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Cat Illnesses - Page 5
Cat Care > Cat Illnesses - Page 5
- Dehydration
A healthy cat drinks in order to make up water that has been lost from the body through urination, elimination of faeces and respiration. If a cat is unable to make up the deficit, it will soon begin to show signs of dehydration. There is a loss of skin elasticity so that if a small portion is pinched it stays folded in that position. The cat has a dry nose and mouth as fewer secretions are produced and the coat may be dull and the eyes appear sunken. The cat is lethargic and generally unwell and, since dehydration is a feature of various diseases and disorders, there may be other symptoms. Vomiting and diarrhea can soon produce dehydration, but water must be given cautiously if a cat is being continually sick. Dehydration is a serious condition and the underlying cause should always be investigated so that appropriate treatment can be given. A seriously dehydrated cat may need to be hospitalized and given fluids intravenously in order to save its life.
- Dew Claws
Vestigial thumbs that are situated on the inside of the front limbs above the paws. These claws may need to be trimmed in an elderly or ill cat that is not able to wear them down naturally.
- Dibetes Mellitus
A complex disorder that is rare in cats but where it does occur it affects middle-aged or elderly cats and is the result of a failure in the mechanism of sugar metabolism. It results in an accumulation of sugar in the blood and urine and is caused by a lack of the hormone insulin, which is secreted by cells in the pancreas. Symptoms include an excessive thirst and passing copious quantities of urine, which, when analyzed, is found to contain sugar. The appetite increases greatly at first, but the cat loses weight gradually. Eventually, if the condition remains untreated, the cat becomes obviously ill. There is a loss of appetite, vomiting, dehydration, lethargy and a typical pear drops' smell on the breath and from the urine resulting from the presence of substances called ketones. The cat passes into a diabetic COMA as a result of the metabolic crisis caused by excessively high levels of blood sugar. In this emergency condition, a cat requires immediate veterinary treatment in order for its life to be saved.
Diabetes in cats (and dogs) can only be treated by daily injections of insulin, which obviously requires considerable commitment from the owner. Depending upon individual circumstances it may, in fact, be kinder to have the cat humanely put to sleep. In treating a diabetic cat, one problem that can occasionally arise is giving an accidental overdose of insulin. The symptoms of this are disorientation, staggering, confused behavior, convulsions and coma leading to death, caused by a sudden reduction in blood sugar. This is also an emergency that must be immediately remedied by giving the cat sugar in the form of honey, syrup or prepared glucose solution, which must be kept readily to hand. An owner who has reason to suspect the development of diabetes in a cat should seek immediate veterinary advice so that treatment can begin as soon as possible.
- Diagnostic Tests
As in human medicine, a veterinary surgeon may occasionally think it advisable to carry out certain investigative procedures on a cat in order to obtain a precise diagnosis of a particular problem. Depending upon the nature of the symptoms, a variety of tests could be carried out. These include analysis of samples of blood, urine, faeces, swabs of discharges that may be cultured for bacterial growth, ultrasound tests and exploratory surgery, particularly to carry out a biopsy of suspect tissue such as a tumor. More complicated tests may sometimes be helpful, but no procedures are carried out without full consultation with, and the consent of, the cat's owners. Any investigation that might cause pain or distress is carried out under general anaesthetic.
- Diarrhoea
Increased frequency and looseness of bowel movements involving the passage of unusually soft or watery faeces. In cats, as in humans, diarrhoea can have a number of different causes such as a dietary upset (excessive intake or eating an unsuitable, unusual or irritating substance). Other causes include bacterial or viral infections such as feline infectious enteritis, coccidiosis (protozoal infection) and infestation by certain internal parasites, particularly roundworms in kittens.
Diarrhoea in young kittens is always a cause for concern and requires immediate veterinary attention. In adult cats, as long as the animal otherwise appears to be well, treatment can first be given at home. All food should be withdrawn for a period of twenty-four hours and only water offered. After this time, a small quantity of light food such as steamed fish or chicken can be given to the cat, gradually returning to a normal diet as long as the diarrhoea does not return. If there is no improvement in the condition of the cat, consult a veterinary surgeon straight away.
- Dislocation
The displacement of one of the two bones that form a joint from its normal position. Common sites are the hip, lower jaw and knee (stifle joint). A dislocation usually occurs as a result of an accidental blow where considerable force has been applied, and in cats it is often caused by a fall or being
struck by a car. The hip may be dislocated as a result of a heavy landing following a jump and, characteristically, one hind leg appears to be shorter than the other. If the lower jaw is involved, the cat cannot close its mouth properly and its teeth are clearly not in the right position. In the case of the knee joint, the patella (knee cap) moves from its normal position and the cat walks in a stiff-legged fashion. This is usually a congenital defect, allowing the dislocation to occur without the application of undue force and especially affects cats of the Devon Rex breed. The characteristic symptoms of dislocation are pain and swelling around the affected joint so that the animal is unable to function normally.
In many instances, especially following an accident, it may be impossible to tell whether a fracture or a dislocation has occurred. A dislocation prevents movement at the joint but there are no broken bones and no bleeding. If a dislocation is suspected, keep the animal as quiet and still as possible and place it in a cat carrier or large cardboard box. Do not give it anything to eat or drink and take it immediately to a veterinary surgery. A general anaesthetic is needed so that the joint can be restored to normal without further pain. Manipulation of bones is a skilled procedure that should only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon. Clumsy handling of a dislocated joint, or a delay in seeking treatment, may cause further damage and prevent or compromise healing.
- Ear Inflammation (Otitis Externa)
Irritation, scratching and inflammation of the ear canal, possibly with a smelly, sticky discharge. The commonest cause is the presence of ear mites. Another possible cause, especially in elderly cats, is a tumor that can sometimes be malignant.
- Eclampsia ('milk fever', puerperal tetany)
A serious condition that can arise in a queen cat shortly after giving birth to kittens. It is caused by a deficiency in calcium, a great deal of which is used during pregnancy to form the skeletal structure of the kittens and after birth in milk production. Eclampsia cannot be prevented from developing, and the best that can be done is to ensure that a pregnant and nursing queen receives plenty of good nourishing food containing calcium.
- Eczema and Dermatitis
Inflamed and irritated skin that is itchy and may 'weep' but without any apparent cause such as the presence of external parasites. It is thought to be an allergic response, and the main problem is the self-inflicted damage to the skin caused by the cat's scratching. It is now believed that the most common cause is a hypersensitive response by certain cats to flea saliva. Such a cat reacts with severe itching to just a single flea bite and this condition is known as miliary eczema or miliary dermatitis. It is, of course, extremely important to protect an allergic cat from being bitten by fleas by using one of the insecticidal preparations that are available.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
A record of the changes in the heart's electrical activity that is obtained by means of an instrument called an electrocardiograph. This is a type of diagnostic test that may occasionally be recommended for a cat with a suspected heart disorder.
Cat Illnesses:
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