Five Most Common Cat Illnesses
January 17, 2010 by
Filed under Cat Health
When taking care of your cat it is a good idea to know about the different types of cat illnesses that can affect your kitty.
Urinary tract infection
Some cats will be in noticeable pain when using litter box and you may see some blood in their urine.
Frequent trips to the litter box and accidents are common. If any of your cat’s litter box habits change you should take him in to vet for a check up to see if \ there is urinary tract infection
If caught early enough this can be cleared up with antibiotics given.
If not there can be complications with spreading to the kidneys and much more pain. Could be a blockage that prevent cat from urinating and this is life threatening.
Upper Respiratory Infection
Like humans cats can catch colds too but it is much more fatal for them. A cat kept strictly indoors is at less risk.
This is highly contagious and is spread through contact with an infected cat to another cat.
Symptoms include: coughing, sneeze, running nose, fever, watery eyes, harsh meow.
Warning signs you should look for: not eating or drinking, lethargic.
If you notice your cat is less active and not eating or drinking anything this can be quite serious. Seek medical attention at once.
This kind of infection is caused by a virus and antibiotics are given. Antibiotics is not given to treat but rather to keep any other infections from forming.
Some medications are given to help in breaking up the mucous so your cat has easier time in breathing.
Severe cases cat may become so dehydrated that they require use of a drip.
Feline Panleukopemia
Also known as feline distemper and caused by a virus. This is contagious and spread through litter box, contaminated food and water. Be careful if you are have a mult-cat household.
Signs to be aware of: lifeless and lethargic, vomiting, diarrhea that is severe, not eating or drinking, dry skin from being dehydrated, fur falling out.
See your vet if you suspect your cat has this.
No medications to be treated but antibiotics to help keep other infections from happening.
A white blood count is also used to confirm the diagnosis of felinen panleukopemia.
Many cats end up dying from this as it is difficult to fight off.
Good news though there is a vaccine you can give your cat to help prevent this from happening.
Chronic Kidney Failure
More common in older cats and part of natural aging. When kidneys are not working properly than waste is not able to be removed from the body.
Signs: constipation, no appetite, lethargy, nausea, vomiting.
As this progresses more water is needed to process any toxins in body. Vet gives blood and urine tests to check for kidney failure.
There is no known cure but some treatments are available to help cat live a longer life.
Most common treatment is a IV drip or diaylsis.
Diabetes
Not enough insulin in body to maintain proper blood sugar level. If not treated in time a cat will not live a very long life.
Early symptoms: Increased appetite with no weight gain, may even see weight loss, drink and urinate in excess, frail, tiredness, vomit, diarrhea, muscle weakness, trouble breathing, dehydrated.
In later stages cat will become less active. Ketoacidosis happens in some cats. This is a complication when there is no sugar in body
Testing is done through blood and urine samples to determine if have diabetes.
Treatment consists of shots once or twice a day for insulin and some sort of special diet. If cat has become dehydrated will need be treated.
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Feline Owner’s Guide To Cat Arthritis
June 10, 2009 by
Filed under Cat Care
Asthma is one of the most common illnesses in felines. Cat arthritis is a condition in which there is joint inflammation. Felines with this condition can suffer a lot of pain. Acrobatic cats are more susceptible to developing this condition, but it can affect virtually any cat. You may be wondering how your cat could develop arthritis.
Causes
Cats suffer from this condition because of various things. Traumatic accidents rank amount the leading causes. Examples include getting hit by a car or falling from a great height. Your cat’s bones, joints, and ligaments also wear down naturally over time. Your cat may also suffer from arthritis due to infections, immune system problems, or developmental disorders.
Symptoms
The main sign of arthritis in cats is the presence of swollen joints. If the swelling is very severe, your cat may limp with the affected limb. It’s also common for your feline to be stiff. After he gets up from resting, you should be able to tell this easily.
Severe cases of cat arthritis may also cause personality changes. Many cats start being more aggressive or become depressed. Like in humans, cold and damp weather can worsen the symptoms of this condition.
Diagnosis
If your cat is showing any of these symptoms, a veterinarian will need to check him out. The vet will monitor your cat while resting and moving around. To confirm if your cat truly has arthritis, the veterinarian may take some fluid out of one of the swollen joints. An x-ray of the affected joints may also be useful.
Treatment
Treatment of arthritis in cats depends on the cause and severity of the condition. In cases caused by a traumatic injury, your cat will benefit from anti-inflammatory medications and rest. Some cats need to wear supportive dressings until they improve. Your cat may even need to have a surgical operation.
Many different health problems can affect your pet such as cystitis in felines. Luckily for you, www.cat-illnesses.com provides all the information you need. So, come by today to start reading about various diseases that can affect your cat.
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