Azotemia and Uremia in Cats

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• Heart Attack in Cats
  Myocardial Infarction in Cats   Much like in humans, a blockage of blood flow to the myocardium (the heart's muscular wall), is medically referred to as a heart attack, or myocardial infarction. This is generally due to the formation of a blood clot (or thrombus) within the blood vessels or heart, causing the premature death of a portion of the myocardium.   Heart attacks are rare in both cats and dogs.   Symptoms and Types   Weakness Lethar ...read more
• Sperm Ducts Cysts in Cats
  Spermatocele and Sperm Granuloma in Cats   Cyst epididymis, or sperm granuloma, is a condition in which a cyst has grown in the epididymis (part of the spermatic duct system), resulting in swelling of the duct or ducts. A spermatocele, meanwhile, is a cyst in the ducts or epididymis that conduct sperm, and is usually associated with a blockage. When sperm escape from these ducts into the surrounding tissue, chronic inflammation occurs. This becomes clinically important when bilateral (both sides) obstruction of the duct system leads to no live sperm in the seminal fluid.    ...read more
• Stained, Discolored Teeth in Cats
  Stained Tooth and Teeth in Cats   Any variation from normal tooth color is considered discoloration. However, the normal color of teeth varies, dependent on the shade, thickness, and translucency of the enamel covering the tooth.   Symptoms and Types   Intrinsic discoloration is characterized by secondary factors that are happening inside the tooth, discoloring the underlying dentin. Extrinsic discoloration, meanwhile, occurs when exogenous pigment accumulates on the surface of teeth. That is, the cause of the discoloration is from an external source, rather than from a p ...read more
• Abdominal Cavity Inflammation in Cats
  Peritonitis in Cats   The abdominal cavity is lined with a thin, watery membrane, called the peritoneum. When the cat's abdominal cavity, also called the peritoneal cavity, is injured, the peritoneum becomes inflamed. The severity of the inflammation depends on the type of injury the peritoneal cavity has undergone. Peritonitis is frequently a painful condition, and the cat will respond when it is touched on its abdomen.   Peritonitis can affect both dogs and cats. To learn more about how it affects dogs, please visit
• Abnormal Eyelid in Cats
  Entropion in Cats   Entropion is a genetic condition in which a portion of the eyelid is inverted or folded inward against the eyeball. This results in irritation and scratches to the cornea -- the front surface of the eye -- leading to corneal ulceration, or corneal perforation. It can also leave dark-colored scar tissue to build up over the wound (pigmentary keratitis). These factors may cause a loss or decrease in vision.   Generally, only brachycephalic breeds of cats, such as Persians, are at risk. Entropion is almost always diagnosed around the time a cat reaches its secon ...read more
• Abnormal Growths in the Lower Intestines of Cats
  Rectoanal Polyps in Cats   The growth of flap-like protrusions in the cat's anal and rectal walls is a condition referred to as rectoanal polyps. These polyps may be directly attached to the intestinal walls (sessile), or attached through a stalk-like cylindrical connection.   Most rectoanal polyps are non-cancerous, and are merely extensions of the innermost tissue lining of the intestinal walls. And while most cases of polyps are usually isolated, there are occasions cats suffer from multiple polyps.   The condition described in this medical article can affect both dogs ...read more
• Abnormal Heart Rhythm in Cats
  Sinus Bradycardia in Cats   A slower-than-normal rate of impulses in the sinus node is medically referred to as sinus bradycardia (SB). Also called the sinoatrial node (SAN), the sinus node initiates the electrical impulses within the heart, triggering the heart to beat or contract. In most instances, slow sinus electrical impulses is benign and may even be beneficial; however, it can also cause loss of consciousness if it is brought about by an underlying disease that disrupts the cardiac autonomic nerves, which act as the heart's control system.   SB is less common in cats as c ...read more
• Abnormal Passage Between Artery and Vein in Cats
  Arteriovenous Fistula in Cats   An abnormal, low resistance connection between an artery and a vein is called an arteriovenous fistula. If large enough, the fistula may cause a significant fraction of the total cardiac output to bypass the capillary bed, making it so that the tissues receive little or no oxygen. The heart, in turn, tries to compensate for the lack of oxygen by pumping blood out to the body at a faster rate, which may lead “high output” congestive heart failure.   The location of arteriovenous fistulae varies; reported sites include the head, neck, ear ...read more
• Abnormal Passageway Between the Mouth and Nasal Cavity in Cats
  Oronasal Fistula in Cats   A fistula is characterized as an abnormal passageway between two openings, hollow organs, or cavities. They occur as a result of injury, infection, or disease. A communicating, vertical passageway between the mouth and nasal cavity is called an oronasal fistula. Oronasal fistulas are rare in cats, but they do occur.   These types of fistulas are caused by the diseased condition of any tooth in the upper jaw. The most common location for an oronasal fistula is where the root of the fourth premolar on the upper jaw enters the palate. This condition will ...read more
• Abnormal Protein Production in Cats
  Paraproteinemia in Cats   Gamma globulins, or immunoglobulins, are part of the body's antibody response to fighting infections. They are a class of blood protein produced by plasma cell, a type of white blood cell; their purpose: to identify and neutralize invading bacteria and viruses.   In paraproteinemia, abnormal paraproteins (proteins in the blood or urine) or M components are produced by a single clone of plasma cells. Such production of abnormal proteins is commonly seen in plasma cell tumors and in some other types of tumors, as well as in plasma cell myeloma, a cancer of ...read more