Health Problems
Found [373] Articles :: Page 22 of 25
Digg this article
Feline Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) is cat flu and is caused by a virus or bacterial infection, which is very similar to the common cold in humans. It infects the oral and nasal passages. The virus is very infectious and prevalent in areas where multiple cats are housed. Kittens are very susceptible as their immune systems are weaker than that of an adult cat. The virus or bacterium is not serious and clears up in about three weeks. However in rare causes the virus or bacterium can develop into pneumonia and then become more serious with the possibility of death. Infected cats that are very sick at the time of the disease may not eat or drink, and will require intravenous injections and or hospital care. [...]
Digg this article
Urinary Tract infections are more common in cats than in dogs, they are very painful for your pet to have to suffer through. They can be caused by stones in the urinary tract, bladder stones, or a bacterial infection. The sites of the bacteria are usually in the bladder or urethra, which is the passageway to outside of the cat's body. Urinary problems should never be taken lightly, if left untreated they can develop into more serious conditions such as kidney failure.
Feline Urological Syndrome or Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is basically an inflamed bladder. It is important to note that there could be several reasons why the disease occurs and many doctors over simplify the disease calling it Bladder infection and treating only the symptoms without looking any further for an underlying cause. [...]
Digg this article
Very few people can resist a cute and cuddly kitten, only very few people want to keep that kitten after it has grown into a full grown cat. Cats and kittens end up in animal shelters or are discarded on roads, or simply left to become feral cats outdoors. Therefore one could say that the first birth difficulty is actually finding suitable permanent homes for cats before you cat actually gets pregnant.
Felines are very fertile creatures, with the average cat having five or six kittens in each litter. Some breeds are inclined to have bigger litters. From the time your cat is five months old, she will be in and out of heat from January to October with a reprieve in November and December for pet owners living in Europe and North America. [...]
Digg this article
Feline bite wounds are usually associated with feral cats which fight to protect their territory from other strange cats. The teeth will penetrate the skins causing a lesion or wound that will heal over. The problem occurs because bacteria grow under the surface of the skin either from debris that got into it when it was an open wound or from the attacking cat's saliva.
[h]Causes[/h]
[-]The particular type of bacteria found in a cat's mouth is Pasteurella multocida and Streptococcus; both of which require very little oxygen. Once the wound closes the oxygen from the environment is cut off and the bacteria begin to grow and multiply.[/-]
[-]The process of infection begins with the wound that becomes inflamed, swells, and is painful. If the wound bite is on the leg there will be swelling, abscess and possibly lameness. Other common bite wounds sites are found on the face, the back, the rump, and the tail.[/-] [...]
Digg this article
The feline eyelid is very different from human eyelids. First of all cats do not have cilia, which we know as eyelashes, though they do have a thin layer of lashes that are somewhat like eyelashes, simply because they are different from any other kind of hair. The cat's eyelids are also more tightly fit against the cornea than humans.
The conjunctiva is a thin membrane that covers the eyeball. The conjunctiva and eyelid touch. Felines have less of a conjunctival sac than humans. Because the eyelid is so close to the conjunctiva it can be subject to several kinds of infections such as conjunctivitis (reddening of the eye). Persian and Himalayan cats suffer from various glandular cysts in the eyelids. [...]
Digg this article
The two reasons for the inability to hear or deafness in cats is conduction and neurological problems.
Conduction anomalies are associated with the structures of the ear. The outer ear is known as the Pinna, then there is the Tympanic membrane which is the eardrum, the ear canal, and the middle ear which is also called the auditory ossicles.
Neurological problems can occur in the brain, inner ear, or the auditory nerve.
There is unilateral deafness implying that one ear is involved or bilateral deafness involving both ears. [...]
Digg this article
Feline diarrhea is a problem of loose or messy stools and originates in the small or large intestine. Diarrhea is also one of the most common reasons for a cat owner to visit a veterinarian. More often then not diarrhea is a symptom of another underlying problem.
[h]Types of Diarrhea and Location[/h]
[-]Sudden diarrhea originating in the small intestine gives the cat an urgency to defecate. It usually lasts for about 48 hours and then clears up on its own. Often when the cat has bouts of diarrhea it will lose its appetite as well.[/-]
[-]Chronic diarrhea in the small intestine is a large amount of watery stool that is a brownish color. Sometimes it takes on a blackish color if there is blood in the stool. It usually last for about a week at a time.[/-] [...]
Digg this article
For the most part, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a healthy dog, but some of the breed has a tendency to suffer from intervertebral disc protrusion, hip dysplasia, lymphoma, patellar luxation, and ear infections. Because of their short legs and body low to the ground, they tend to be longer than taller. This can create back problems if you allow your dog to become overweight. That doesn't mean that any of these health issues will affect every dog, or even the majority of them, but there are certainly enough cases for potential owners to become aware of the potential risks they may be taking, especially when the potential purchase price of this breed is so high. [...]
