This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
Do you know somebody who suffers from arthritis? Chances are that you have a friend or relative with joint problems. But what about your cat? Senior cats are at risk for developing arthritis and it is relatively common. Luckily there are a wide variety of treatment options that can help alleviate your cat’s discomfort from laser therapy to supplements.
Just like us, cats often suffer from progressive and degenerative joint ailments like osteoarthritis (OA) as they age. The disorder is marked by a deterioration of the cartilage that cushions the cat’s joints. This results in inflammation, pain, worsening damage, and changes in and around the affected joint.
There are two types of OA: primary and secondary. Primary means that the cause is typically normal wear and tear on the joints as a result of the aging process. Secondary means that the OA is the result of injuries or abnormalities such tumors.
Unfortunately, many cat parents and vets are not aware that kitties can come down with OA, making the disorder one of the most underdiagnosed feline diseases. Cats older than 10Â years of age are at increased risk.
What causes osteoarthritis?
It is not entirely clear what causes primary OA in cats. Some breeds just seem to be more genetically predisposed to having joint problems. For example, Maine Coons, Persians and Siamese are more likely to suffer from abnormal development of the hip joints (also known as hip dysplasia). Similarly, Abyssinians and Devon Rexes are at greater risk of having patella luxation or dislocation of the kneecap.
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
Anemia can be a serious concern for feline patients, and typically is indicative of a much larger issue. The causes of feline anemia vary in origin, but it is essential to determine the root cause in order to effectively treat the anemia. If you notice symptoms of anemia in your furry friend, always contact your veterinarian immediately — don’t wait!
What is anemia?
Though not a disease in and of itself, anemia is a very serious condition that results from any of a number of different underlying disorders. A cat with anemia has fewer circulating red blood cells (RBCs), less hemoglobin (HB) or in some cases, reduced quantities of both. The condition ultimately deprives the kitty’s body of oxygen, because RBCs and HB are responsible for delivering oxygen to its cells and tissues.
Anemia can occur either due to a more rapid loss of existing RBCs and HB or the decreased production of new ones. As a result, anemia is generally classified as either regenerative or non-regenerative. In the first case, RBCs deplete too quickly or die too soon. In the second, the bone marrow does not produce a sufficient amount of replacement RBCs.
What causes anemia?
Because anemia is more of a secondary condition than a primary disease, the causes of it are diverse. In general, the diseases that cause anemia can be grouped into three distinct categories:
1. Those that cause blood loss. Said bleeding can result from trauma or injury to the cat’s blood vessels or internal organs, severe infestations by fleas, ticks or other parasites, tumors in the kitty’s intestinal tract, kidneys or bladder, or diseases that inhibit blood clotting.
2. Those that cause the breakdown and destruction of RBCs. This process, which is known as hemolysis, can be caused by autoimmune diseases, feline leukemia, the ingestion of chemicals or toxins, or neoplasia. Read More
This is a sponsored post by Elizabeth Argeulles, veterinarian and owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza.
As a cat owner, one of the most important things to pay attention to in your cat is how much and how often they eat. It can be very indicative of your cat’s overall health and how they are feeling in general. When cats don’t eat enough, it can lead to serious liver disease and other complications. Hepatic lipidosis (HL) or fatty liver disease can be very dangerous in cats of all ages if not treated quickly.
What is hepatic lipidosis?
When a cat stops or drastically reduces its food intake, the body starts breaking down fat reserves to make up for the lost energy and nutrients. Unfortunately, the kitty’s liver is not designed to process so much fat so quickly. As a result, the fat gets stored in the areas surrounding the liver and compromises the liver’s natural functions.
Yellow pigments then collect in the cat’s blood and tissues, leading to a jaundiced appearance. When cats begin to have a jaundiced appearance, it is very important to have them examined and treated as soon as possible because it can be a life-threatening condition.
What causes hepatic lipidosis?
Typically, a drastic drop in food intake is the most common cause of fatty liver disease, but it’s important to remember it’s only secondary to the bigger question of why did your kitty stop eating. In some cases, it can be due to environmental stresses like a change in diet, a recent move, or introducing a new baby or pet in the house. Talk to your vet about any potential stresses that could have occurred in house.
