Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Like humans, cats have tonsils and adenoids. As part of the immune system, they help fight bacteria and viruses. When the adenoids and tonsils of a cat become infected, they swell, causing a variety of health issues. If your cat suffers from infected adenoids, take him to a veterinarian to diagnose and properly treat his condition.
When a cat's kidneys fail to function correctly, his levels of metabolic waste products like creatinine and urea are not filtered out of the body correctly. This leads to an elevation of these chemicals in the cat's blood. If your cat's blood work indicates elevated levels of creatinine and urea, have your veterinarian examine your cat for signs of kidney disease and devise a treatment plan for him.
Diarrhea and constipation in cats can be the result of dietary deficiencies or of a lack of exercise, or they may be symptomatic of a more serious underlying problem. Although not uncommon, cat bowel movement problems should not be ignored. Seek veterinary advice and diagnosis if the problem persists for more than a few days. Happy, healthy cats have about one bowel movement a day. It is not particularly runny, overly hard or foul smelling.
Dead tail in cats refers to a tail that no longer functions. Also known as limp tail, the condition may result from trauma or neurological problems. If your cat's tail appears injured in any way, take him to the veterinarian at once. Depending on the cause and level of damage, prompt attention may restore the tail to usefulness and allow the cat to function normally.
Dermal cysts refer to any number of skin bumps on a feline. If you find such a bump on your cat, take him to the veterinarian for an examination and diagnosis of the cyst type. Removal and treatment is generally straightforward. While most cysts can't be prevented, there are simple measures you can take to avoid formation of certain types of cysts.
Feline diabetes is a serious condition in which a cat’s body is unable to produce or properly use insulin. Left untreated, the disease can be fatal; but with proper medical attention and weight monitoring, you can manage your cat's diabetes. A cat’s weight, food and water intake, urine output and insulin levels all play roles in managing feline diabetes. A vet-sanctioned, monitored diet and weight plan is essential for treating the disorder.
Your chances of making friends with a cat increase when you present it with toys. While cats enjoy a myriad of objects--ones that bounce, for example--sewing a fabric heart provides your pet with a soft plaything. Create your heart with a denim fabric surface and cotton stuffing to make it effortless for the cat to bat around with its paws or carry from place to place in its mouth.
If your cat has a swollen lump on its cheek, it may suffer from an abscess due to an injury or a dental problem. When you touch the cat's swollen cheek, it will feel hot to the touch and cause the cat discomfort. Abscesses in cats require veterinary care to eliminate them and provide your cat with relief.
Cats are susceptible to injury and exposure that will cause a nail infection. The infections occur when the claws are improperly cleaned, cared for, trimmed or become exposed to a fungus, such as ringworm. Treating cat nail bacterial and fungal infections is performed at home and through the help of a veterinarian.
Veterinary surgeons remove entire sections of feline intestinal tissue when it is no longer viable by excising the non-working areas and suturing the remaining pieces together. Called resection, this surgery is aimed at providing a functional intestine and possibly saving the cat's life. Hazards associated with this kind of abdominal surgery include peritonitis and possible death of the intestinal tissue. As a pet owner, knowing the risks involved in this kind of specialized surgery, can help you recognize any complications that may arise.
Ocular infections are extremely common in cats and is more common in kittens. Kittens are often infected by the mother cat at birth. This means some kittens are infected even before their eyes are able to open. The symptoms of conjunctivitis include nasal discharge, sneezing and decreased appetite. There are ocular signs that a veterinarian will recognize. However, a cat owner will also notice eye discharge, squinting and eye swelling. With proper treatment, most cats are able to recover from conjunctivitis within two weeks. There are a number of treatments, and often the most effective treatments are herbal extracts and…
Hellebores (Helleborus spp.) are a group of perennial plants that often serve as ornamental additions to decorative gardens in temperate regions of North America. While they are not native to the United States, several species have become established in the mid-Atlantic and Pacific Northwest regions of the country. Hellebores are not particularly disease-prone, but they do suffer from a handful of diseases caused by fungal and viral pathogens.
