with strict controls exercised by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The insurance industry has to believe in the profession’s ethical outlook especially in the area

erable advantages flow to our clients, their ani- mals, veterinary practice and the companies; true mutuality.

of claims form completion. In exchange, consid- I JOHN FOSTER

Letter to the Editor Putting FLUTD in context SIR, IT makes for an interesting commentary on the veterinary profession that two veterinarians, resi- dent in the same Australian city, should choose the JSAP for communication of their ideas on feline lower ufinary tract disease (FLUTD). Asso- ciate Professor A. D. J. Watson (1993) draws attention to the crystalluria finding in normal cats thus making the point that correlation does not imply causation. Osborne and others (1989) cast further doubt on the causative role of crystal- luria by pointing out that most FLUTD patients have neither uroliths nor plugs.

Osborne and others (1992) postulated a unify- ing hypothesis that linked infection-induced inflammation, crystalluria and concomitant inflammation/crystalluria in the aetiopathogene- sis of the disease. Watson (1993) calculated that 76.2 per cent of FLUTD cases in the study by Osborne and others (1989) were of unknown aeti- ology. It should be borne in mind that the bacte- ria, viruses and uroliths implicated as causal agents in the minority of cases (23.8 per cent) may have occupied a lesser contributory role in the disease process or existed as coincidental findings.

Now I am aware that leaping to conclusions on a 100 per cent correlation of observed signs can be equally misleading. However, all cats present- ing with FLUTD at our clinic have suffered vari- able degrees of periodontal disease and all were fed on processed food. This has been the com- mon finding for all cases of miliary dermatitis, inflammatory bowel disease (Tams 1986) and plasma cell pododermatitis diagnosed at our clin- ic. In a number of cases we have confirmed the diagnosis histopathologically (Muller and others 1983 a,b). While we have not been at liberty to biopsy the bladder and urethra of FLUTD clinical cases, we believe that the inflammatory infil- trates would share characteristics of the other cases mentioned.

A ‘Cybernetic hypothesis of periodontal dis- ease in mammalian carnivores’ (T. Lonsdale, unpublished observations) was formulated to explain and predict this generalised class of dis- eases characterised by immune cell infiltrates.

This postulates inter alia a species survival mechanism for preservation of the gene pool. Cats at the margin which do not eat their quota of natural food do not maintain effective physical cleansing of the oral cavity (Colyer 1947). Addy and others (1992) commented that conditions suitable for the growth of anaerobes exist in plaque after three to four days undisturbed matu- ration. The mature plaque flora is extraordinarily complex and may contain up to 325 different species. The bacteria/host reaction manifests as periodontal disease (Harvey 1993). Within the ‘cybernetic hypothesis’ it is further postulated that a cascade of hypo-, hyper- and autoimmune responses will be triggered. In the natural state this would create a further competitive disadvan- tage culminating in the loss of the individual and thus protection of well-fed members of the group.

Approaching the proposition from the other side, we assume that cats well fed on natural food will not develop periodontal disease, mil- iary dermatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, FLUTD or pla4ma cell pododermatitis. To date this prediction has held true for the small num- ber of cats surveyed. Professor Watson asks ‘for some well designed studies to examine critically the role of diet changes in treatment and preven- tion of the common forms of FLUTD’; I believe that our studies need only be expanded to pro- vide the numerical ‘proof’ on a range of diseases. Elucidation of the pathways should then proceed as a logical process.

In the meantime, the cornerstone of our treat- ment for many cat diseases is dentistry followed by institution of a more natural diet (Colyer 1947, Lonsdale 1993). Providing raw meaty bones in the form of either chicken, quail, rabbit or fish comprise at least 90 per cent of the diet ongoing oral health prevails. Corticosteroids and antibi- otics still have a place in the initial treatment of oral and associated diseases, but long term or intermittent use is a rarity.