In addition to stress and changes, there are several disorders that can lead to fatty liver disease, such as liver disease, cancer, diabetes, pancreatitis, and chronic kidney disease.
What are the signs and symptoms?
HL is a somewhat unique condition, in that the most important signs manifest themselves before the onset of the disease itself. Those signs include things like a refusal to eat, rapid weight loss, consuming less food than normal, or suddenly becoming a finicky eater. You should also notate other behaviors that could be contributing like vomiting, diarrhea, or even constipation.
Always schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as you realize your cat is not eating enough. Once you start to see symptoms like yellowing of the eyes, drooling, and/or tilting of the head or neck, it is important to get to a veterinarian right away. These symptoms are considered potentially life threatening and require treatment immediately.
How is hepatic lipidosis diagnosed?
If you notice any of the symptoms associated with this disorder, please bring your cat to the veterinarian immediately. He or she will determine your cat’s liver functions based on blood tests and in some cases, through a biopsy or fine needle aspiration. The latter is typically done by inserting a needle into the liver through the skin. The liver sample is then sent to a veterinary pathologist to be analyzed. A cat with HL will have a large quantity of fat in and around the liver cells.
How is hepatic lipidosis treated?
Fortunately, HL is not fatal if the disease is treated with aggressive nutritional support until the cat’s appetite returns to normal. A consistent and continuous high level of nutrition is required before the liver can resume its normal function and mobilize the excess fat. This process could take up to 6-8 weeks.
You can also treat your cat at home using a feeding tube. Your veterinarian will place the tube into your cat so that you can syringe-feed a special diet directly into your cat multiple times a day. While feeding tubes can seem like a scary step, most cats respond very well to the tubes and it can be extremely helpful for them as they heal.
While many cats do recover from HL, it’s important to remember that if the HL is the result of another underlying condition, it’s crucial to treat that disorder as well.
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
As cat parents, keeping our feline friends happy and healthy is a top priority. And we know that good health starts with proper nutrition and a well-balanced diet. But a trip to the pet store can leave us baffled by a dizzying array of choices. “Organic” vs. “all-natural.” “Chicken meal” vs. “chicken products.”
So many different brands and choices with varying protein and nutrition – how can you know what’s best?
Fortunately, there are ways to cut through the fluff of nutrition labels. For starters, the most important thing to look for is the protein content. Remember, cats are carnivorous. Though carbohydrates can be a good source of short-term energy, a feline’s diet should primarily consist of protein-rich foods like chicken, beef, or seafood. But how do you figure out how protein or carbohydrates a food actually has?
Begin by examining the first three ingredients listed on the label. Most pet food companies list the ingredients based on their weight, starting with the heaviest. If protein-rich foods appear near the top of the list, you’re in good shape.
Be warned, however, that water weight can make the rankings misleading in some cases. Chicken, for example, often contains a high percentage of water, which obviously lowers the protein content. This also affects the concentrations of protein in wet and dry foods. The moisture content in the former may be as high as 80 percent, whereas dry food may be as low as 10 percent. So just remember a protein concentration of 8 percent means different things in wet and dry foods.
The next thing to look for is any guarantees or certifications regarding the nutritional content.
For example, check if the label mentions a mandatory guarantee analysis. This ensures that the food contains the labeled percentages of crude protein, fat, fiber and moisture. Don’t be put off by the term “crude,” though. It simply refers to how the product is tested. Another thing to look for is a statement on the packaging that reads: “[Brand name] is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the [Association of American Feeding Control Officials] AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for [life stage/age of cat].”
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now
As cat parents, we’ve all been there. Your veterinarian prescribes oral medication for your kitty, and you leave the clinic happy that your feline friend is getting some much-needed treatment.
On the way home, however, you start to wonder how you are going to get the pills or drops in your cat. You remember your past experiences: the food left uneaten after medications have been mixed in or sprinkled on top, the wrestling matches and the gooey pills spit up on the floor, the time spent trying to coax your kitty out of its hiding place when it’s time for its medication. You wonder if there’s an easier way.
