Archive for the ‘Cat Health’ Category
Posted by Bob Newman
The information in this article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be considered as, or used in place of, medical advice or professional recommendations for the diagnosis or treatment of feline diabetes. If necessary, individuals should take their pet to a licensed veterinarian for further information regarding feline diabetes, including a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosis & Treatment of Cat Diabetes
Feline Diabetes
Early detection of feline diabetes is critical to a cat’s health. If left untreated, this illness can lead to weakness in the legs, malnutrition, dehydration and possibly even death.
The symptoms of feline diabetes are gradual and may manifest themselves over a period of several weeks. Typically, feline diabetes if not found in cats that are under 7 years of age.
The first signs are likely to be a sudden weight loss or gain. In addition, excessive drinking and urination may be accompanied by an sudden increase in, or loss of, appetite. The next symptom of feline diabetes may be the back legs growing increasingly weak.
Once any of the aforementioned signs begin to surface, it’s time to take your pet to the veterinarian for the appropriate tests. If feline diabetes is confirmed, one of the most important treatment methods will be that of a well-balanced diet. Based upon your cat’s needs, the veterinarian will recommend a diet and nutrition plan, which can be utilized in addition to regular insulin injections. Oral medications are also often prescribed in place of injections, but pills are often thought to cause liver damage or possibly even a remission reversal in cats. Therefore, most pet owners opt for insulin injections for the most effective treatment of feline diabetes.
While in treatment, it is important that cats be taken to the veterinarian for regular checkups and to monitor their health and dietary habits. If this illness is not treated properly or if their diet is not closely monitored, your pet may end up hospitalized. When dealing with feline diabetes, there is no room for error and pets must be closely supervised to make sure that they are eating right and gradually beginning to regain their strength.
More Related Posts:
Posted by Bob Newman
If you want to enjoy the companionship of a healthy and happy cat, 1 of the most important things you can do is to safeguard its health. Vaccinations can protect your cat from many common cat diseases.
Weaned From Mother’s Immunity
When your kitten is 6 to 8 weeks old, you should begin his vaccinations. Before this time, the mother’s antibodies have been protecting him. Once he is weaned, however, he will need to develop antibodies of his own.
The Vital First Visit
The first office visit is when your veterinarian will give your kitten a complete physical examination. A fecal exam is normally done to assure that your kitten doesn’t have worms. Prior to vaccinations, your veterinarian should do a blood test to be sure the kitten is not already infected with Feline Leukemia. The vet may also test for Feline Infectious Peritonitis. These tests are quick, and your veterinarian will have preliminary results in minutes.
If your kitten is not already infected with 1 of these diseases, the vet will give your kitten his first Feline Leukemia and FIP vaccines, assuming if he is at risk for these diseases. An only cat who never leaves home may not need these vaccines, in which case your veterinarian may recommend against giving them.
Whether he leaves the house or not, your kitten should receive his first FVRCPC vaccine. This combination vaccine protects kittens from rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia and chlamydia.
Follow-Up Vaccines And Worming
Within 2 to 4 weeks your kitten should visit the veterinarian again, at the age of 8 to 12 weeks. This time he will get a second round of shots for FVRCPC, Feline Leukemia, and FIP. If your kitten was wormed during his first visit, the vet will give him his second worming. If your kitten is at least 12 weeks old and spends time outdoors, he should also receive his first Rabies vaccine.
Your kitten’s third visit to the veterinarian takes place when he is 10 to 16 weeks old, when he will receive his third FVRCPC vaccine. Kittens who were too young for their first Rabies vaccine on their previous visit will receive it at this time.
The First Birthday Visit
After completing his third set of FVRCPC vaccines, your kitten will not need any more injections until he is 1 year old. At that time he will need Rabies and FVRCPC booster shots. If the Rabies shot is given to your cat within 1 year of his first Rabies vaccine, it will be good for 3 years. Your cat will need to return each year, however, for the FVRCPC vaccine. When your cat is 1 year of age, he will also receive boosters for FIP and Feline Leukemia if he received these vaccines as a kitten.
Rare Side Effects
Most of the time vaccines are quite safe, yet occasionally side effects can occur. Vaccines for Feline Leukemia can sometimes cause a form of cancer at the site of the injection. For this reason veterinarians usually do not recommend the vaccine for cats who are not at risk. A tumor can sometimes occur at the site of other vaccinations, as well. This type of tumor can often be removed before it spreads. Should you notice a lump developing at the injection site, call your veterinarian without delay. These lumps usually are a simple allergic reaction to the injection, but a lump can develop into a tumor, which, if caught early, can be successfully removed.
The risk of catching a disease without vaccinations is much higher than the risk of side effects. Just as with humans, shots are an unpleasant, but necessary part of growing up healthy.
More Related Posts:
Posted by Bob Newman
Allergic reactions are prevalent this time of year for more than just people. Even for the family cat that seldom ventures outside, most common household irritants may cause allergies, as well as exacerbate dangerous respiratory problems such as feline asthma.
One frequent allergen could be hiding out in the cat’s litter box. Dust in conventional clumping litters can irritate a cat’s respiratory tract, causing it to sneeze, wheeze and cough after utilising the litter box. Because cats that have already been diagnosed with feline asthma, it’s essential to remove this possible irritant.
Feline asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, “Cats suffer the same air passage spasms or smooth muscle contractions that lead to intense constriction of breathing as people do. The gaseous dust [of conventional cat litter] when inhaled can initiate symptoms in an already asthmatic cat.”
As a resolution, an expanding number of consumers are turning to clay-free alternative litters, such as Swheat Scoop Natural Wheat Litter.
Swheat Scoop is a unique clumping litter that’s made from 100 percent naturally refined wheat. Since it does not contain clay, chemicals or fragrances and does not raise a mist of dust while poured out, it is beneficial for cats that have highly sensitive respiratory systems.
This litter’s natural wheat enzymes work incessantly to eradicate, rather than mask, litter box odors and its wheat starches cast solid clumps that can be easily flushed down the toilet without harming sewerage or septic systems. Altogether these features make Swheat Scoop the natural choice for cat owners with headaches about their cat’s respiratory health.
Swheat Scoop is available at Petco, PETsMART, Target, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and other fine grocery, neighborhood pet and natural food stores.
More Related Posts: