The Truth About Jaundice In Felines
July 11, 2009 by
Filed under Cats as Pets
Jaundice is a condition characterized by the presence of too much bilirubin in the body. Bilirubin is produced after processing of red blood cells. Jaundice is a sign of disease, but not one itself.
Causes
Cats can experience jaundice for many reasons. One of the most common causes is destruction of red blood cells within your cat’s body. The cells can be destroyed within the liver, spleen, or blood vessels. The condition can also occur because of liver disease. Cats that have an obstructed bile duct can also become jaundiced. This can occur anywhere in the bile duct or inside the gall bladder. Cats taking certain medications may also experience this condition.
Symptoms
The most common sign of jaundice in cats is a yellowish color to the skin, gums, or whites of the eyes. Lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea are also commonly experienced. It is also common for cats with jaundice to lose their appetite which usually results in weight loss.
Diagnosis
Vets can easily determine if your cat is experiencing jaundice. However, as mentioned earlier, many different diseases can cause this condition. Therefore, it’s necessary to determine what’s causing jaundice to occur.
Treatment
The underlying cause will need to be treated before the jaundice will be corrected. Some diseases are easy to treat, while others aren’t. However, some diseases that cause jaundice are very severe such as lymphoma in felines.
Many different health problems can affect your pet such as asthma in felines. Luckily for you, www.cat-illnesses.com provides all the information you need. Stop by right now to learn about some of these health problems.
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An Intro To Cat Anemia
June 26, 2009 by
Filed under Cats as Pets
When your cat’s body doesn’t produce enough red blood cells or hemoglobin, he develops a condition known as anemia. It is not a disease, but merely a symptom of an underlying condition or disease. You may be wondering what exactly causes feline anemia.
Causes
Many things can cause this condition. The kidneys are responsible for producing hormones that stimulate red blood cell production. Therefore, many cats develop anemia due to kidney disease. Parasites such as ticks, fleas, and hookworms are other leading causes.
Traumatic injuries can also cause anemia. Internal organs and blood vessels can be damaged by this type of injury. Anemia may also develop as a result of diseases such as leukemia or immunodeficiency virus. Anemia can also result if your cat ingest toxins or chemicals.
Symptoms
Your cat’s gums, tongue, and nose normally have a pink color. If he has anemia, these areas will lose their normal color. Instead, they will appear to be pale. Lethargy is also a common symptom of anemia.
Treatment
As you may recall, this problem isn’t a disease, but merely a symptom of something else. It’s necessary for the vet to treat the underlying problem in order to resolve anemia. A blood transfusion may be required until the cause can be treated effectively. Medications that stimulate the production of hormones responsible for red blood cell production will also help.
Prognosis
Cats are usually able to recover from this condition without complications. However, if you remember, anemia can be caused by serious conditions. In these cases, anemia will be one of the least problems to worry about.
All owners should know a little something about illnesses in cats. You can read up on many different potential health problems at cat-illnesses.com. So, stop by today to learn about a wide range of these conditions.
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