Fortunately, there is! Getting cats to take pills or drops will never be hiccup-free, of course, but there are a lot of things you can do to make the whole process smoother and less stressful for you both. For starters, you can try to train you kitty to be more receptive to taking its medication. Here are some relatively easy steps to take:
First, talk to your veterinarian or pharmacist about whether the medication can be compounded into a flavored liquid or even chewable flavored treats. Flavors usually include chicken, tuna, or beef.
Encourage your cat to sit in a place that it likes, such as on a favorite blanket or near its food dish. To do this, give it one of its favorite treats when it approaches one of its spots. Before long, it will to those places every time you get near. Read More
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now
Did you know that cats can develop diabetes? While diabetes mellitus, a disorder of the pancreas, can develop in cats at any age, male cats over the age of 8 are predisposed. The pancreas is composed of two very different types of cells that have very different functions. The first type is the manufacture of enzymes that ensure that food is properly digested. The second type is the production of insulin, one of the body’s most important hormones.
Insulin is critical to the healthy functioning of the body because it regulates blood sugar levels. After a cat eats, its digestive system breaks the food into various nutritional components. At this point, the insulin steps in to transport glucose to the body’s cells. A diabetic cat either cannot produce sufficient amounts of insulin or is not able to utilize it normally to collect glucose. As a result, the kitty’s blood sugar is not properly regulated causing a multitude of health concerns.
How common is diabetes in cats?
Diabetes mellitus is the second most common endocrine disease affecting cats. Approximately one in four hundred cats suffer from some form of the disease. Obesity is a predisposing factor, and diabetes is more commonly seen in middle-aged and older cats. The number of cases is increasing each year due in part to the increase in overweight cats.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
There are four classical signs of diabetes mellitus to watch out for: ravenous eating, weight loss despite the higher food intake, increased water consumption and more frequent urination. If you notice these symptoms, please take your cat to the vet as soon as possible.
Cats that have undiagnosed diabetes can suffer from “diabetic episodes” which can be life threatening. If your cat ever has an unsteady or wobbled gait or collapses, get to an emergency vet or your regular vet immediately — don’t wait! Read More
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
Did you know that your cat can suffer from many of the same eye issues that affect you?
Eye infections caused by bacteria or viruses are very common in cats and can be painful. But with early detection, many eye issues are treatable. When left untreated, simple eye problems can worsen and damage the eye further. If you observe any abnormal eye symptoms, always contact your veterinarian immediately.
How can you tell if your cat has eye troubles?
The first step is to conduct a visual inspection of your cat’s eyes. They should be clear and bright, and the area around the eyeball should be white – be sure to note any reddish or irritation. Your kitty’s pupils should be equal in size. Ensure that the eyes are free from any discharge, especially yellowish or greenish mucous or any sort of thick crustiness. Check eyes for signs of inflammation or any swelling. If any of these symptoms are noted, please contact your veterinarian immediately. Read More
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
Most cats typically have one healthy bowel movement a day, so if your cat suddenly stops going “number two” for a couple of days, that may be an indication that he or she is constipated.
Constipation is a condition in which a cat’s bowels become blocked, making its movements less frequent and more difficult. It is one of the most common health problems that can affect a cat’s digestive system. This is especially true for middle-aged and older felines.
Though constipation can often be relieved by simply loosening the dry, hardened stool that is blocking your cat’s colon, the condition can also indicate a more serious underlying health problem. For this reason, you should talk your vet if you notice any signs that your cat is constipated.
Even when the cause is relatively benign, there is a danger that the colon will become packed with large amounts of stool if left untreated. This can result in the swelling of your cat’s colon and lead to the loss of the colon’s motility. And the bottom line is that whatever the cause, constipation is painful to your cat and needs to be addressed quickly.
What are the signs that your cat is suffering from constipation?
