Cat health articles. Browse our health collection for common and uncommon cat health issues.
Medically known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), dry eye syndrome (DES) is a condition characterised by insufficient watery tears reaching the surface of the eye which leads to dryness of the cornea and the conjunctiva. As a result, they become irritated and inflamed due to the lack of lubrication and moisture.
Also known as plasma cell myeloma, multiple myeloma (MM) is a rare type of blood cancer caused by the proliferation of B cell lymphocytes, a of blood cell responsible for the production of antibodies. The disease derives from a clonal population of cells, which all descend from one single plasma cell, and all have exactly the genetic make-up. As the cancerous cells multiply they take up room in the bone marrow, where there is no longer space to produce normal blood cells.
A heart murmur is an abnormal sound of the heart caused by the vibration of turbulent blood flow. Heart murmurs may be a sign of a serious underlying condition such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and birth defects, or functional, innocent or physiologic (no disease).
The heart muscle or heart valves may be affected.
AboutWhat is feline acne? Feline acne is a skin disorder affecting the chin of cats where hair follicles clog with oil and dead skin cells, to form blackheads. Causes:
Symptoms: Can range from mild to severe and include comedones (blackheads), erythema (redness), oedema (swelling), pustules (pus-filled bumps), folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicle) and furunculosis (deep infection of the hair follicle). Diagnosis:Â A thorough physical examination along with presenting symptoms, skin cytology and culture to rule out other Treatment: Medications to clean the area, reduce bacteria and unplug the hair follicle, changing food bowls, manage underlying cause, if one is found. |
Heinz body anemia is a type of anemia (reduced number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells) characterised by the presence of Heinz bodies (HB) on the red blood cell which leads to its destruction (hemolysis).
Obesity is a growing epidemic among the cat and dog population and has become the most common nutritional disorder seen in cats. Up to 45% of cats who were examined by a veterinary professional were found to be obese. That is a staggering number and frighteningly it the situation is getting worse.
At a glanceAbout: Breathing disorders can come in several forms and for several reasons. Any breathing problem is a medical emergency requiring immediate veterinary attention. Causes: Heart failure, fluid build-up in the abdomen or chest, a blockage in the pulmonary artery (embolism), infections, tumours, asthma, low oxygen levels in the blood. Types: Rapid breathing, open-mouthed breathing, noisy breathing and laboured breathing. |
Fleas are the most common external parasite to affect cats and have a worldwide distribution. Not only are fleas a nuisance; they can transmit several diseases and parasites to cats, this is known as vector-borne transmission.
About Eye infections occur when pathogenic (disease-causing) organisms invade any part of the eyeball or surrounding tissue. They can affect one eye (unilateral) or both (bilateral). Any changes to the eye such as discharge, squinting, blinking, redness or watering must be checked with a veterinarian as soon as possible, untreated eye infections can lead to … Read more
At a glance About: Cryptosporidiosis is a protozoal infection affecting the small intestine and occasionally the respiratory tract of cats. Transmission: Infection occurs via the fecal-oral route via contaminated water, food, feces, objects or during grooming. Symptoms: Don’t always show in healthy cats, in those who are immunocompromised or kittens, diarrhea, loss of appetite, low-grade … Read more