Many scenarios may cause a cat it scratch to the point of causing scabs. Though itchiness and scabs are common symptoms, other symptoms can help you pinpoint the cause of feline skin problems. Skin problems that lead to scabbing range from parasites to food and airborne allergens.
Create a cat's eye marble by injecting veins of color into the middle of the marble. They are different from other marbles in that they are clear all around with streaks of one or several colors running through the center. Cat's eye marbles are generally made from glass, but can also be created by rocks or minerals, such as a geode. Since a geode has naturally occurring color striations, the cat's eye effect is created naturally, without the need for dyes.
Cats get upper respiratory infections just like humans do. If you have noticed your cat sneezing or suffering from a runny nose or eyes, have it checked for feline pneumonitis, an upper respiratory infection that is not considered life threatening. Because feline pneumonitis is suspected to cause conjunctivitis in humans on rare occasions, have your cat checked for this disease as soon as possible.
Cats often come down with stuffy noses, runny noses and sneezing. Owners are often stumped about what these symptoms mean. The symptoms could be a result of a sinus infection or environmental allergies. Although home remedies can be tried to treat stuffy noses in cats, only veterinarians can diagnose and treat stuffy noses appropriately.
You wouldn't ignore excessive discomfort and weeping in your eyes, so don't ignore the signs when they appear in your cat. Sometimes a cat's weepy eye is a simple problem that time will fix, but other times it's a warning sign of a significant problem. Visit your vet to determine whether the weepy tears will disappear on their own or if you need to take special steps to treat your cat.
When a dog gets a bacterial infection, it may be in danger of contracting septicemia. It occurs when bacteria reaches the dog's bloodstream and produces toxins that spread to the dog's vital organs. Eventually, the animal's entire body can be poisoned, causing it to go into septic shock. Dogs thought to have septicemia should be taken for immediate treatment. Although some dogs recover from the disease with few or no complications, many die from it.
Witnessing your beloved cat sneeze blood can be a scary and nerve-wracking experience. Cats can sneeze up blood for a variety of reasons --- some serious and others not. If the root cause of your cat's bloody sneezing is the result of a bacterial or viral infection, colloidal silver can help boost his immunity and make him feel better until he can receive proper veterinarian care.
You can get an idea of a rabbit's general health just by checking its skin. Most rabbit skin problems are not serious, but when severe they can be life-threatening and contagious even to humans. A rabbit can suffer from many skin problems if it is not cared for properly. If your rabbit shows lesions, scaly skin or signs of discomfort, consult a veterinarian immediately to ensure proper and timely treatment.
Despite differences between cats and dogs, there are also many similarities. For example, both cats and dogs are domesticated animals retained as pets. Also, both animals belong to the mammal kingdom since each has hair and nurse their live-born young. Moreover, there are many shared behavioral traits found in cats and dogs. If you can identify similarities between both species, it can help you better understand and relate to your pet dog or cat.
Dog owners now have the option of lessening the effects of arthritis on their dog's hip, elbow, knee or shoulder joints through regenerative stem cell therapy. This therapy helps reduce the effects of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. With accurate information, you can determine whether this treatment is right for your pet.
Lethargy and walking in circles are potential symptoms of a wide range of problems, some serious and some relatively minor. If you have a cat that displays these symptoms, then you should have the cat seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible so it can start receiving appropriate treatment. Walking in circles tends to be a symptom of quite specific problems. Lethargy, which is a nonspecific symptom of illness in general, often accompanies walking in circles.
A feline splenectomy is the removal of a cat's spleen. The spleen is located in the abdomen and can be removed without causing future health problems in your cat. In determining if your cat requires a splenectomy the veterinarian performs several tests such as blood and urine tests, abdominocentesis, X-rays or an ultrasound. Each of these tests determine if the spleen is damaged or diseased and will help the veterinarian decide if a feline splenectomy is necessary.
Every cat owner should understand the medical issues their feline friends may experience. Just as humans are susceptible to skin irritations and infections, cats can experience similar health problems. Cats can develop harmful infections from abscesses. Abscesses can form anywhere on the body and are quite commonly found on the face and chin. Be sure to get veterinary help immediately if an abscess has formed on your cat's chin.
