Happy Pets

Vomiting

Cats, like us, are sick from time to time. There is no reason to panic; overindulgence may easily be the cause. You should, however, check the vomit to see whether it really is the result of eating something indigestible. If the vomit is merely a sausage shape of food then the cat probably ate its last meal too fast — and may well have done if another cat was trying to make off with its favourite titbit. All cats bring up balls of fur that they have swallowed when washing their coats, and sometimes feathers if they have been eating a bird.

If vomiting is recurrent then something may well be wrong and you should consult the vet. The same is true if it is especially severe, perhaps accompanied by spasms. In this case, suspect poisoning and head for the surgery without delay.

Tumours

Cats, especially elderly ones, are susceptible to a variety of forms of cancer and unfortunately many of them aremalignant. Over half the cancers of cats affect the alimentary system (though less frequently affecting the stomach than in humans) or the skin, and in females the reproductive system. Leukaemia has already been mentioned. Some cancers are operable but in most cases little can be done, apart from surgery if that is possible. Chemotherapy has occasionally been tried, as has X-ray therapy — but the expense is usually prohibitive, and neither treatment is very easy to obtain.

Cats also have their share of warts and cysts. If they cause no discomfort to the cat they can usually be ignored, but those in awkward places are best treated. A wart near the eye could cause conjunctivitis, for example, or one in an exposed position become damaged and introduce infection. The same is true of internal cysts. Females that show eccentric behaviour are sometimes discovered to have cysts on their ovaries and in such cases an ovariohysterectomy is usually performed.

Rheumatic conditions

Cats do not suffer from actual rheumatism, but occasionally they can develop a form of rheumatoid arthritis. This usually affects the smaller joints equivalent to human fingers and toes, resulting in partial immobilization and loss of condition. The problem can be alleviated with drugs but cannot be cured. Arthritis can also develop from bites that penetrate the joint, so any nasty-looking bites should always be checked by the vet.

Skin conditions

Routine physical checks of skin and coat during grooming have already been described. Less common than the signs mentioned are scabby patches, usually starting around the base of the tail and spreading along both sides of the spine. These are a common form of eczema, once thought to result from an all-fish diet but now thought probably to result from an allergic reaction to flea bites — so also look out for fleas. Biting, scratching and licking to ease irritation produce rawness. Follow your vet’s instructions for treatment.

Hair loss, usually beginning on the inside of the rear legs, may be due to hormonal imbalance, although there is a hereditary form in which a downy coat of hair is retained. Sometimes the hair breaks off and ring-like patches can be seen on the skin. This is ringworm. Sometimes its only visible symptom is excessive scurf, but under ultraviolet light the fungus gives off fluorescence. Veterinary treatment is necessary, and bedding and other materials in contact with the cat should be treated carefully to destroy the fungus spores, which can infect humans.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Cat Diseases Part 5

• Teaching the Cockatiel to Talk
• Cockatiels Breeding Season, how to take care the mom and babies
• Wildcat Pedigree, a Hunter's Build, every cat does its hunting
• Pets Fur Grooming, give it a treat
• The hunter - in play and for real
• A Sick Bird, take care Illness
• Cockatiels Breeding Season, how to take care the mom and babies part 3
• Cat Diseases Part 1
• Domestic cats Vaccination and Medication Care
• Cat Diseases Part 3

This entry was posted on Monday, April 28th, 2008 at 1:18 am and is filed under Birds, Cats, Fish, Grooming. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.