CAT HEALTH & MEDICINE

I wasnt particularly concerned when our veterinarian told me that it was time for us to start administering subcutaneous fluids to Sir Hubble Pinkerton, our 15-year-old white Oriental Shorthair. Many years ago, I had successfully treated a cat with chronic kidney disease with no problems at all. Because Sir Hubble is a very easy-going and cooperative cat, I assumed that it would be a piece of cake. My assumption was totally wrong.

It requires a special kind of devotion to care for a chronically ill pet. Here are expert tips to make some of the necessary tasks easier for both of you.

It's important to understand why the anorexia syndrome happens, the harmful effects it can have on your cat's health - and the common ways to stimulate appetite.

My veterinarian told me that my cat has a heart murmur. Does this mean he will die prematurely from heart disease?

My four-year-old cat, Stripe, has been diagnosed with an overactive immune system. Last year, he had surgery to remove a cranial lung lobe and the biopsy found the necrotic mass to be non-malignant. Chronic lymphoplasmacytic inflammation was the diagnosis.

A healthy cats impressive physical traits - her strength, agility and lightning-fast responses to external stimuli - are essentially attributable to the structure and versatility of her musculoskeletal system. However, the feline musculoskeletal system is also subject to a variety of disorders that can seriously compromise a cats comfort and agility, as well as the performance of necessary bodily functions. Unfortunately, such disorders often defy prompt recognition and treatment.

Like every veterinarian, I evaluate the mouth and gums of my patient whenever I perform a physical examination. I expect to find nice pink gums, and most of the time, I do. Occasionally, Ill note with dismay that the gums are pale, or even white. This finding immediately sets off alarm bells in my head: This cat is anemic. The task of making a diagnosis now begins.

During the past half-century, the overall health of domestic cats has benefited immensely from the development of antibiotics - drugs that kill bacteria or at least reduce their ability to replicate. Administered orally, topically or by injection, antibiotics are commonly used by veterinarians to treat a vast array of bacteria-caused feline health problems, including salmonellosis, tuberculosis and bacterial hepatitis, as well as infections resulting from bite wounds, which, notes Dr. Michael Stone, DVM, are the most commonly observed causes of bacterial infections occurring in cats.

The average cat has about two ounces of blood coursing through her arteries, veins and capillaries for every two pounds of body weight. Like human blood, feline blood is a blend of red cells (erythrocytes); white cells (leukocytes); tiny disk-shaped bodies called platelets; and a colorless fluid (plasma) in which these components and other life-supporting ingredients - such as hormones, proteins and salts - are suspended.

Digestive system disorders in general are among the most frequently observed health problems in cats. Many of these disorders may be directly associated with organs such as the liver, pancreas and gall bladder, all of which play a crucial role in the digestive process. Many others, however, may arise in the alimentary canal, the long tube leading from a cats mouth and extending the full length of the animals body.

Your cat Dotty is typically a big eater, showing up excitedly at feeding time each day and gobbling up every bit of food in her bowl. For the past day or so, however, her behavior has changed dramatically. She seems to be hungry enough … but when she spots her food, Dotty just sniffs at it and walks away. If thats the case, youd be well advised to take her to your veterinarian without delay.

Did you know that cat owners take their cats to the vet less often than they take their dogs, not to mention less often than dog owners take their dogs? In fact, over the last two years, the disparity has gotten even worse. I recommend that you take your cat to a vet for medical checkups and teeth-cleanings as often as your vet recommends, but at least once a year, and certainly any time your…