NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge

LEFT TO right: North Shore Rescue team members Bert Batt and George Zilahi accept a
cheque from B.C, Hydro employees Tracey Foster and Julie Wytrawal. The $3,000 cheque was

raised from donations from Hydro employees and pensioners.

PET CLINIC by Dr. Jeff Grognet and

Dr. Louise Janes

The Feline AiDS Virus and Heart Checkups for Pets

Q: | heard that cats can get AiDS ~ can
people get it from them?

Dr. J; Cats have their own version of
AIDS caused by a virus called Feline
Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). This
virus is a “cat only” virus - it cannot
infect people. A recent study showed
that 1 in 14 cats have antibodies
against the virus indicating that they
have been exposed.

FIV can lay dormant for years without
causing illness but the eventual out-
come is immunosuppression. This
means the immune system of an infect-
eéd cat is unable to fight off routine infec-
tions, particularly in the mouth and
nasal cavity.

FIV is not curable but antibiotics and
good nursing care can keep many cats
comfortable for years. Other cats
become so debilitated that they are
euthanized.

There is no vaccine available to protect

cats against FIV. Because the virus is —

passed between cats by mutual groom-
ing (the virus is in saliva), contro! can
only be achieved by preventing contact
with other cats.

Q: How do you check out a dog's
heart?

Dr. G: Heart problems can be investi-
gated in dogs just as they are in people

- with chest xrays, ultrasound, and
electrocardiograms (EKGs).

Xrays are used to assess the size of the
heart and to see if the lunas are secon-
darily affected hy the heart condition.
Ultrasound imaging allows visualization
of the moving heart.

EKGs are performed by attaching small
wires to each leg. The wires pick up
electrical currents generated by the
heart. The resulting electrical pattern is
then viewed on a screen or recorded on
a strip of paper. EKGs are useful for
revealing electrical disturbances in the
heart and changes in heart size.

| recently did an EKG on a boxer which
revealed the presence of abnormal!
beats originating in the heart ventricles
(or pumping chambers). Ultrasound
suggested that the heart was pumping
well so medication was used to control
the abnormal electrical rhythm.

An EKG was also performed on a small
Poodle with a cough and a heart mur-
mur. The tracing showed that his heart
(left side) was enlarged. Xrays con-
firmed heart enlargement due to a leaky
heart valve. The dog was put on a low
salt diet and a “water pill”. The cough
sesolved.

Send your questions to Dr. Janes and
Dr. Grognet care of this newspaper.

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