- Small, dry, hard stools that may be spotted with in mucous or blood
- Â Straining or wincing in pain when trying to use the litter box
- Frequent and frantic trips to the bathroom that still do not result in a bowel movement
- Loss of appetite
- Signs of abdominal discomfort
- Lack of grooming
- Â Vomiting
- Â Lethargy
What causes constipation? Read More
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
Once you’ve determined your cat has allergies, what’s next? In this week’s article, we’ll talk about options to help treat your cat’s specific allergies, and not just treat the symptoms. By treating the root cause, you can help your cat start to feel better and even improve their quality of life. Effective treatments include immunotherapy and environmental control.
Just to review, when your cat is allergic to something, it means that its immune system has become sensitive to that substance. Common allergens can include dust mites, storage mites, fleas, pollen, cleaning agents and plants.
 What is immunotherapy?
One of the best and most effective ways to treat allergies is immunotherapy. In fact, many veterinarians believe it’s the only true way to treat the condition because it targets the root causes instead of just treating the symptoms.
Immunotherapy works by gradually changing the immune system’s reaction to the allergens. It works by increasing the amounts and concentrations of the allergies with each dose administered. Immunotherapy can be given as subcutaneous injections or as oral drops.
How does the vet determine what allergies your cat has?
Determining what your cat is allergic to is best assessed through the environmental allergy panel we’ve discussed in previous articles. The blood work specifically measures the allergen specific IgE to determine which environmental components your cat is sensitive to. Just like with people, skin testing and exposure to allergens can be done in cats, but typically the blood sample is easier for your furry friend and typically more accurate. Read More
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
Food allergies are fairly common in cats, and it’s suggested that about 10 percent of all feline allergies are caused by food. Only flea and environmental allergens are known to cause more reactions. While many food allergies or intolerances present with typical gastrointestinal symptoms, many cause skin related reactions like itching and scratching.
Food allergies can show up in cats as young as five months old and in those as old as 12. Typically allergies will start when the cat is between the ages of two and six.
The most common foods that cause allergies in cats are chicken, fish, corn, wheat and soy. Though allergies to beef, pork, dairy products and eggs are not as common, cats can still develop adverse reactions to those items. Cats can become overly sensitive to the foods that they are most frequently fed.
Symptoms:
It can important to distinguish between a food intolerance and food allergies. Symptoms vary for both but the symptoms of an allergic reaction are typically more severe including:
- A very itchy rash on the head, neck or back
- Unexplained hair loss
- Excessive grooming creating bald spots or sores
- Red and inflamed ears
- Chin acne
In addition to these symptoms, other common symptoms of food allergies and food intolerances are:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea or soft stools
- Weight loss
Diagnosis:
As in the case of environmental allergies, many of these symptoms could also be caused by other factors. Your veterinarian will likely discuss diagnostics including lab work to rule out other underlying diseases or conditions.
Once your vet has determined that there are no other potential causes, he or she will usually recommend feeding your cat a prescription protein or hydrolyzed diet for 12 weeks without any flavored medication or treats.
Hydrolyzed diets are those in which proteins and carbohydrates are broken down into such small particles that they no longer trigger allergies. They are specifically called “hydrolyzed protein” diets. Limited protein diets are diets that feature only select novel proteins that aren’t as familiar to your cat like duck, venison, or rabbit. However many of these diets still contain other potential allergens like corn, wheat or soy.
Your vet might also run a food allergy blood panel that can test for common food allergies, but veterinarians will frequently recommend the trial diet instead. While opinion of the accuracy of food allergy blood panels vary amongst veterinarians, it can be beneficial in some cases. Typically, it is more cost effective to try the diet trials.
The goal in diet elimination trials is to find a food that your cat not only likes and will eat regularly, but one that does not cause any reaction. Diet elimination trials take dedication from the owner and the cat to ensure no other treats, flavors, or foods are introduced during the period. Even the smallest crumb can potentially cause a reaction.
Cats suffering from food allergies or intolerances typically do very well once the allergens are removed from the diet.
Next week, we will talk about another allergy treatment option: immunotherapy shots or oral drops.
