Apr
9
Sick Cat Symptoms You Need To Know About.
Posted by Carol Johnston at 16:49 | Filed In Cat Health Care
When you are in pain, you are able to tell someone that there is something wrong and that person will get you to the hospital. Pets can’t do that, but if you watch them carefully, you can figure out a lot of things. That is why pet owners should practice cat care and be generally aware of the symptoms.
Following are a few of the diseases and the symptoms you should watch out for.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is the most feared disease, and for good reason. It is the leading cause of death among cats. It is caused by a coronavirus infection. The worst part is that the symptoms are very similar to other ailments, so it is really hard to diagnose.
There is also Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) which is the feline version of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Just like the human version, this is an infection that cannot be cured; and while it progresses slowly, it will kill the cat.
Cats can also get Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). It is a retrovirus that is the cause of some fatal cancerous diseases and some non-cancerous diseases. Fortunately, it can be treated easily using some household detergents and bleach as well as warmth and drying. The disease is transmitted through the saliva, tears, urine and feces of infected cats. Unlike the other two diseases, this one doesn’t survive very long in the environment, so it is only contagious when the infected cat is with another cat over a long period of time.
Worms are another threat to the health of cats; this condition is caused by a fungal infection that is spread through the spores. Basically it is a self-limiting disease, which means you can’t do anything to make it go away. The cat will eventually get better, but it may just take a few months.
If your cat is over its ideal weight, it very likely already has feline diabetes. As with humans, the main symptoms of this disease include excessive urination and thirst as well as weight loss or gain. Vets are not exactly sure what causes this, but a few research studies have shown a link between pancreatic disease, hormonal imbalance, and certain medications.
The symptoms for most of the aforementioned diseases are very much alike. Some of the most common ones are: diarrhea, vomiting, lameness (for more than 5 days or more) in one leg, loss of vision, excessive panting, a seizure, blood in the stool or urine, hair loss, persistent coughing or gagging, and breathing heavily or rapidly at rest. In order to figure out what’s wrong, your cat will need some tests.
Your vet will take samples of his blood, urine and feces. It will also be helpful to tell the vet anything you have observed. It is only after the tests are taken and read that proper treatment can be administered to the cat, as each case varies. What works for one cat, may not work well with another.
With regular care and attention from you, your cat can still be healthy. For example, your cat needs high quality food, fresh water daily, regular exercise, and proper grooming. It also helps if you make sure it stays indoors and take it the vet for regular check-ups.
If you have skipped any of these basic steps, something is bound to go wrong. Soon you will see a change in the behavior of your cat, and ignoring it will just make things worse. So practice proper cat care and watch your pet for symptoms.