Dr. Peterson had a great trip to Barcelona, Spain at the end of last October for the Southern European Veterinary Conference (SEVC).

Next up —back to Brazil for the second year in a row! In mid-November, Dr. Peterson will be presenting talks on feline hyperthyroidism, as well as hyper- and hypoadrenocorticism, at the International Congress of Veterinary Endocrinology in Buzios, located about an hour north of Rio de Janeiro.

After Brazil, Dr. Peterson is giving a 1.5-hour lecture at the Northern New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association in December, but he has no major engagements until NAVC in January 2013.

International Congress of Veterinary Endocrinology
Buzios, Brazil, November 22 - 24, 2012
Topics:
• Feline Hyperthyroidism: Why Does the Incidence Continue to Increase? and Demystifying Radioiodine Therapy
• Hyperadrenocorticism: Differences between Adrenal and Pituitary Tumors - What Does the Clinician Need to Know?
• Hypoadrenocorticism: Typical vs. Atypical Addison's Disease. Is Hypoadrenocorticism a More Common Disease than We Think?

Northern New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association
Oradell Animal Hospital, Oradell, New Jersey, December 18, 2012
Topics:
• Update on Hypo-and Hyperthyroidism in Dogs and Cats

NAVC Conference 2013
Orlando, Florida, January 19 - 23, 2013
Topics:
• Trilostane (Vetoryl) Update- From Confusion to Clarity. Successfully Managing the Landscape of Cushing's Disease
• Special Needs Cats: Interactive Case Presentations
• Pitfalls and Complications in the Diagnosis and Management of Cats with Hyperthyroidism
• Nutritional Management of Endocrine Disease in Cats

CT and MRI evaluation of skull bones and soft tissues in six cats with presumed acromegaly versus 12 unaffected cats.
Fischetti AJ, Gisselman K, Peterson ME.
Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound. 2012 Sep-Oct;53(5):535-9.

Abstract
Feline acromegaly is predominantly caused by an adenoma of the pituitary gland, resulting in excessive growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) secretion. In advanced cases, cats will display prominent facial features and upper airway congestion secondary to bony and soft tissue proliferation. The purpose of this study was to describe CT and MRI characteristics of soft tissues and skull bones in six cats with presumed acromegaly and to compare findings with those observed in 12 unaffected cats. In the five acromegalic cats with CT or MRI evidence of a pituitary tumor, frontal bone thickness was greater than age-matched controls with and without a history of upper airway disease. These five cats also had evidence of soft tissue accumulation in the nasal cavity, sinuses, and pharynx. One cat with insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus, elevated IGF-1, and a normal pituitary size did not have evidence of frontal bone thickening or upper airway congestion.

Hyperthyroidism in Cats: What's causing this epidemic of thyroid disease and can we prevent it?
Peterson ME.
Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery. 2012 Nov;14(11):804-18.

Abstract
Practical relevance: Since first being reported in the late 1970s, there has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence of hyperthyroidism in cats. It is now recognized worldwide as the most common feline endocrine disorder. Patient group: Hyperthyroidism is an important cause of morbidity in cats older than 10 years of age. It is estimated that over 10% of all senior cats will develop the disorder. Clinical challenges: Despite its frequency, the underlying cause(s) of this common disease is/are not known, and no one has suggested a means to prevent the disorder. Because of the multiple risk factors that have been described for feline hyperthyroidism, it is likely that more than one factor is involved in its pathogenesis. Continuous, lifelong exposure to environmental thyroid disruptor chemicals or goitrogens in food or water, acting together in an additive or synergistic manner, may first lead to euthyroid goiter and then to autonomous adenomatous hyperplasia, thyroid adenoma and hyperthyroidism. Evidence base: This review draws on published research studies to summarize the available evidence about the risk factors for feline hyperthyroidism. Based on the known goitrogens that may be present in the cat's food, drinking water or environment, it proposes measures that cat owners can implement that might prevent, or reduce the prevalence of, thyroid tumors and hyperthyroidism in their cats.

Nutritional Management of Idiopathic Hypercalcemia in Cats
Over the last 15 years, idiopathic hypercalcemia has emerged to become the most common cause of hypercalcemia in cats.

What's Causing Idiopathic Hypercalcemia in Cats?
Over the last two decades, a syndrome of idiopathic hypercalcemia in cats has emerged and appears to be increasing in frequency.

Treating Idiopathic Hypercalcemia in Cats with Alendronate
Use of Bisphosphonates to Treat Severe Idiopathic Hypercalcaemia in a Young Ragdoll Cat

Hypercalcemia in Canine Hypothyroidism
Hypercalcemia is a relatively common problem in dogs, with the most common cause being malignancy-associated hypercalcemia (i.e., resulting from lymphoma, anal gland adenocarcinoma, multiple myeloma, or various other carcinomas)

Top Endocrine Publications of 2011: Canine & Feline Parathyroid & Calcium Disorders
In my fourth compilation of the canine and feline endocrine publications of 2011, I’m moving on to disorders of the parathyroid gland, including the clinical problems of hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia.

Relationship Between Stomatitis and Hyperthyroidism in Cats?
My patient is a 12-year-old, male hyperthyroid cat who had a full mouth extraction done 4 years ago because of severe oral disease. Since that time, this cat had required Depo-medrol injections every 1-2 months to help keep the stomatitis under control.

Thyroidectomy for Cats with Hyperthyroidism: Surgical Procedure
The primary indication for thyroidectomy in cats, as in other species, is thyroid neoplasia.

Surgical Thyroidectomy for Cats with Hyperthyroidism: Intraoperative Considerations
Surgical thyroidectomy is a highly effective treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats. While thyroidectomy is most often successful, it can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

Thyroid Imaging for Preoperative Staging of Hyperthyroid Cats
Thyroid scintigraphy (thyroid scanning or thyroid imaging) provides valuable information regarding both thyroid anatomy and physiology and can play an integral role in the staging and management of thyroid disease in cats with suspected hyperthyroidism.

Surgical Thyroidectomy for Cats with Hyperthyroidism: Preoperative Preparation
Thyroidectomy is a highly curative treatment for cats with hyperthyroidism. However, these patients are generally senior cats, with 95% being older than 10 years of age (1-3).

Surgical Thyroidectomy in Cats: Thyroid and Parathyroid Anatomy
The thyroid gland, or simply the thyroid, in vertebrate anatomy, is one the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid is a very vascular organ located in the neck, just below the larynx or voice box. The thyroid gland secretes T4 and T3, the two main thyroid hormones.

Treating Cats with Hyperthyroidism: Surgical Thyroidectomy
Surgical thyroidectomy is an operation that involves the surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland.

The Animal Endocrine Clinic is the only clinic of its kind in the country that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cats and dogs with endocrine disorders. Dr. Peterson has set up two NY clinics (Manhattan and Bedford Hills) to service clients from New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, New Jersey and Connecticut.

This Clinic is separated into three divisions: the Endocrine Clinic, dedicated to diagnosing and treating dogs and cats with endocrine disorders; the Hypurrcat treatment center designed for treating hyperthyroid cats with radioactive iodine (I-131); and Nuclear Imaging for Animals, a state-of-the-art medical imaging facility where we use radioactive tracers to perform nuclear scanning (scintigraphy) for diagnosing of thyroid, bone, liver, and kidney diseases in dogs and cats.

The Animal Endocrine Clinic is a referral-only hospital, and does not offer prophylactic or routine care. We can be reached by phone at (212) 362-2650 or (914) 864-1631; by email at info@animalendocrine.com or on the web at www.animalendocrine.com.

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