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
Did you know that cats can suffer from environmental allergies? Understanding what your cat is allergic to can help you to limit their exposure to these allergens and improve their quality of life and comfort. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be writing how to define and diagnose allergies, how to identify different types, and how to prevent and treat them.
What is an allergy?
An allergy means that your cat’s immune system has become more sensitive to certain everyday substances and, as a result, has started to identify them as dangerous. Allergens might include pollens, animal dander, mold spores, dust mites and even certain foods. Most of these are found throughout your house or yard, but they are not usually harmful to cats or other animals. However, if your kitty is allergic to any of them, its body will try to rid itself of the offending substance and show moderate to severe adverse reactions in response.
What are the most common allergens found in your home?
Fleas are amongst the most common allergens. Prescription drugs, perfumes and air fresheners, cleaning products, cigarette smoke, fabrics, rubber and plastic materials are other frequent causes of allergies in cats.
In addition to those, your cat could be sensitive to various trees, grasses, weeds, dust mites, storage mites or pollens.
What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?
- Â Sneezing, coughing or wheezing (if the cat has asthma)
- Itchy skin/increased scratching or over-grooming
- Itchy or runny eyes
- Â Itchy back or base of the tail. The latter can be an indicator of flea allergies.
- Sores on the body from excessive scratching
- Scratching ears and possible infections
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Snoring caused by blocked nasal passages or an inflammation of the throat
- Unexplained hair loss
With repeated exposure to the allergens, your cat may over time experience changes in its skin texture and/or unexplained hair loss.
Unfortunately, most of these symptoms are not exclusive to allergic reactions. Your veterinarian will likely first run blood work and other diagnostic tests to rule out other conditions or diseases that could be causing the symptoms, including parasites (fleas, lice, mites, as well as intestinal parasites), bacterial and yeast infections of the skin, and some metabolic diseases.
Once it has been established that your cat is not suffering from any other diseases, your vet may check for allergies with an intradermal skin test or with an environmental allergy blood panel. If you opt to do the environmental allergy blood panel, your vet can discuss immunotherapy shots or oral drops that can be compounded for your cat to treat their specific allergies.
Treating environmental allergies also takes a big commitment from the owner. Depending on what your cat is environmentally allergic to, you’ll need to reduce or eliminate the allergens that affect your cat in your home which could include certain cleaning or air freshening products, storage mites, or dust mites.
Food allergies are typically diagnosed by feeding your cat a prescription limited protein or hydrolyzed diet for 12 weeks without any flavored medication or treats. There is also a food allergy blood panel that can test for common food allergies, but frequently veterinarians will recommend the diet trial instead. Next week we’ll go into more detail about limited ingredient diets, hydrolyzed proteins, and food allergy testing.
Talk to your veterinarian about whether your cat could benefit from allergy testing. It can be helpful to know what your cat is environmentally allergic to so you can better understand how to control the symptoms and hopefully improve the quality of life for your furry companion.
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
Halloween is fun for kids and adults, but it can be a dangerous day for cats. With increased traffic on the streets, noisy children that could scare your cat and lit pumpkins and decorations, Halloween poses additional risk to our furry family members. But with proper care and preparation, your cat can safely spend Halloween with the rest of your family.
Take these easy steps to keep your cat safe on Halloween:
- If your cat is an indoor/outdoor cat, make sure you start keeping it indoors several days before Halloween. It may take a while for your feline to adjust to staying inside, so it’s good to give it some time to get acclimatized.
- Whether your cat goes outside or is indoor-only, ensure it is in a separate room on Halloween night and away from activities. Of course, make sure that your feline has food, water, a litter box and everything else it might need. Being cooped up will be easier for your kitty if the room is a “safe zone,” complete with its favorite toy, treat or blanket. Feliway air diffusers might also help to calm your cat down. Be sure to visit the cat frequently so it does not feel punished.
