Description
Chronic intestinal disease is common in cats, but these disorders can be challenging to identify because the clinical presentation is often different to that seen in dogs. Furthermore, the diagnosis may be complicated by the presence of comorbidities (such as pancreatitis and/or cholangiohepatitis) and can be difficult to differentiate from non-inflammatory disorders (such as small cell gastrointestinal lymphoma). In this webinar, Isuru will discuss the possible clinical presentations of chronic enteropathies in cats, and how this condition can be differentiated from other conditions causing similar clinical signs. In particular, he will discuss the use of clinical pathology, imaging and biopsies to confirm and further characterise the pathology. The use of nutrition to manage feline chronic enteropathies will also be discussed including the use of hydrolysed protein diets, novel protein diets, highly digestible diets, fibre supplemented diets and balanced home-cooked diets. And finally, Isuru will discuss the use nutritional supplements and medications to manage feline chronic enteropathies.
Learning Objectives
- Appreciate the clinical presentation of cats with intestinal disease and how this differs from dogs
- Correlate the clinical presentation with differential diagnoses (such as small cell lymphoma) and comorbidities (such as pancreatitis and cholangiohepatitis)
- Utilise diagnostic investigations to achieve the most accurate and least invasive diagnosis
- Understand the nutritional strategies used to manage feline chronic enteropathies including diets and nutritional supplements
- Review the medication options available to manage intestinal disease in cats including their efficacy and adverse effects
