Are These
Five Killers Chasing Your Cat?
By Romi Matsushita
As a cat owner, your first
responsibility is to keep your pet healthy. However, even with
balanced nutrition and a good amount of love and attention, cats
can still get sick. Learn about the most common ailments that
affect cats so you can try to prevent them or cure them quickly
with the proper medical care when you first spot the symptoms.
Fleas
Although cats and dogs can live
with fleas, flea infestations should be controlled for several
reasons. The most common flea, the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis)
may carry the Dipylidium caninum tapeworm larvae. If cats eat
fleas during grooming, they may become infested with these
tapeworms.
Fleas could also transmit other
infectious agents to both you and your pet. If kittens are exposed
to fleas, they may become anemic. Cats can also develop an allergy
to flea bites, resulting in excessive scratching or possibly skin
disease. Finally, humans are also susceptive to itchy flea bites,
usually on the ankles.
You may suspect your cat has
fleas if he seems particularly itchy, or you see bites on human
members of your household. To check if your cat has fleas, groom
him over a sheet of white paper. Look for a few fleas caught in
the comb's teeth or flea dirt on the paper. Flea dirt is actually
excrement of undigested cat blood, and appears black and comma
shaped to the naked eye. If you place it on damp cotton wool, the
flea dirt dissolves into bloody streaks.
To control fleas, all mature
fleas must be killed and re-infestation prevented. Many commercial
products are available both to kill adult fleas and remove fleas
from the environment. Ask your vet for specific recommendations.
Make sure what you use kills both the adult mature fleas, as well
as the eggs left behind, usually on carpet and bedding. Nothing is
worse than to think you have conquered the problem, than several
months later to have your family and pets attacked by blood hungry
new hatchlings.
Hairballs
When cats cannot digest hair and
food debris, they regurgitate hairballs. Hairballs are formed
either at the back of the throat or in the small intestines.
Hairballs not only sound disgusting while your cat is producing
them for you, but they also make an unsightly mess on your carpets
and floors. Any cat owner who has had the thrill of watching their
pet suffer through the process of hacking up fur balls will be
highly motivated to prevent new ones from forming.
The simplest method of hairball
prevention is grooming your cat to remove excess hair. The next
step involves many products already on the market to prevent
hairball build-up such as oils, treats, and diets. If your cat
vomits frequently and the problem isn't resolved with regular
brushings, you should consult with the veterinarian to be certain
that a more serious problem is not the cause.
Overactive Thyroid
Overactive thyroid, or
hyperthyroidism, is a condition where the thyroid gland becomes
enlarged and produces excess amounts of thyroid hormone. The
condition is often provoked by a benign tumor on one or both lobes
of the thyroid gland. The good news is that thyroid tumors have
only a 2-5% chance of malignancy.
Symptoms of an overactive thyroid
include: increased appetite or thirst, unexplained weight loss
(particularly muscle mass), nervousness or irritability, frequent
vomiting, lethargy and weakness, diarrhea, or a coat that looks
ungroomed. A cat with the condition may not present every symptom,
but the presence of two or more should prompt a visit to the
veterinarian's office.
At the vet's, your cat will be
given a physical exam. If she notices enlarged glands, a CBC
(blood panel) and a thyroid-specific test can make the diagnosis
more conclusive. There are three treatments that offer a good
chance for your cat's full recovery: anti-thyroid medication,
surgery, and radioiodine treatment. Each method has its own
advantages and disadvantages, so you should learn more about the
disease and its treatments and discuss your options with the
veterinarian before making a decision.
Diabetes
Feline Diabetes can affect cats
of any age, but is most common in older, obese cats--typically
males. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 is caused by
insufficient insulin production while Type 2 results from a body's
inability to handle insulin effectively. Another type of diabetes,
secondary diabetes, occurs as a side effect of drugs or diseases
that impair the natural secretion of insulin or its effects in the
body.
The symptoms of feline diabetes
include vomiting, dehydration, weakness and loss of appetite,
increased thirst and urination, weight loss, breathing
abnormalities, and an unkempt-looking coat. If your cat has any or
several of these symptoms, take him to the vet. The vet will test
for blood sugar levels and sugar levels in the urine. Doing both
tests rules out an increased blood sugar level due to the stress
of the office visit.
If your cat is diagnosed with
diabetes, it is usually treated through one or a combination of
five methods: diet and weight control, insulin injections, oral
medications, monitoring glucose and insulin levels, and nutrient
and botanical supplements. Each method of treatments has unique
benefits and drawbacks, so be sure to decide on a treatment plan
with your veterinarian.
Feline Lower Urinary Tract
Disease (FLUTD)
This disease is a painful
inflammation of the lower urinary tract that has the potential to
be fatal. Feline lower urinary tract disease has a number of
causes from decreased water intake and urine retention to viruses,
bacteria, or diet. Symptoms that your cat may have FLUTD include
inappropriate or difficult and frequent urination, appetite loss,
listlessness, blood in the urine, or frequent licking of the
genitals.
Vet treatment for FLUTD can
include catheterization, fluid therapy, antibiotics, or even
(rarely) surgery. At home, cat owners are often encouraged to
change their pet's diet and style of feeding (more frequent,
smaller meals). It is also important for your cat to drink plenty
of water.
We all want to keep our cats
healthy and with us for as long as possible. Understanding and
being on the lookout for these common ailments will allow the
discerning cat owner to take action before a small health problem
turns into something more serious. Using good observation skills
to evaluate any potential change in your cat's condition will
allow you to take simple steps to keep your cat healthy, happy,
and disease free. If you notice a continuing pattern of symptoms
that may point to flea infestation, hairballs, an overactive
thyroid, urinary tract disease, or even diabetes, timely
consultation with your vet will allow you both to plan the best
course of action. Your happy, healthy cat will thank you.
About the author: Romi
Matsushita craves constant close contact with her calico cat. Find
great tips, articles, and cat care advice at
www.cat-advisors-online.com
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