CAT HEALTH & MEDICINE

Although vaccines have been an integral part of preventive health care programs for several decades now, many cat owners probably take vaccination for granted. They shouldnt. No other medical development has been as successful as vaccination in controlling deadly diseases in companion animals.

Every so often, one of your cats comes down with a bout of the sniffles. In most cases, you have nothing to worry about. The sneezing and runny nose should simply fade away within a few days. But if the signs persist for longer than that - especially if the cat is not eating and not behaving normally, or the discharge from her nose thickens and becomes darker in color - a visit to your veterinarian is in order.

Vomiting, severe diarrhea, diminished appetite, fever, listlessness, progressive weight loss and general weakness are among the signs of a deadly feline illness called parvovirus. This potentially fatal disorder - also known as panleukopenia or distemper - is an illness for which there is no specific treatment. Fortunately, a highly effective vaccine is available to provide cats with long-lasting immunity against the feline parvovirus (FPV) - the organism that is responsible for spreading the disease.

Over the last two decades, probiotics have become a hot topic in both human and veterinary medicine. An enormous body of research has clearly indicated that probiotics can cause a positive change in the intestinal bacterial population when pathogenic bacteria overtake the gastrointestinal tract. Probiotics have also been shown to have a beneficial effect on the immune system.

I am a long-time subscriber who enjoys the publication very much. I feel that the information has helped me to take better care of the cats who live with us (at present time, we have four cats). My question is this: What exactly does board-certified mean, and how does a veterinarian achieve that qualification?

I have been sponsoring a cat at a purebred rescue facility who is FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) positive. I have two cats who are elderly (12 and 14 years old), but healthy. Ive been told that if I adopt my sponsored cat, my own cats wont be affected by this disease - unless they receive a deep bite wound. Is this true?

Among all threats to feline health, none is more fatal than rabies. The threat also applies to cat owners who are bitten or scratched by an infected animal. Rabies is caused by a bullet-shaped virus called a lyssavirus, and this microorganism affects many warm-blooded animals, most commonly in skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, bobcats and bats. However, notes Dr. Orla Wages, a specialist in internal medicine in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Tufts, the virus can affect all warm-blooded animals, including domestic dogs and cats that have not been vaccinated.

Spring and summer are on the way, and a lot of people are rejoicing. The weather may be extremely enjoyable for many of us - but it can be miserable for cats because warm and humid weather is paradise for fleas. The truth is that few creatures have had as much impact on world history as the common flea. From the black plague during the 14th century to the present, fleas have been the cause of much grief.

A normal kitten weighs three or four ounces at birth, and after consuming only her mothers milk, will typically gain as much as a half-ounce per day. She will double her birth weight during her first week out of the womb. By the time she is three weeks old, she will have tripled her birth weight. And while this rapid growth rate will soon taper off, the kitten will quickly blossom into feline adulthood.

There is a variety of bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal diseases that can affect both cats and humans. These zoonotic diseases can be passed from an affected cat to her owner through touching, biting or scratching.

Just as cats come in a broad range of shapes, sizes and colors, so do the various lumps and bumps that may appear on their skin. While such palpable swellings can be alarming to see or feel, theyre usually harmless, according to Michael Stone, DVM, clinical assistant professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

Among the disorders that can seriously impair the function of your cats cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, one of the most severe is feline heartworm disease, a potentially life-threatening condition caused by infection with a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis. This insidious disease is known to be most prevalent in geographic areas where a hot, muggy climate accommodates the proliferation of mosquitoes.