- If you cannot confine your cat to a separate room, make sure it does not dart out when opening the door for trick-or-treaters. If your cat gets outside on a night with increased noise and activity, it may be difficult to get it back inside. Just in case, make sure your cat has proper identification. If your cat does escape, a collar with a tag and/or microchip can increase the chances it will be returned unharmed. Make sure your information associated with the microchip is current
- Keep your cat away from any bowls of Halloween candy. Chocolates of any kind, but especially the dark or baking varieties, can be fatal to cats. Candies that contain the artificial sweetener Xylitol can also cause problems. If you suspect your cat or any pets in your household have ingested anything toxic, please contact the ASPCA poison control hotline at 1-888-426-4435 and your veterinarian immediately.
- Popular Halloween decorations like pumpkins, candles or fake spider webs can be hazardous to your cat. Lit candles can be a burn hazard for a curious cat and a potential fire hazard for your home if your cat knocks it over. Substitute real candles with artificial candles that use batteries to create the same spooky effect without the additional risk. Additionally, anything that dangles is a potential hazard to your cat. Whether it’s fake spider webs, a string of lights or other hanging decorations, remember to keep it out of reach of your cat to prevent accidents or ingestion.
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common disease in both humans and cats. The condition is defined as occurring when the cat’s blood pressure is consistently higher than normal. Generally, that means above 175 mmHg. Hypertension most frequently affects older cats, and results from other underlying medical conditions. Chronic kidney disease is often such a cause, but there are also other diseases that can trigger hypertension, including hyperthyroidism and heart disease.
What are the clinical signs of hypertension?
In many cats, there are no signs until the hypertension has become quite severe. When the condition reaches that point, abnormalities in the cat’s vision are the most common indicators. Examples of these include dilated pupils that do not constrict with light, blood in the eye chambers and/or blindness.
It may seem odd that blindness is a symptom of high blood pressure, but the loss of vision happens when the hypertension causes the retina to detach from the cat’s eye. Owners often notice that their cat is vocalizing oddly, restless or seems stressed, and even that they seem to be suffering from sudden blindness.
When the hypertension results from other underlying conditions, such as heart, thyroid or kidney disease, the symptoms could include increased water intake, increased urination, vomiting and weight loss.
What are the effects of hypertension on organs?
If left untreated for a long time, high blood pressure damages a cat’s organs, especially those that are considered more vulnerable than others. Those include:
- The brain and nervous system: Hypertension can cause bleeding in these areas of the body, which can lead to neurological symptoms such as wobbly gait, dementia, seizures or coma.
- The eyes: As mentioned above, high blood pressure can cause changes to and even detachment of the retina. This may result in sudden blindness.
- The heart: Because the heart has to work harder to pump blood, the muscle may thicken over time. In very severe cases, this could result in heart failure and difficulty breathing.
- The kidneys: In addition to being a symptom of chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure can increase the risk of developing kidney failure. The small blood vessels in the kidney cannot withstand the high pressure and become increasingly damaged.
How is feline hypertension diagnosed?
Because hypertension is only apparent at more serious stages, such as the sudden onset of blindness or neurological abnormalities, it is important to be proactive and get your cat’s blood pressure checked regularly. If your cat is older than 7 years old, the checks should be performed twice a year. In cats suffering from chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism or heart disease, blood pressure should also be carefully assessed and monitored.
How is hypertension treated?
After determining that your cat is suffering from hypertension, your vet will try to address any complications that have occurred. He or she will then assess whether the high blood pressure is caused by another disease. If the hypertension is due to an underlying disease such as chronic kidney failure, treatment of the main disease may also help control the high blood pressure.
If the hypertension is not secondary, anti-hypertensive drugs will likely be prescribed for your cat. Once your cat is on anti-hypertensive drugs, your vet will closely monitor its blood pressure and watch for any changes to its eyes.
What is the prognosis for hypertension?
Most cats with hypertension will need long-term therapy and management. If the hypertension is not caused by any underlying disease, it is usually possible to manage and control the high blood pressure and prevent further damage to organs. If the hypertension is caused by an underlying disease, the long-term prognosis depends on what kind and how severe the disease is.
For more information please visit our Feline Health Library, petMD and this guide to feline chronic kidney disease.