Feline health problems can be strange and scary, especially when it involves fluid retention of the legs. Feline leg fluid retention is always the result of a serious problem and should be taken seriously from the start. This condition may be caused by a number of diseases, including kidney and heart disease.
Feline infectious peritonitis is a deadly, but uncommon health issue affecting cats. This viral infection can cause many different symptoms including watery eyes, nasal discharge and diarrhea. In the case that nasal discharge and other respiratory issues occur, a decongestant can be beneficial in making the affected cat more comfortable.
Melanoma is a form of cancer found in humans and animals. While humans tend to develop melanoma from moles, animals show signs of the cancer through freckles on the forehead. Dermal and iris melanoma are commonly found in cats.
As a virus, feline herpes causes sneezing in cats, as well as discharges from the cat's eyes and nose, loss of appetite and lethargy. Feline herpes can result in the development of an upper-respiratory infection, which is often life-threatening. Though no treatment successfully eliminates feline herpes, being aware of the virus's mode of transmission, as well as the various ways in which it can be treated, will help you deal with any problems an infected cat might have.
When your puppy falls ill, it is critical to take it to the vet for medical treatment. A virus or bacterial infection that is left untreated can manifest into something chronic or even fatal. Veterinarians prescribe puppies with antibiotics, similar to what humans take, in order to fight off various types of illnesses, so it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the kinds of antibiotics for puppies that are out there.
The process of giving birth to kittens is stressful both physically and mentally for cats. Most cats bleed from the vulva after giving birth, and cats bleed more and for longer periods of time if it is a first birth. After 48 hours from delivery, the bleeding gradually decreases, but a small amount of bleeding is still normal.
If you have noticed that you cat is neglecting its food and water dish, wiping its mouth with its paw, or crying out in pain when it yawns or tries to groom, its behavior may be caused by one or more sores in its mouth. Many times, this kind of irritation is caused by an allergy or a skin infection, but there are other serious conditions that could also be the cause of your cat's mouth sores.
Seizures are characterized by uncontrollable behavior or muscle activity that is caused by an abnormal increase in the brain's nervous activities. Seizures in cats can be brought on by a variety of causes such as toxicity, low blood sugar and even brain disease. Breeds of cats such as Siamese, Persians and Himalayans tend to be more anxious and nervous than other breeds and seem to be the most often affected by seizure disorders.
Cat abscesses are wounds that a bite from another cat or animal causes. As you might expect, outdoor cats are far more susceptible to abscesses than indoor cats. Bacteria from the other animal's mouth and teeth causes infection, in turn causing the abscess to form. The abscess itself is actually the cat's body's response to bacteria. The presence of bacteria is what makes abscesses dangerous. If not treated properly, bacteria can enter the bloodstream.
Goldfish are susceptible to a wide range of bacterial pathogens, including aeromonas that cause hemorrhagic septicemia in these cold water fish. Aeromonas micro-organisms enter the fish's blood stream, causing septic shock, which is invariably followed by death of the fish. The first signs of hemorrhagic septicemia are red streaks that are soon followed by skin lesions. These legions are initially superficial, but become much deeper and progress to ulcerations and the destruction of underlying muscles.
Cat owners may become alarmed if their pets suddenly sprout black or brown spots on their noses, lips or ears. However, this is a common phenomena, particularly among aging, orange tabbies, and is not a cause for concern. Known, as lentigo simplex, these spots are much like freckles. Usually harmless, lentigo is hardly ever the result of a serious underlying medical condition. The lentigo may come and go, and there is no method or reason for treating it.
Felines are territorial by nature and often get into fights with other cats to protect their turf. The resulting bites and scratches are the most common cause of cellulitis in a feline's leg. Cellulitis is inflammation of deep tissue caused by an infection. When the skin is tight, such as on a leg, the infection spreads throughout the layers of skin and the leg swells.
