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.
Cats
An abscess is an area of infection and pus accumulation in the body. In cats, two types of abscess are common. Dental abscesses occur when unchecked periodontal disease leads to severe infection of the teeth. Fight abscesses occur when the skin and its underlying tissues are injured and become infected as a result of fighting with other cats. This article discusses fight abscesses.
Dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens.
Tapeworms are parasites of dogs and cats. They live in the intestines and, although they rarely cause clinical symptoms or disease in pets, they rob their hosts of nutrients. Tapeworms are aesthetically unpleasant.
The most common type of tapeworm is spread by fleas. Pets contract this species of tapeworm when they swallow fleas in the process of grooming. Other tapeworms are spread through improperly prepared food.
Fleas can infest dogs, cats, rodents, and other mammals. People can be bitten by fleas as well.
Fleas are a parasitic pest of dogs, cats, and other animals. They are blood sucking insects. Minor flea infestations can lead to severe skin and health problems in dogs and cats. Major infestations can be life-threatening.
Cats
Overview
Feline asthma refers to a group of clinical syndromes with similar symptoms and treatments. The syndromes that comprise asthma cause inflammation (irritation) and swelling of air passages in the lungs. The inflammation and swelling lead to symptoms including episodes of coughing, wheezing, and, in some instances, difficulty breathing.
Cats and humans
Toxoplasma is a microscopic parasite that is capable of infesting most mammals. It causes no symptoms in the vast majority of infested hosts, including humans. However, Toxoplasma can cause fetal malformation or miscarriage in pregnant women, and it can cause serious illness in human beings with AIDS.
Cats
FIC, FLUTD, and FUS are synonyms for a painful syndrome in cats. FIC is currently the most commonly used name. Its symptoms, listed below, mimic those of bladder infections. FIC is characterized by inflammation of the bladder and urinary tract which can be chronic or recurrent. The urine of these cats often is very strong, and may have an abnormal pH. As well, the syndrome has been correlated with crystals in the urine.
Cats
Heart disease in cats is caused most often by a condition known as cardiomyopathy. In this syndrome, the muscles of the heart become unable to perform normally. As cardiomyopathy progresses it may lead to heart failure (inability of the heart to circulate blood normally through the body) or other serious consequences.
Heartworm disease affects dogs most frequently. Cats suffer from heartworm disease less often but are still at risk. Heartworms have been found in people in rare cases.
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.
Middle-aged and elderly cats.
Hyperthyroidism is a disease of the thyroid gland. Located in the neck, the thyroid gland produces a hormone called thyroid hormone. Although thyroid hormone plays a complex role in the body, its main effect is to increase the rate of metabolism. Hyperthyroidism causes excessive production of thyroid hormone. Therefore, the main problem in hyperthyroid animals is increased metabolism.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include: