CAT HEALTH & MEDICINE

Feline claws were designed by nature to serve many purposes. They enable a cat to scale a tree trunk, for example, or to maintain her grip on a slender branch, or to seize prey. An outdoor cat will use her claws to conceal her scent from predators by scratching dirt over a spot where she has urinated or defecated. Even an indoor cat who doesnt rely on her claws for hunting and climbing will devote time each day to keeping them clean and in good condition.

As a feline veterinarian, I perform dozens of physical examinations every week. Every veterinarian performs the physical exam in his or her own style, making sure to evaluate all body systems thoroughly. Assessment of the lymph nodes is unquestionably a part of every veterinarians physical exam.

Inflammation and enlargement of the lymph nodes is a common finding in companion animals. Infection is a common cause of lymph node enlargement. Cancer is also a common reason for lymph node enlargement. Below are the names and locations of the more common feline lymph nodes.

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.

Discovery of blood in the feces when cleaning the litter box is one of the more common reasons for concerned cat owners to bring their cat to the veterinarian. When cats bleed from the large intestine or colon, it is beyond the point where digestion occurs, and any blood associated with the feces appears red.

Most cat owners will agree that taking a trip to the veterinarians office can be a stressful experience for both the cat and the owner. Simply getting the cat into the carrier often ends up in a huge battle of wills - often leaving the cat frightened and extremely anxious.

Diabetes mellitus is on the rise among cats in the United States, according to a survey of clinics nationwide - an increase that has been correlated with a rise in obesity. Although its hard to draw definitive conclusions from the results of the survey, theres no question that feline weight control is a key to preventing this chronic disease. …

Urine test strips: When blood glucose levels get too high, the glucose overflows into the urine. Test strips that are color coded for different glucose levels are readily available over the counter at human pharmacies or at veterinary clinics. Some of these strips also measure ketones, compounds that appear in the urine when glucose levels remain dangerously high for a long time. …

If your typically healthy, playful cat suddenly becomes lethargic and suffers frequent bouts of sneezing and sniffling, theres a good chance that shes come down with what might be called a bad cold. If thats the case, its quite possible that the cause of her discomfort is infection with the feline calicivirus (FCV), which is diagnosed in an estimated 40 to 50 percent of cats with upper respiratory illness. …

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is one of the most common illnesses of geriatric cats. It is estimated that 35 percent of cats over the age of 13 suffer from CKD, and the incidence appears to be increasing. Unless the underlying cause of the initial kidney injury is discovered and treated, CKD invariably progresses. …

Just like humans and dogs, cats are also susceptible to glaucoma - an incurable condition in which the watery fluid contained in the front part of the eye is unable to drain normally. The resulting accumulation of this fluid exerts pressure within the entire eye, eventually causing permanent damage to the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. …

Expiration dates on pet food QI recently bought several large bags of a high-quality cat food on sale at our local pet store. Unfortunately, I just realized that the best by date has been passed by a couple of months on two of the bags (the third bags date is okay). …