CAT HEALTH & MEDICINE

[From Tufts June 2012 Issue]

Annabelle, a 5-year-old Ragdoll, had been lethargic with little appetite. She was hiding under the bed - unusual behavior for her. The intact cat also had vaginal discharge. Her owner, Ragdoll breeder Denise Celona of Rutland, Massachusetts, took her to the local veterinarian, thinking the cat had developed a uterine infection called pyometra. An x-ray was inconclusive on that score, but it did show that the heart was enlarged and ovoid, or egg-shaped, which is not normal for cats. At that, Annabelle and her owner were referred to the Foster Hospital for Small Animals at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

By the time emergency and critical care specialist Sean Majoy, DVM, saw Annabelle, she was having difficulty breathing. Her respiratory rate was up significantly. On examination, her,…

Because nature plays no favorites when it comes to doling out heart disease, cats - just like humans - are at potential risk for serious health problems directly or indirectly associated with this vital organ. In some cases, the signs of it are obvious to the trained eye. In others, a serious feline heart disorder can remain hidden for years before finally expressing itself in a sudden, perhaps fatal, attack. …

A few months ago, a client brought her four-month-old female kitten, Squeegee, to my feline-only veterinary hospital for an exam. The kitten had been doing great, eating well, growing nicely and playing like a maniac - until two days before when she began to vomit. She became lethargic, the vomiting progressed and her appetite abruptly disappeared. …

Your cats appetite seems to be robust, and she apparently likes the food you put in her bowl each morning and evening. Since you brought her into your home as a kitten six years ago, she has never been outdoors, so shes had no exposure to diseases that might be carried by other cats in the neighborhood. And youve always made sure that she gets her semi-annual veterinary checkups and required vaccinations. …

Earlier test for kidney disease Recently, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. revealed that a new kidney function test - called symmetric dimethylarginine (or SDMA) - will now be included in all routine chemistry panels from IDEXX Reference Laboratories in the United States. It will be at no additional cost, and with the same turnaround time as routine chemistry panels. …

All cats of all ages, no matter how well cared for and protected, are at potential risk for falling victim to one type of feline cancer or another. If undetected and untreated until it has progressed to an advanced stage, this disease - marked by the uncontrolled proliferation of cells in an animals body - is very likely to be fatal.

Regardless of a cats breed, size, shape or age, its a fairly common occurrence: The cat - apparently in good health - is peacefully wandering around the house. Suddenly, she stops, crouches, extends her neck, and retches, hacks and gags. Then, she spits up a slimy, dark-colored and thoroughly unpleasant looking clump of something or other that may resemble, if anything, a chunk of fecal matter. With that accomplished, the cat regains her composure and resumes her normal activities, none the worse for wear.

According to Lisa Freeman, DVM, PhD, DACVN, a professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, hairball diets may have some benefit because they typically include increased fiber levels compared to most cat foods. However, they dont help all cats. Ensuring adequate water intake is important (you can try different types of water bowls, tap water versus bottled water, special fountains, etc. if your cat is the fussy type). Also,…

At some point during the course of a middle-aged or older cats routine physical examination, an attentive veterinarian will carefully study the interior of the patients mouth, making sure that the cats teeth are intact and that its gums are healthy. The veterinarian will also be looking for any scabby, ulcerating sores, which in most cases can be medically treated and will soon vanish. …

The feline skin is, by definition, an organ - a differentiated component of an animals physiologic makeup that performs a wide variety of specific life-sustaining functions. In addition to serving as a matrix for a cats head-to-toe haircoat, the skin serves as a barrier against invasion by harmful microorganisms; it protects against injury to deeper tissues; and it provides a watertight seal that retains an animals bodily fluids and prevents dehydration. …

Senior cat with digestive issues Q My cat Gizmo is 15 years old and has been having digestive problems and persistent diarrhea. He has lost five pounds in the past few months and I cannot seem to control his loose bowels. I have tried two different enzymes and I have been giving him probiotics that I bought from PetSmart, made with Alaskan salmon oil. So far, his problem still persists. …

Mammary cancer is the third most common cancer of cats. Approximately one in 4000 cats will develop this feline version of breast cancer, and virtually all of those cats will be females and most will be middle-aged cats - say 10 to 12 years of age. Siamese are a breed at higher risk, and may develop this cancer at an earlier age than other cats. …