Archive for May, 2007
Constipated Cats
Constipation means having a problem defecating and it normally comes about when an abnormal accumulation of the feces occurs. Unfortunately there are several common ways that this can occur in cats. Sometimes a serious complication cats suffer from obstipation when the colon is completely blocked by fecal matter. Not surprising this condition is painful and it can and does cause behavioral problems, the cats associates the litter tray with pain, and even the most fastidious of cats will try and avoid it and try to use another area to go to the toilet. Â Another condition is megacolon when the nerves or the muscles of the colon have suffered damage.
Anatomically a cats colon is in the same position as it is in humans it forms part of the gastrointestinal tract leading upwards from the rectum.
The tract itself contains bacteria, which finish the digestion of protein acids, in doing so they produce what is termed as short chain fatty acids. These fatty acids should lubricate the colon by secreting a mucous which is intended to allow the smooth and pain free passage of the stool.
Normally a constipated cat will not defecate every day it may be once every three to four days or even less. When it does defecate the matter that is expelled is very hard and dry and without any obvious lubrication. However sometimes diarrhea is a sign of constipation, though this sounds impossible it happens when the blockage prevents any solid matter from coming out but the liquid can get through.
In general the drier the diet that the cat eats the harder the resultant stool will be, some cases will develop constipation when they are fed a wet diet but it is rarer. Some cats need more fiber in their diets as it is fiber that controls how mobile the food the stool is going to be as it works it way through the colon. It can either slow things down or accelerate the process. A change of diet usually cures constipation but sometimes when a cat needs more fiber pumpkins and squash can be a healthy additive to the diet. Water is another essential part of the digestion process nothing can be digested without water. Exercise aids digestion for cats the more they move the less likely they are to suffer from digestive problems.
Be on the lookout for signs of constipation in cats because whatever is causing it is best treated sooner rather than later.
This entry was submitted by Abigayle Turner, she’s also a author on Spot mail and Smuge. Abigayle is fast becoming an authority on DiamondTome london.
As animal age they lose their full reasoning powers and cognitive factors as do humans. Certainly, they slow down and they are not as fast to respond to outside stimuli. Although this is can be obvious in dogs, it does affect cats as well, even though it is often harder to spot. There are two reasons for this it is a slower and far more gradual process in cats, and it is not always noticed. Sometimes there is a change in the cats behaviour.
Once this occurs, it is advisable to seek veterinarian advice because cats are more at risk of infection and as they age, they take longer to heal and respond to medication. Cats can have urinary infections and they cannot control the bladder as they used to. Often the urine seeps out as they sleep. If they have a level of incontinence or they are urinating more often, they may be suffering from diabetes or kidney infections. These can be treated in the early stages.
It is important to remember as cat’s age their dietary requirements do change.The expression fat cat is often a caricature but cats can get fatter as they exercise less and bask in the sun more. Prolonged over feeding also starts to pile on excessive pound when coupled with reduced exercise. This increases the cats chances of suffering a heart disease.
Special food for the elderly cat does help to offset these problems a little and they will certainly help to control the cat’s weight as they advance into what should be hopefully a healthy age. Cats are no different from humans they do more veterinarian care as they age.
This post was written by Edward Waddingham. Edward is also one of the primary writer for Spot-mail and has published many articles to do with IPL skin rejuvenation clinic.
Gastric Dilation-Volvulus (GDV), or bloat. New facts as to the possible cause
Author: admin
Gastric Dilation-Volvulus (GDV), or bloat is serious for a dog; the stomach can fill with gas because the dog has gulped in air, or the stomach is blocked. Whilst everyone has heard of bloat it can kill your dog in half an hour because the gases make the stomach turn - anything from ninety degrees to 360, which is a full circle. It is capable of killing an otherwise healthy animal in thirty minutes unless the correct action is taken immediately.
The symptoms you may see is a bloated abdomen, sudden weakness, collapse, attempt to vomit or actual vomiting. It used to be said that a vegetarian diet encouraged bloat. However in 2006 The Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association reported that feeding a dog vegetables does not increase the risk of bloat. Dogs are not carnivores they need vegetables in their diet.
Large dogs are more at risk of bloat than the smaller breeds. JAAHA investigated whether or not there was a link cereal and Soya protein based dry foods. They were working on the premise that a decreasing number of animal to protein ingredients among the first four ingredients in dry dog food aggravated the condition.
Using food label information, they tested 85 GDV cases and 194 dogs as a control eating a single brand and variety of dry food. They concluded that it did not increase the risk of bloat. However a by product of the study was that dry foods that list fats as one of the most predominant ingredients can trigger a higher incidence of GDV in dogs that have a high risk of suffering from bloat. In simple English, the foods, which contain animal fat or sunflower oil amongst the top four ingredients, were associated with a higher risk of bloat, often doubling the risk.
The cause of this is less clear though there is a certain amount of unsupported speculation that the weight of the fat in the food as a ratio weighs down the stomach and causes the ligaments to distend.
This entry was written by Alex Triplett. Alex is the main contributor on Comedy hogwash and has been quoted often concerning oak windows.
