55

Hi Maria,

This is a good question. We do need to be more cautious in cats with steroids generally. There is a link (or possible link) between giving a cat steroids and them developing heart failure. A study on healthy cats a few years ago found that a dose of steroids caused significant changes in glucose levels and vascular volume in some cats, not all, studied. We think that in cats with heart disease these fluid shifts can then precipitate heart failure as cats with HCM and diastolic dysfunction are less able to cope with fluid changes and can develop heart failure as a result. Some people, however, question whether it is the steroids that cause heart failure or whether it is the stress of going to the vets in the first place!

However, until we can better define the risk I would always be cautious giving a cat steroids without certain clinical need (like acute asthma episode), especially if they have signs of heart disease such as a murmur, gallop sound or arrhythmia. We don’t worry in dogs as they tolerate steroids and changes in vascular volume better as their underlying heart diseases don’t tend to cause diastolic dysfunction.

Hope that makes sense!

Liz

Replying to Spela Bavcar 03/08/2024 - 05:33

Hi everyone

Thanks from me too, I hope you enjoyed it and find it useful in your clinical practice.

See you soon 🙂

Liz

Hi all,

I have just noticed a mistake in the date for this event. It is actually tomorrow 30th July at 8pm. The link above should work and the papers are the same.

See you then,

Liz

Replying to scott@vtx-cpd.com 07/05/2024 - 22:10

Hi Laura

Thanks for the great questions.

In terms of bronchodilators, we don’t really think or know that they’re very effective in dogs and cats so I wouldn’t use them prior to performing a BAL for this reason. The only time we might use them is in cats (terbutaline) to try and prevent bronchospasm prior to scope/BAL. This is really clinician dependent though.

For steroids – I don’t worry about them so much in dogs, their heart disease and the physiology of it (thinking mainly MMVD) means they can cope better with fluid shifts. We need to be more cautious in cats and certainly prior to any depot steroids we should assess a cat’s risk of heart disease e.g murmur, gallop, arrhythmia and if we have concerns then advise echo before going ahead. That being said some cats have significant heart disease without a murmur! We don’t know exactly if it’s the steroids themselves that result in some cats developing CHF though, or if it’s the stress of coming to the vets!

Hope that helps.

Liz

Replying to scott@vtx-cpd.com 04/04/2024 - 00:06

Hi Rachel

I’m not surprised you’re not looking forward to it!

It would be unusual for a dog this age to have both PS and PHT so I would bet that it just has PS, most likely moderate to severe with those changes and that kind of murmur. It would likely be a candidate for balloon valvuloplasty/stent placement if it did have this so I’d be pushing for referral where possible (although I know this is tricky when they don’t necessarily perceive a problem). PHT would be lower in my list if the dog doesn’t have any respiratory issues. I don’t have any words of wisdom regarding anaesthesia – Felipe will be better placed obviously, but I guess without a diagnosis it will be tricky to advise very well.

Liz

Hi all

Welcome to this course, I’m really looking forward to working with you and answering any cardiology-related questions. Feel free to ask whatever you like!

I’m one of the Directors of vtx and a cardiology specialist working out of Chestergates Veterinary Specialists in the NW of England. I did my residency with Jenny and Scott and I’m delighted to be working with them both again!

Liz x