Digg this article
Healthy cats will have clean ears. The inside of the ear will be pink and odor free. They will not have scratches or hair loss around the ears nor will they have ear wax buildup inside of the ear.
The first acute sense in a cat is the sense of sight, while the second is sound. Their sense of sound is magnified compared to humans. A feral cat must be able to hear vermin running across the field to alert it that it is time for dinner. The sense of sound develops about the second week of life so that a baby kitten can hear its mother purring.
When the inside of the ear is unhealthy it could be caused by a fungal infection or ear mites. The signs include extremely red ears, dark discharge or ear wax buildup. [...]
Digg this article
Several conditions can lead to your cat having eye drainage. The cat will secrete anything from thin and watery, to thick and postulant, and from clear in color to yellowish or greenish. These conditions are caused by inflammation, infections, such as the flu and evasion of viruses. Sometimes it is caused by an inherited gene or a malfunction of the tear glands that cause eye drainage.
The most common condition for the drainage of the eye is called runny eye. Certain breeds of cats are more prone to leaky eyes than others.
[h]Causes[/h]
[-]Runny eyes can be caused by the over production of tears. Tears are produced normally to keep the lining of the eye moist. The tears then flow into the tear ducts making their way into the nose. But if there is a problem, the tears will spill onto the face and that is how we determine a cat has runny eyes. [...]
Digg this article
It is very common for a veterinarian to see cats coming into her office with red eyes. Red eye may or may not be painful, but cat owners often observe that their cat has been pawing at his eye or face.
Often time there is redness and swelling in the inner eyelid known as the conjunctiva, when this condition occurs it is called chemosis. The cause of chemosis or simply conjunctiva is due to an irritation, a foreign substance that has made its way into the inner eyelid and lodged there. It could be dust or a piece of hair. Any foreign substance would make the eye irritated and inflamed. Occasionally the ulcers can penetrate into deeper areas of the cornea and then your cat is at risk for the ruptures in the eye and causing complete eyesight. [...]
Digg this article
Acne is not only a teenage problem but a very common disease in cats. Feline Acne affects cats of various breeds and ages. It occurs in males and female cats alike. The condition can be so mild that it is hardly noticeable.
What is Feline Acne?
The sebaceous glands secrete an oily substance called sebum, which lubricates the skin and hair follicles in particular. Their function is to prevent dryness in the skin and to protect the skin's surface from irritation. The sebaceous glands are found at the bottom of the tail, the cat's back, its genital area, eyelids, lips and skin.
The sebaceous glands play an important role in cat behaviour. It is the cat's way of marking its territory or domain. If you see your cat rubbing its head or chin across a surface, it is marking its territory and over time it will leave greasy marks in those places. [...]
Digg this article
Gastritis literally means the inflammation of the stomach. There are many causes for gastritis and most commonly occur when cats do not properly digest their food. They could:
[-]Ingest foreign objects such as string and paper that would cause trauma to the stomach[/-]
[-]Ingest bad or spoiled food from the garbage and other places especially if they are feral cats. This food turns into bacterial toxins[/-]
[-]Ingest toxins from eating plants[/-]
[-]Ingest drugs like aspirin which can prove lethal to a cat[/-]
[-]Acquire allergies to certain food[/-]
[-]Overeat, change diet, or eat too much fatty foods[/-] [...]
Digg this article
Lameness is a very common problem found in felines. Lameness can be caused by a number of factors contributing to the cat's inability to walk normally. Lameness refers specifically to walking with a limp or having difficulty walking. Essentially, the various reasons for difficulty in walking can be attributed to some disease of the musculoskeletal system brought on by genetic factors, trauma to the bones, virus and other infections, and arthritis.
Yet, in many cases the root cause of lameness is really not known. Listed here are some conditions and diseases where lameness is known to occur. [...]
Digg this article
A common problem in cats today is obesity. More than half the cat population is now overweight, and it is quickly becoming the norm. We see the commercials, the cartoons, the storybook fantasies about overweight cats and we buy into it. Who doesn't love Garfield, Hollywood's favorite fat cat? The trouble is fat cats are not healthy and they are predisposed to certain diseases such as diabetes, arthritis and hepatic Lipidoses. Is it really worth risking your cat's life to show that you have a fat cat?
[h]Causes[/h]
Obesity no longer is an issue simply for humans. Domestic animals now are becoming obese due to a sedentary life style and a diet rich in calories. Yes some of you might find it hard to believe that cats can be overweight but have you actually watched how much your cat is eating? [...]
|
Health Problems
Comments
Email to a Friend