Cat health articles. Browse our health collection for common and uncommon cat health issues.
There are several possible causes of weight loss or gain in cats, including medical conditions and overfeeding/underfeeding.
As the cause can be caused by a disease or dietary, it is important that you seek the advice of your veterinarian to determine the cause. The vet will do a complete physical examination, obtain a medical history from you, ask questions about diet, what food, how much, how often, and possibly take blood and urine samples for testing.
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Zyrtec (cetirizine) is a second-generation antihistamine that can treat allergy-related symptoms in cats. Antihistamines work by blocking the effects of histamine on certain cells within the body. When a cat has an allergic response, mast cells and basophils release histamine which binds to cells containing H1 receptors. Four types of receptors have been identified so far.
Also called miliary eczema, papulocrusting dermatitis or scabby cat disease, miliary dermatitis is a collection of crusty skin lesions or scabs around the head, neck and back along with intense itching. It isn’t a specific disease but a disease complex. The term miliary refers to the millet-like papules on the skin which feels similar to millet seeds.
A cat’s claws are an amazing part of the anatomy which performs several important functions. Located at the end of each toe, the claws help the cat climb, balance, grip prey, defend against attacks from other animals and protect the toes (digits).
The claws are continually growing, with the outermost layer sloughing off every few weeks to make way for a newer, sharper claw.
Antihistamines are a class of drugs that block the effects of histamine, a chemical produced by the cells and basophils in response to a real (bacteria/virus/fungus) or perceived (allergen such as dust) invasion.
Product/active ingredients Type/Frequency of dosage Parasites Treated Notes Drontal (Praziquantel and Pyrantel) Tablets. Tapeworm, roundworm and hookworm. Can be used on pregnant and lactating cats and kittens over 8 weeks. Aristopet (Praziquantel and Pyrantel) Tablets. Roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm. 8 weeks old. Can be used on pregnant and lactating females. Droncit (praziquantel) Tablets or injection … Read more
Vaccinations are a way of preventing disease by introducing a weakened or killed form of the disease-causing organism. This stimulates an immune response which helps prevent the animal (or human) from developing the full-blown disease should it be exposed to the pathogen in the future. The most common vaccination in the cat is known as F3 or FCRVP; this is commonly referred to as F3 and is a core vaccine.
A bladder infection is an infection of the bladder, a hollow organ in the abdomen which collects and stores urine. Cystitis is the inflammation or infection of the bladder, so you may see cystitis, bacterial cystitis OR urinary tract infection used in place of or in conjunction with a bladder infection. Most cases of cystitis are idiopathic, which means the cause can not be determined. Bacterial infection of the cat’s bladder is less common in cats than it is in dogs. E. coli is the most common bacteria to infect the bladder.
There are different types of UTI depending on the location of the infection.
Bladder infections are thought to develop when bacteria around the anus ascend into the urethra and the bladder.
Also known as relay toxicity, secondary poisoning occurs when a cat eats an animal that has itself ingested a poison. The most common form of secondary poisoning in cats is when they eat a rat or mouse which has eaten rodenticide. Secondary poisoning can also occur when cats consume prey such as rabbits who have been poisoned with 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate).
Cats are often afflicted with scabs, which can cause them discomfort and itchiness. The itching that often accompanies scabs and sores leads to rubbing and scratching, which causes further damage, as well as the potential to develop a secondary bacterial infection.
Scabs may be small and numerous, large and singular or a combination of both. The neck may be the only affected area or scabs and crusting may be more widespread. Remember, itching is common, but not always present.