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease affecting cats that is caused by certain strains of the feline coronavirus.
Though it can occur in any cat, it is most common in cats younger than two. Most strains of the coronavirus do not cause the disease, and most infected cats do not show any symptoms. This is because the development of viral antibodies often triggers an immune response.
But in about 5 to 10 percent of infected cats, the virus mutates into a more harmful form that causes FIP. When this happens, the white blood cells are infected with the virus and transport it throughout the cat’s body, causing an intense inflammatory reaction in the tissues where the infected cells are located. These are often in the abdomen, kidneys or brain.
How do cats become infected with the feline coronavirus?
Though it is not clear how most cats become infected with the virus, direct contact between cats is the most likely method of transmission. Biting insects such as fleas may also spread this virus.
Because the feline coronavirus is present in the infected cat’s blood in the early stages, it may be shed in the urine and feces even when the cat shows no clinical symptoms. The virus does not survive longer than 24 to 36 hours in normal weather, so transmission via clothing or other objects is also only possible within a few hours of contact.
What are the clinical signs and symptoms of FIP?
There are two major types of FIP, a noneffusive or dry form and an effusive or wet form. In general, cats will exhibit the symptoms of the noneffusive form more slowly. Those symptoms include chronic weight loss, anemia, lethargy, and a persistent fever that does not respond to medication.
In the effusive form of FIP, there might be an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen or the chest. Early on, the symptoms may be similar to those of the dry form. But the wet form of the disease often progresses more quickly, and the cat may seem potbellied due to the excessive fluid accumulation in the abdomen. And when there is excessive fluid accumulation, the cat may have difficulty breathing.
How is FIP diagnosed?
Unfortunately, there is no simple diagnostic test. The ELISA, IFA and virus neutralization tests detect the presence of the coronavirus antibodies in a cat, but they are not able to determine which strain is affecting the feline. So a positive result only means that the cat has been previously exposed to the virus.
These tests determine the antibody titer, so the higher the number, the greater the amount of antibodies. But a healthy cat with a high titer is not necessarily more likely to develop FIP than one with a low titer.
Other tests, such as the immuneperoxidase, detect the cells in tissues infected by the virus with the help of a biopsy.
Another antigen test uses a polymerase chain reaction to detect the virus in the tissues or body fluids, but also cannot identify the type of strain.
How is FIP treated?
Unfortunately, FIP is fatal in almost all cases. There is no specific treatment, and supportive care is the only option for cats affected by the disease. Anti-inflammatory drugs like corticosteroids, often used in conjunction with immunosuppressive drugs like the ones used in cancer treatments, may temporarily suppress the symptoms.
Once FIP has been diagnosed in a clinically ill cat, however, euthanasia may be the most humane course of action.
For more information, please visit our Feline Health Library.
If you’d like to help further FIP research, please visit the Cornell Feline Health Center to learn more.
This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is an infectious virus that affects cats around the world. While we hear a lot about feline leukemia, the prevalence in the United States is actually only approximately 2 to 3 percent. It tends to appear more frequently in cats who are very ill, who are still kittens or whose immune systems have been compromised. About 13 percent of those cats have FeLV.
What is feline leukemia?
As was mentioned above, FeLV is an infectious virus, not cancer as it names suggests. The name comes from the fact that when it was first discovered in cats, it was in the form of leukemia cells.
When the cat is infected, a retrovirus produces an enzyme called reverse transcriptase that allows the virus to insert copies of its own genetic material into the infected cells. Though FeLV is not cancer, the resulting changes to the cells can potentially make them cancerous. The cancer can occur in a variety of tissues, organs and body sites, depending on where in the body the infected cells are located.
They can also affect circulating white blood cells or other cells of the blood-forming tissues. The most common type of cancer associated with feline leukemia is lymphosarcoma or cancer of the lymphoid cells.
Although cancer can develop as a result of FeLV, the virus can lead to other conditions as well, such as a suppressed immune system, life-threatening anemia, severe enteritis, severe dental disease, neurological disorders and eye diseases. Read More
