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Cat Illnesses - Page 10
Cat Care > Cat Illnesses - Page 10
- Lameness
Cats are much less susceptible than dogs to strains and sprains of the limbs, although arthritis can be a cause of lameness in elderly animals. A more frequent cause of lameness in cats (apart from accidental injury) is a septic bite or abscess on some part of a limb.
- Laparotomy
A general term for a surgical procedure in which in incision is made into the abdomen under general anaesthetic. Sometimes an instrument is inserted in order to obtain a sample of tissue for laboratory investigation. A laparotomy is also necessary for various abdominal operations such as neutering of a female cat.
- Leprosy
Feline leprosy is a rare condition but one that is quite widespread and is caused by a bacterium similar to the tuberculosis organism. It causes small raised lumps to appear on the skin and these may develop into ulcers. The condition requires veterinary treatment with antibiotic drugs.
- Lick Granuloma
A thickness of shiny tissue that can occur over the surface of a wound that has not been able to heal properly because of a cat's continual licking. It is important to try to pre-vent a cat from licking a wound as this delays and interrupts healing, may dislodge stitches and result in the formation of a thickened mass of scar tissue. In cats, lick granulomas can occur result of the animal's excessive grooming, usually on the under-surface or inner thighs. The lesions require veterinary treatment, and it may be necessary to prevent the cat from licking itself by fitting it with an elizabethan collar.
- Listeriosis
A chronic bacterial infection that may rarely occur in cats, producing a range of symptoms.
- Liver Disease or Damage
It is relatively uncommon in cats and produces a variety of symptoms, including diarrhea and vomiting, loss of appetite and weight, abdominal swelling as a result of fluid accumulation and jaundice. Liver disorder may be a feature of several conditions, including feline infectious anemia and diabetes mellitus. The cat needs expert veterinary care, as it is more vulnerable than usual to the effects of drugs, which must be given very cautiously.
- Lung Fluke
An internal parasite of some cats in parts of South Africa and the USA. This parasite, Paragonimus kellicotti, has larval stages in crayfish and water snails. It usually infests stray cats that scavenge on shorelines and causes coughing and irritation of the airways.
- Mastitis
Inflammation of one or two mammary glands in a nursing queen cat.
- Meningitis
Inflammation of the meninges (membranes) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is rare in cats.
- Metritis
Inflammation and infection of the womb, which may arise in a queen cat following the birth of her kittens. This is a potentially severe and life-threatening condition, producing symptoms of loss of appetite, lethargy, lack of interest in caring for the kittens, high temperature and a foul-smelling discharge that may be bloodstained. The cat requires urgent veterinary treatment with antibiotics to kill the infection.
Cat Illnesses:
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11-20 |
21-30 |
31-40 |
41-50 |
51-60 |
61-70 |
71-80 |
81-90 |
91-100 |
101-110 |
111-120 |
121-130 |
131-140 |
141-148
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