A Look At Seizures In Cats

July 13, 2009 by  
Filed under Cat Care

Cats that experience seizures usually have an underlying condition. Your cat will be diagnosed with epilepsy if an underlying cause can’t be determined. Cats can die during a seizure if it lasts too long.

Causes

Felines typically experience seizures because of a condition other than epilepsy. Two of the main causes include cancerous tumors and ingestion of toxic chemicals. Various diseases can also cause seizures. Peritonitis, leukemia virus, and immunodeficiency virus are three of the most common conditions.

Diagnosis

In order to determine the cause of feline seizures, your veterinarian will first have to do a complete neurological and physical examination. A blood test can also determine if your cat has one of the diseases mentioned above that can cause seizures. If previous tests don’t reveal the problem, advanced tests like a spinal tap or an MRI may be performed. Also, seizures in cats can be an expensive condition to diagnose.

Treatment

If the veterinarian can determine a specific disease to blame, then he will attempt to treat it. After the disease has been treated, your cat shouldn’t experience anymore seizures. Anti-convulsant medication may be prescribed if the underlying problem can’t be found.

Warning

If your cat suffers feline seizures, there are a few things you should know. There is nothing you can do to stop a seizure once it starts. Don’t try to shake or knock your cat to stop it. Cats aren’t in danger of swallowing their tongues during a seizure. If you put your hand in your cat’s mouth, you may get bitten very badly. Also, you should try to determine how long the seizure lasts. If it lasts more than five minutes, you should seek medical treatment immediately.

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Owner’s Look At Coccidiosis In Felines

July 10, 2009 by  
Filed under Cat Care

Coccidiosis is a disease caused by highly contagious protozoans. The intestinal tract is the prime target for the invading protozoans. Kittens that are less than six months old are usually affected since their immune systems aren’t fully developed yet. Older cats can also be affected if they have a weakened immune system for some reason. So, how are these protozoans transmitted to your cat?

Transmission

Infected cats shed immature coccidia in their feces. After ingesting the feces contaminated with coccidia, they will start to multiply in the intestinal tract. Most kittens become infected when around their infected mother’s feces. Cats can also become infected if they eat a rodent that ingested the protozoans itself.

Symptoms

Your cat will begin to display signs approximately two weeks after ingesting the protozoans. Most kitties with ths condition experience feline diarrhea. This can be mild or severe depending on how advanced the infection is.

Common signs of a severe infection include loss of appetite and vomiting. Dehydration can quickly develop due to vomiting and diarrhea. This can be life-threatening to kittens. The disease proves to be fatal in some cases.

Diagnosis

These parasites can be detected using a stool sample. However, the parasites may be hard to detect since they’re immature. The sample will have to be examined closely in order to detect the presence of coccidia. In some cases, a blood test can be used to diagnose coccidiosis.

Treatment

Antibiotics are needed to treat this condition. Your cat will need to take this medication for about two weeks. Doing so will eliminate the possibility that all parasites weren’t eliminated. It’s possible for the disease to recur if your cat is exposed to the same environment again. Bleach and water would be needed to disinfect the environment.

All owners should know a little something about various problems such as feline ear mites. Fortunately for you, cat-illnesses.com is a great resource for all owners. So, come by today to start reading about various diseases that can affect your cat.

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