Heart worm is a parasitic disease, predominantly affecting dogs but also occurring in cats, it is caused by Dirofilaria immitis. Infective larvae or microfilariae develop in mosquitoes, and are transmitted to dogs when they are bitten. In dogs, they develop and migrate to the right side of the heart, where they mature. Adult worms attain lengths of 17–27 cm (7–11 inches), and they can survive for three to five years in the heart. As the number of heartworms in the dog's heart increases, the blood flow is compromised, and the animal shows signs of respiratory distress when it runs or exercises.
A dog may tolerate as many as 100 worms with minimal health problems unless it has excess stress. However whilst you cannot stop the dog bei8ng bitten in recent years drugs can stop the infected larvae developing in the dog. Treatment is more difficult as fragments of dead worms break off and can block the lung vessels and cause respiratory distress. Diagnosis is an X ray of the heart and lungs, an antigen test, and examination of a blood sample for microfilariae produced by adult females.
Cats can also be infected by Dirofilaria larvae. They do not tolerate a large worm load, and a single worm can be life-threatening.
This entry was written by Myra Price, she is a contributor to Bratling . Myra is fast becoming an online authority on eyelid surgery . Read her blog here.
The mosquito serves as the intermediate host for the larval stage of the heartworm. The mosquito ingests the larva when it bites an infected dog and deposits its cargo in an uninfected dog when seeking another blood meal.
The larva burrows into the dog and undergo several changes to reach adult form, then travel to the right side of the heart through a vein and await the opportunity to reproduce. Adult heartworms can reach 12 inches in length and can remain in the dog’s heart for several years.
Dogs can have some larva in their blood and worms in their lungs without manifesting the disease. Once the number of worms exceeds a certain number based on the size and activity level of the dog, however, the adult worms move to the heart and symptoms begin to occur. Very active dogs may experience symptoms with lower numbers of worms than couch-potato dogs.
The time lag between the initial infestation of larva and reproduction by adult worms living in the heart is six-to-seven months in dogs.
Female heartworms bear live young – thousands of them in a day. These young circulate in the bloodstream for as long as three years, waiting to hitch a ride in a bloodsucking mosquito. They undergo changes in the mosquito that prepare them to infect a dog, and they transfer back to the original host species the next time the mosquito bites. The process of change in the mosquito takes about 10 days in warm climates, but can take six weeks in colder temperatures.
The worms grow and multiply, infesting the chambers on the right side of the heart and the arteries in the lungs. They can also lodge in the veins of the liver and the veins entering the heart. The first sign of heartworm infestation may not manifest for a year after infection, and even then the soft cough that increases with exercise may be dismissed as unimportant by the owner.
But the cough worsens and the dog may actually faint from exertion; he tires easily, is weak and listless, loses weight and condition, and may cough up blood. Breathing becomes more difficult as the disease progresses. The progression is traumatic: the dog’s quality of life diminishes drastically and he can no longer retrieve a Frisbee or take a long walk in the park without respiratory distress. Congestive heart failure ensues, and the once-active, outgoing pet is in grave danger.
Heartworms can be detected by blood test.
If a blood test or the onset of symptoms alert owner and veterinarian to the presence of this devastating parasite, treatment is possible and successful if the disease has not progressed too far.
Surgical removal of the adult heartworms is possible and may be indicated in advanced cases with heart involvement.
Preventive doses come in oral and topical versions and are only available from a veterinarian.
This entry was written by Dakota Sawbridge, she is a contributor to Idle tymes and CoffeePop. Dakota is fast becoming an authority on omnilux. Read her online journal here.
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the tissue lining the eyelids and attaching to the eyeball near the cornea. The tissue can become irritated due to allergies caused by pollens, grasses, or such. Viruses, bacteria, or fungi can also be the culprit.
If the white part of the eyeball is inflamed as well, this condition is occasionally referred to as “pink eye”.
Symptoms
Both allergies and infections cause a severe redness or 'meaty' appearance of the conjunctiva. Fluid build-up and an increase in the size and number of blood vessels within the tissue are the reasons. Either allergies or infections cause the eye to discharge.
The consistency of the discharge often helps determine its cause. Usually infections caused by bacteria or fungi, can create a thick yellow or greenish eye discharge. The eyelids sometimes stick together. Allergies, on the other hand, cause a clear or watery discharge. Regardless of the cause, a cat with conjunctivitis will often squint and/or keep the third eyelid partially covering the eyeball. Conjunctivitis is often painful, causing a cat to paw at or rub the eye against objects such as your leg or the carpet.
Treatment
All cases of conjunctivitis should be treated at once. A culture and sensitivity test may be necessary to determine if bacteria are the cause, and if so, what medication should be used for treatment. Scrapings of the conjunctiva can be made and examined to test for various viral infections.
Eye drops or ointments are usually the drugs of choice. Eye drops are watery solutions that must be applied every few hours, while ointments last longer and are usually only applied two to three times per day.
This post was written by Addison Jamieson, she regularly writes for Pet Haven and Pretty Gritty Blog. Addison is slowly becoming an authority on insurance pet. Read her blog here.