Évaluation gastrointestinale de chats présentant un comportement de pica

Les objectifs de cette étude prospective étaient de (1) caractériser le pica chez le chat; (2) procéder à des évaluations comportementale et médicale des chats atteints; (3) mettre en place des traitements spécifiques pour les conditions diagnostiquées et évaluer l’effet de ces traitements sur l’évolution du pica. Des chats qui ingéraient des tissus au moins une fois par semaine ont été recrutés. Les propriétaires de chats ont consigné pendant un mois la fréquence du pica et la présence de signes cliniques digestifs. Des informations à propos de l’ingestion de tissu et l’historique médical complet ont été obtenues. Une évaluation comportementale et une investigation médicale comprenant une évaluation gastrointestinale ont été conduites. Des traitements ont ensuite été prescrits selon les diagnostics posés et modifiés au besoin. Les chats ont été suivis pour au moins six mois durant lesquels les propriétaires devaient de nouveau remplir au moins une fois un journal d’une durée d’un mois rapportant la fréquence du pica et la présence de signes cliniques digestifs. Huit chats ont été enrôlés dans l’étude. Tous les chats ont présenté des anomalies au niveau du système digestif : entérite ou gastroentérite éosinophilique, retard de vidange gastrique, reflux gastro-oesophagien, Giardia spp ou hypercholestérolémie. La moitié des chats ont démontré une amélioration du pica suite aux traitements mis en place. L’ingestion de tissus apparaît être, dans au moins certains cas, la conséquence d’une maladie digestive. Les troubles-gastrointestnaux doivent être considérés dans l’évaluation du pica chez le chat.The aims of this prospective study were to (1) characterize pica in cats, (2) conduct a thorough behavioral and medical evaluation of affected cats, (3) implement specific treatments for conditions identified and evaluate the outcome of these treatments on fabric ingestion. Cats who ingested fabric at least weekly were recruited. Cat owners recorded baseline frequency of pica and gastrointestinal signs during one month. Information about fabric ingestion and a complete medical history were obtained. A behavioral evaluation and a medical investigation including gastrointestinal evaluation were completed. Treatments were then implemented according to the diagnoses made and modified as needed. Cats were followed for a minimum period of six months during which the owners were asked to keep a one month logbook to determine the new frequency of pica and gastrointestinal signs. Eight cats were enrolled in the study. All cats showed abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract. Six cats were diagnosed with eosinophilic enteritis or gastroenteritis. Delayed gastric emptying was suspected in four cats. Gastric reflux was suspected in one cat. One cat tested positive for Giardia spp. Mild hypercholesterolemia was observed in seven cats. Half the cats responded to treatments implemented for gastrointestinal disorders. Fabric ingestion in cats, a specific form of pica, could in some cases be the consequence of gastrointestinal disorders. Cats with pica should undergo a thorough medical and behavioral evaluation

Pain and Problem Behavior in Cats and Dogs

We argue that there is currently an under-reporting of the ways in which pain can be associated with problem behavior, which is seriously limiting the recognition of this welfare problem. A review of the caseloads of 100 recent dog cases of several authors indicates that a conservative estimate of around a third of referred cases involve some form of painful condition, and in some instances, the figure may be nearly 80%. The relationship is often complex but always logical. Musculoskeletal but also painful gastro-intestinal and dermatological conditions are commonly recognized as significant to the animal’s problem behavior. The potential importance of clinical abnormalities such as an unusual gait or unexplained behavioral signs should not be dismissed by clinicians in general practice, even when they are common within a given breed. In general, it is argued that clinicians should err on the side of caution when there is a suspicion that a patient could be in pain by carefully evaluating the patient’s response to trial analgesia, even if a specific physical lesion has not been identified