Category — cat health advice

An excess level of nitrogen-based substances compounds such as urea, creatinine, and other body waste compounds in the blood is defined as azotemia. It can be caused by higher than normal production of nitrogen-containing substances (with high protein diet or gastrointestinal bleeding), improper filtration in the kidneys (kidney disease), or reabsorption of urine back to bloodstream.

Uremia, meanwhile, also leads to an accumulation of waste products in the blood, but is due to improper excretion of the waste products through the urine because of abnormal kidney function.

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Narcolepsy and Cataplexy

Narcolepsy and cataplexy, disorders that affect the way an animal is able to physically operate, are rare but well studied disorders of the nervous system. Narcolepsy is symptomized by excessive daytime sleepiness, lack of energy, and brief losses of consciousness. The episodes are typically brief and go away by themselves. Cataplexy is characterized by sudden muscle weakness and paralysis without loss of consciousness. A cat that is affected by cataplexy will remain alert and capable of following movement with its eyes throughout the episode. Cataplexy is similar to narcolepsy in that the episodes are spontaneous, brief, and reversible. Individuals may be affected with one, or both of these disorders.

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Bartonellosis in Cats

Bartonellosis is an infectious bacterial disease, caused by the gram-negative bacteria Bartonella henselae. It is also commonly known as cat scratch disease (CSD), or “cat scratch fever.”

This is a zoonotic disease, meaning that it can be transmitted between animals and humans. In cats, the disease is generally transmitted through contact with flea feces. The bacterium is excreted through the flea and into its feces, which it leaves on the cat’s skin. The cat, through grooming itself, ingests the bacteria, thereby becoming infected with the Bartonella strain. Humans do not acquire this infection from flea reservoirs. It is important to note that this bacterial infection can also be transmitted to humans and cats by ticks.

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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.

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Suid Herpesvirus

The pseudorabies virus infection (or Aujeszky’s disease) is an uncommon but highly fatal disease found in cats, especially those that come into contact with swine. Unfortunately, many cats infected with this virus die suddenly, often without characteristic signs.

When symptoms do occur, they include excessive salivation, intense itching, and neurologic behavioral changes. Because of the extreme itching it causes, pseudorabies is sometimes referred to as “mad itch.”

The virus infects both dogs and cats — primarily those living on farms — as well as other domestic animals such as swine, cattle, sheep, and goats. Otherwise, there is no breed, gender, or age predilection for this viral infection.

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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 this page in the PetMD health library.

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Sinus Bradycardia in Cats

Sinus bradycardia (SB) is indicated by sinus impulses are arising at a slower-than-normal rate. The sinoatrial node (SA Node, or SAN), also called the sinus node, is the initiator of electrical impulses within the heart, triggering the heart to beat, or contract, by firing off electrical surges (also referred to as the pacemaker). These irregularities are usually caused by disruptions in the cardiac autonomic nerves (nerves that act as a control system). In most instances, this is usually benign and may even be beneficial; however, it can cause loss of consciousness if it brought about by an underlying disease.

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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 need to be surgically corrected to prevent food and water from passing from the mouth into the nasal cavity. If this should occur, it will cause irritation of the nose, runny nose, inflammation of the sinuses, infection, and possibly pneumonia.

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Hyperchloremia in Cats

Hyperchloremia refers to abnormally high levels of chloride (an electrolyte) in the blood. Electrolytes play important roles within the dog’s body: helping in heart and nervous system functions, fluid balance, delivery of oxygen, and much more. For every electrolyte a very delicate chemical balance is required, and each electrolyte has a specific normal range in the body.

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Animals, like people, are prone to skin irritations. While they can often be treated with ointments and creams, an abscess can form if an irritation worsens or if bacteria invades the skin. An abscess can also occur when an animal becomes infected from a variety of injuries, and can be found on virtually any part of an animal’s body. It is important to note that while surface wounds are fairly common in pets, they can become problematic if they are infected and are left untreated.

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