TOM LONSDALE Riverstone Veterinary Hospital Garfield Road Riverstone New South Wales 2765 Australia

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References

ADDY, M., SLAYNE, M. A. & WADE, W. G. (1992) The formation and control of dental plaque - an overview. Journal of Applied Biology 73, 271

COLYER, F. (1947) Dental disease in animals. British Dental Journal 82, 31-35

HARVEY, C. (1993) Periodontal disease -- gingivitis, periodon- titis. In: Veterinary Dentistry Proceedings, 212 Post Gradu- ate Committee in Veterinary Science, University of Sydney

LONSDALE, T. (1993) Preventative dentistry. In: Veterinary Dentistry Proceedings, 212 Post Graduate Committee in Veterinary Science, University of Sydney

MULLER, G. H., KIRK, R. W. & SCOTT, D. W. (1983a) Feline miliary dermatitis. In: Small Animal Dermatology, 3rd edn. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia. pp 714-716

MULLER, G. H., KIRK, R. W. & SCOTT, D. W. (1983b) Plasma cell

pododermatitis. In: Small Animal Dermatology, 3rd edn. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia. pp 713-714

OSBORNE, C. A,, KRUGER, J. M., JOHNSTON, G. R. & POLZIN, D. J. (1989) Feline lower urinary tract disorders. In: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 3rd edn. Ed S. J. Ettinger. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia. pp 2057-2082

OSBORNE, C. A,, KRUGER, J. M., LULICH, J. P., BARTGES, J. W., POLZIN, D. J., MoLIToR, T., BEAUCLAIR, K. D. & ONFFROY, J. (1992) Feline matrix-crystalline urethral plugs: a unifying hypothesis of causes. Journal of Small Animal Practice 34,

TAMS, T. R. (1986) Feline inflammatory bowel disease. In: Current Veterinary Therapy IX. Ed R. W. Kirk. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia. pp 881-885

WATSON, A.D.J. (1993) Treatment of idiopathic, non-infectious cystitis complex of the cat. Journal of Small Animal Prac- tice 34, 364

172-177

ABSTRACTS Chronic diarrhoea associated with intestinal anomalies in a six-year-old dog

A SIX-year-old castrated terrier had a nine-month history of voluminous diarrhoea, unresponsive to medical treatment. The animal started to deterio- rate. Contrast radiography revealed the small intestine to be shorter than normal. Small amounts of food were given frequently, to combat presumptive bacterial overload, with no success. Total parenteral feeding was then attempted, but the dog continued to deteriorate. Euthanasia was performed after eight days. At post mortem examination, the small intestine was found to be 46 cm long from the pylorus to iliocolic junction. Two intestinal duplications originated immedi- ately distal to the pylorus, resulting in blind pouches. One of the pouches had ruptured and was necrotic. This was thought to account for the animal’s deterioration.

ZENGER, E., EVERING, W. N. &WILLARD, M. D. (1992) Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 201, 1737- 1740

Cor triatriatum dexter in two dogs COR triatriatum dexter is the subdivision of the right atrium into cranial and caudal chambers by an anomalous membrane. A seven-month-old dog had had gross ascites since six weeks of age. The cardiac silhouette was normal on radio- graphy. Two-dimensional echocardiography re- vealed a divided right atrium, with two distinct chambers. Surgery to excise the septum was per- formed under hypothermia, achieved by placing ice packs around the dog. Marked distension of the caudal vena cava and caudal right atrium was seen during surgery. The dog made a routine recovery and had a marked increase in activity

with no ascites or hepatomegaly, three months after surgery. A seven-year-old dog had a three- year history of exercise intolerance and episodic weakness. A markedly dilated caudal vena cava was seen on radiography. The anomaly in this dog was associated with a persistent left vena cava. An apical displacement of the tricuspid valve, consistent with Epstein’s anomaly, was also seen. Medical treatment led to some increase in exercise tolerance.

TOBIAS, A. H., THOMAS, W. B., KITTLESON, M. D. & KOMTEBEDDE, J. (1993) Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Asso- ciation 202, 285-290

Anaesthetic techniques for neutering six- to 14-week-old kittens

NINETY-SIX (48 males and 48 females) kittens aged six to 14 weeks were neutered. The kittens were randomly assigned to one of four anaesthetic protocols and a combination of either tile- tamine/zolazepan (TZ); midazolandketamine (MK); atropine/midazolam/ketamine/butorphanol; or atropine/midazolam/ketamine/oxymorphone was administered intramuscularly. Analgesia and muscle relaxants, without inhalation supplement, were evaluated during castration in the males. Additional isoflurane inhalation anaesthesia via intubation was used during spaying of the females. All produced rapid sedation and smooth induction. Supplementary isoflurane administra- tion via a mask was sometimes necessary in males. In males, the TZ combination produced the best analgesia and is recommended. In females, the MK combination is recommended because of the rapid extubation time and recovery.

FAGGELLA, A. M. & ARONSOHN, M. G. (1993) Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 202, 56-62

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