Even as a pet, cats are avid hunters and tend to be active and curious. As a result, cats receive injuries when braving new discoveries. There are many reasons why your cat may exhibit swelling in its hind leg, from a simple bee sting to more serious conditions, such as arthritis. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments for swelling symptoms.
Cats are complex animals that use both body language and vocalizations to communicate with people. One way they communicate is through the use of their eyes. A cat's pupils can convey messages to other animals and people. However, a cat's dilated pupils can be indicative of a number of things, other than adjusting to the amount of light. Such things include mood and medical conditions, including hypertension, diabetes and glaucoma.
Diabetes is a condition that affects 1 in 400 felines, according to WebMD. Cats affected by diabetes are unable to assimilate the glucose in the blood, which is either because of an inadequate production of insulin or a poor response of the body to insulin. Neutered, senior and obese cats are more likely to develop diabetes and certain breeds, such as Burmese cats, are genetically predisposed to diabetes. Diabetic coma occurs if you fail to notice the symptoms of diabetes and don't administer treatment when needed.
Dogs can develop skin irritations caused by a variety of things and can exhibit symptoms, such as scaly, scabby rashes. These conditions often cause extreme itching and pain for the animal, so it is important to find the cause as soon as possible and provide treatment. Rashes which are left untreated can result in infections which can be deadly to your pet.
Feline panleukopenia, or feline distemper, is a potentially deadly, highly contagious virus shed through infected cat feces. It enters a cat's body through the nose and mouth, attacking lymph nodes, white blood cells, bone marrow and intestines. Symptoms include listlessness, appetite loss, fever, vomiting and diarrhea, typically leading to dehydration. Highly resistant to disinfectants, the virus can survive extended periods of time even in extreme temperatures. Many cats, especially young kittens, die from the disease. Vaccinations are the best defense against the virus, but can sometimes cause adverse reactions.
Intestinal lymphoma accounts for 33 percent of tumors in cats and is the most common form of feline lymphoma. Most intestinal lymphoma patients are older cats between 9 and 13. Male cats develop the disease at a higher rate than female cats.
Rabbits are hardy animals and their eyes are no different. However, when a rabbit has experienced an eye injury such as a scratched cornea or a problematic infection, you must take the rabbit to a veterinarian. You should never use medicine intended for humans or for other animals on a rabbit, but instead refer to a veterinarian for the proper medication or treatment. There are several ways a veterinarian may choose to treat an eye injury on a rabbit.
Cats suffer from some of the same maladies that affect humans, and some medication are the same ones used on humans. Cortisone is a steroidal medication. It reduces inflammation, thereby reducing pain. The vet administers cortisone either in pill form or as a single long-acting shot. The shot takes effect quickly and gives the cat relief.
Frogs have a skeletal structure similar to humans, it is just less complex. One of the main places this can be observed is the vertebrae. While a human skeleton is made up of twenty-four vertebrae, a frog only has nine complete ones. There is a tenth that is incomplete. Also like a human, the vertebrae serves many purposes.
Similar to humans, hair loss in cats is also referred to as alopecia. Alopecia in cats is occasionally accompanied by inflamed, red, scabby spots on the skin, typically within the hair loss region. While any of these symptoms are cause for concern, some are more serious than others. Hair loss and red scabby patches are typically caused by over-grooming as a result of the cat licking and breaking the hair, or scratching and breaking the skin in the affected area.
Although most felines may seem similar, they have very distinctive personalities. Some cats may have voracious appetites, ferocious behavior and aggressive tendencies, while others may prefer to nap, sleep and purr. In order to understand a cat's personality, it is crucial to know the different modes of behavior and expression, which can clue you in on who your cat is and why your cat acts in the way that it does.
Cat's eye color depends on a variety of factors, including coat color, breed and health. As with human babies, kitten's eyes are usually blue at birth but by three months of age the pigmentation has matured to leave the growing cat with its permanent eye color, of which there is a wide spectrum.
Cat are susceptible to a variety of ailments, including viruses and allergic reactions. Mucus secretions from your cat's mouth should sound an alarm for you to monitor your feline's behavior and condition closely, as they can be signs of cat flu, ulcers or allergies.
