DrBarchas.com is a free resource for people with pets. Searchable articles are available on diseases, behavior, symptoms, and medical treatments for dogs and cats.
Ringworm affects dogs, cats, people, rodents, rabbits, and other mammals.
Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin. Contrary to its name, worms are not involved in ringworm infections. In pets, ringworm primarily is a nuisance. However, the infection can spread from pets to people. This makes ringworm infections in household pets a serious concern.
Owners of cats and dogs often find drops or traces of blood on the floors or other surfaces of their home and suspect that their pet is the source of the blood.
More common causes are listed first. Less common causes are listed later.
Cats
Obesity is a syndrome in which the amount of excess body fat an individual carries is great enough to cause harm to health and well-being. Obesity is a debilitating syndrome that is linked to a number of serious health consequences for cats.
A number of factors play a role in the development of obesity in cats. However, the root cause of obesity is the consumption of more calories than the body needs.
Adult cats and dogs
Dental disease is by far the most common major health problem of cats and dogs. Despite its name, dental disease does not merely affect the teeth and mouth. Dental disease impacts the entire body, with serious consequences for health, longevity, and well-being.
Panting is very rare in cats. It is often a sign of a serious problem.
More common causes are listed first. Less common causes are listed later.
Hunting, stalking, and attacking are natural behaviors for cats and kittens. During play, these behaviors are inevitable. However, some kittens and cats have trouble determining how far to proceed with these actions. As a consequence, they may play too roughly.
If your cat is playing more aggressively than you’d like, there are several steps to take. The first is to offer a wide variety of safe toys. This will allow your pet to vent some of its aggressive energy on inanimate objects, rather than on you.
Normal, healthy animals may sneeze occasionally as a reaction to dust or other irritants. Persistent, repeated, or violent sneezing has many potential causes.
More common causes are listed first. Less common causes are listed later.
Penicillin was the first clinically applied antibiotic in medicine, and compounds related to it are in wide use today. Amoxicillin and Clavamox® (also known as amoxicillin-clavulanate or Augmentin®) are frequently prescribed for home use in cats and dogs. The two medicines are related. Clavamox® is more potent than amoxicillin.
Cats of any breed, usually middle-aged.
Diabetes mellitus (known simply as diabetes) is a common and serious disease of cats. The main characteristic of diabetes is an inability to control the level of sugar in the blood. This leads to chronically high blood sugar levels, which in turn lead to the symptoms of the disease.