Health
Found [447] Articles :: Page 19 of 30
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The heart is organ responsible for pumping blood and distributing oxygen to the body's tissues. The right side of the heart pumps out blood which travels to the lungs and becomes oxygenated while the left side receives blood (already having oxygen from the lungs) and pumps it back into the aorta chamber of the heart. The pumping chambers of the heart are called ventricles.
Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is a disease where the heart muscle of the left ventricle thickens (hypertrophy). The interior of the left ventricle may get smaller and less blood can be accumulated because of it. If the ventricle walls stiffen and contract, they will impair the heart's ability to fill with blood. During the diastole (relaxation period), if the ventricle cannot sufficiently relax, a build up of blood will occur causing the backup in the blood vessels of the lungs. [...]
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Myelodysplasia is a group of blood disorders affecting the formation of blood cells in the body especially, but not exclusive to bone marrow. The medical term for blood cell formation is hematopoiesis and is also referred to as hemotogenesis or sanguification. You will come across many medical terms referring to myelodysplasia including preleukemia, myeloid leukemia, oligoleukemia, odoleukemia, refactory anemia, and more. Though blood formation is present, somehow the proper formation of blood is obstructed, by plaque (fatty buildup) tumors, and other obstructions.
A condition called Erythremic myelosis occurs where the blood cells are immature and do not regenerate to produce more cells. Once this condition is present in cats, it will progress into acute leukemia within a matter of months.
[h]Feline Leukemia[/h]
Feline leukemia a cancer of the white blood cells and is considered to be a viral disease, Feline Leukemia Virus (FelV) effects thousands of wild and domestic animals yearly. [...]
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Nature provided cats a comfortable coat to wear in all seasons. In the winter the feral cat needed a warmer coat, but during the summer it was not necessary to have such a warm coat. As a result the cat naturally molts, or sheds its coat to fit the season. Even though most domestic cats do not have to worry about proper insulation to protect them from the outdoors, nature still demands that these cats shed their coats twice a year to prepare for the upcoming season.
Besides having the proper coat to wear, a cat will groom or clean himself by licking his fur. His tongue becomes his washcloth, but at the same time his tongue will also accumulate and digest some loose hair. If you have ever felt a cat's tongue, you know that it feels like sandpaper. That is because the tongue is specially equipped for many functions and grooming is one of them. [...]
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Many times when people get dogs, such as the Manchester terriers, they are not quite sure what their needs are unless they previously owned one. However, once you get a Manchester terrier it does not take long to know what its needs are. [...]
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Many times when people choose to get a Manchester terrier, they are not quite sure of what any of the possible health problems are that they are prone to getting. However, one health problem that the Manchester terriers often have is glaucoma. [...]
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When it comes to the health of their pets, many people are not sure of what diseases are hereditary and which ones are not. However, many of the hereditary diseases such as Legg-Perthes Disease do not occur that often. [...]
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Sometimes we come across diseases that are breed specific and Ganliosidosis GMI and GM2 are two such diseases. This disease has now been associated with the Korat one of the oldest breeds of cat, originating from Thailand. It is ironic that the Thai name for Korat means good luck when these poor felines are affected by these two, Gangliosidosis GMI and GM2 genetic diseases.
Gangliosidosis is one of the lysosomal storage diseases. These diseases are associated with the part of the cell that is responsible for breaking down and recycling vital chemicals needed for brain function and other important activities. There are over 40 diseases which surface in humans because of the malfunctioning lysosome enzymes. In Humans Gangliosidosis is the culprit in Tay Saks Disease. Siamese cats are also affected by this disorder as well as other animal species; dogs, cows and sheep. [...]
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A heart murmur can be determined as a swishing sound heard by the veterinarian when examining a cat. The murmur occurs because of a heart valve malfunctioning. A heart murmur isn't a disease in and of itself but does point to heart and other medical problems.
[h]Causes[/h]
[-]A heart valve can be too thick or damaged and as a result it doesn't close properly. When this happens blood will escape from the valve and spill into the surrounding areas. The swishing sound confirms that there is some kind of leakage going on at the time the value is closing (contracting). There are different classifications of heart murmurs depending on the turbulence (unsteady flow) and velocity, (speed of the blood flow).[/-]
[-]The classification simple heart murmur is due to value malfunctioning. The classification functional heart murmur is due to valve problems and extracardial (outside the heart) factors, which could be other medical conditions.[/-] [...]
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Dirofilaria immitis is the medical term for the infection we all recognize as heartworm. The first cases of feline heartworm were reported in Brazil in 1921, since then it has been reported around the world. It is interesting to note that feline heartworm is reported more frequently in areas where dogs with heartworm are reported as well. However the number of reported feline cases remains lower than canine cases in these high-risk areas. Furthermore, the male cat is more susceptible to this disease than the female. Also the presenting symptoms and diagnostic approaches are different in dogs and cats reported to have contracted this disease.
Heartworm is passed on to cats by infected mosquitoes that carry the L3 Larvae. When the larvae mature and become adults they develop into worms and these parasites attach to their host and live within the body. [...]
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Veterinarians have long known that Abyssinian cats suffer from Kidney amyloidosis, which runs in families. Recently it has been discovered that amyloidosis also presents itself in the liver of Siamese cats.
The liver is the main organ responsible for the absorption and metabolizing of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and soluble foods. It also filters toxins and waste and it also stores vitamins and minerals. The liver performs its function by means of blood.
The liver is an amazing organ that is said to effectuate more than a 1,000 different tasks. It continues to function even when it is damaged because each part of the liver performs the same duties. Therefore if one section is no longer functioning the other sections will compensate by working harder to perform its vital life sustaining tasks. [...]
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One of the most common clinical disorders in cats is anemia. Anemia is a condition where there are reduced numbers of red bloods cells (erythrocytes) present in the hemoglobin. This condition is quite common in animals. There are many causes for anemia ranging from blood loss, intoxication, infections, immune system disorders, to organ failures all of which represent the key causes of anemia.
There are also genetic blood disorders that can cause anemia as well. Erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiency is a less frequent but important cause of anemia effecting felines. This deficiency is also present in certain breeds of dogs such as dachshunds, beagles, eskimo dogs, basenjis and highland white terriers. Dogs will expire by the age of four because of contracting the disease, but cats live a normal life span and only periodically contract the disease throughout their lifespan. Unlike dogs they do not suffer from osteosclerosis, or organ failure. [...]
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An amyloid which means amy (starch) and oid (resembling) is a protein fiber material that does not dissolve, this material is made up primarily of polysaccharids, which is a starch, celluloid and sugar bonds. Amyloids have a waxy clear looking appearance.
Amyloidosis is the major factor in feline diabetes. Amyloidosis occurs when the proteins do not fold properly and therefore do not dissolve in the blood stream as they were meant to do. The accumulations of these protein fibers then accumulate in various organs of the body. When the organs enlarge known as the medical term used is megaly. When amyloidosis is present in the kidneys and the kidney enlarges because it is now impaired it is called renal megaly. It has been noted that dogs have a greater incident of amyliodosis than cats. [...]
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The traditional practice of prevention and good health in your cat has always included annual vaccinations and booster shots. However, can a cat have too many vaccinations? What happens to cats that are vaccine sensitive?
There is no doubt that scientific evidence show the benefits an immunized cat has to ward off such diseases as Feline Leukemia, Parvo, Feline Distemper, and more. Remember the old adage, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Of course you want to keep your cat healthy, free of disease, happy and in turn prolong his life. Vaccines save lives. There are fewer cases of Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper) among the feline population because of the wonders of vaccines.
Nevertheless just as humans can be allergic to certain vaccines, so can felines. Vaccine sensitive cats can be allergic to any number of substances within a particular vaccine; antibodies, stabilizers and so forth. [...]
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Vomiting in cats is a fairly common occurrence and can be caused from numerous reasons from the most benign to more serious medical conditions. Most cats will occasionally vomit and that should not cause reason for concern but if the cat continuously vomits it is always wise to consult a veterinarian. We all know that old adage, it is better to be safe than to be sorry. If your cat's eating patterns have changed and you notice lethargy or any type of behavioral change then it is better to have that checked out at once.
[h]Hairballs[/h]
One of the most common reasons for vomiting is the expulsion of hairballs, which accumulate in the cat's gut. Cats clean themselves by licking their fur, some of this fur will shed and they ingest it. If this fur does not go through the proper digestive process down the digestive track and out through their stools, they will cough it up. [...]
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What you feed your Otterhound, will directly affect his longevity and good health. Today there is much hype about canned dog food especially since the Purina pet care recall. Critics say that commercial pet foods are laced with chemicals and preservatives. A healthy diet will not only promote a longer life but will also curtail digestive problems. With a healthier diet you can expect to see good muscle tone, good eyesight and brighter eyes, high energy, strong bones, strong teeth and gums, good skin and coat, firmer and fewer bowel movements, offensive body odors, and of course less health problems and visits to the veterinarian. [...]
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