Answer: Humans have the distinction of being the only pieces to display their emotion by crying (and incidentally by laughing as well) , so although your cat won’t by happy about this condition, it isn’t crying that is responsible. However, these wet streaks are due to tears (lacrimal fluid) overflowing down the face. On white cats this condition (epiphora) produce a characteristic ginger-brown stain.
Where this is a long-standing problem, unassociated with any irritation or inflammation (such as with injures, foreign bodies in the eye or respiratory disease), it usually arises because the ducts (naso-lacrimal ducts) which normally drain the fluid from the surface of the eye are unable to take all, or any, of the fluid. It occurs especially in cats with flattened faces, such as Persians.
Lacrimal fluid as continuously secreted by the gland above the eyeball for the purpose of washing away micro-organisms and dust from the surface of the eyeball, aided by the occasional wiper action of the eyelids in blinking. In normal cats the fluid then passes down the naso-lacrimal ducts into the nasal chambers, but if the ducts become blocked, or if the bulging of the eyeballs prevent the fluid reaching the duct opening, as in flat-faced cats, it has no alternative but to flow the front of the face. Blocked ducts can sometimes be unblocked, but this is a time-consuming procedure necessitating a general anesthetic.
Showing posts with label Signs of Illness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Signs of Illness. Show all posts
Q: A skin has suddenly appeared across both my cat’s eyes. It looks so frightening. What does it means?
Answer: This skin or membrane is in fact third eyelid (called the nictitating membrane) which is well developed in the cat and can be seen in the inner corner of the eye as a small pink flap. Properly, it’s called the ‘haw’. Although the condition does look alarming , the movement of this membrane across both eyes does not signify a loss of sight or some other eye disorder, but generalized loss of condition.
Fat is laid down in the body mainly beneath the skin and around the kidneys, but there is also a pad of fat at the back of the eyeball where it lies in a socket in the skull, the orbit. This pad of fat, which is semi-liquid at body temperature, help provide protection for the eyeball if it should be pushed back on to the underlying hard bone of the skull, i.e. it cushion the impact of blows to the eyeball. However, when a animal is debilitated (following diarrhea or some other disorder associated with loss of weight and condition) the reserves of fat being to be broken down to provide essential energy. The reduction in the amount of fat in the orbit allows the eyeball to skin further into the socket. This ’sinking’ of the eyeball permits the third eyeball to move further then usual across the front of the eye. When the animal gains weight and replaces its fat reserves the eye moves forwards again and the third eyelid is pushed back into its normal position at the inner of the eye.
With debility then, both eyes are affected in this way, though not necessarily to the same degree. Where there is membrane across only one eye it may be due to the more serious condition involving never damage or the growth of a tumor, or there might be a foreign body (e.g. a grass seed) in the eye, and therefore advice should be sought immediately.
Fat is laid down in the body mainly beneath the skin and around the kidneys, but there is also a pad of fat at the back of the eyeball where it lies in a socket in the skull, the orbit. This pad of fat, which is semi-liquid at body temperature, help provide protection for the eyeball if it should be pushed back on to the underlying hard bone of the skull, i.e. it cushion the impact of blows to the eyeball. However, when a animal is debilitated (following diarrhea or some other disorder associated with loss of weight and condition) the reserves of fat being to be broken down to provide essential energy. The reduction in the amount of fat in the orbit allows the eyeball to skin further into the socket. This ’sinking’ of the eyeball permits the third eyeball to move further then usual across the front of the eye. When the animal gains weight and replaces its fat reserves the eye moves forwards again and the third eyelid is pushed back into its normal position at the inner of the eye.
With debility then, both eyes are affected in this way, though not necessarily to the same degree. Where there is membrane across only one eye it may be due to the more serious condition involving never damage or the growth of a tumor, or there might be a foreign body (e.g. a grass seed) in the eye, and therefore advice should be sought immediately.
Q: If my cat should be involved in an accident, how would I know if he were dead or just unconscious?
Answer: The important distinguishing features are that in unconsciousness breathing and the breathing of the heart are both present; in death both will have stopped.
An unconscious cat can resemble a dead animal in that there may be no movement for a long period, and during this time it may not respond to such stimuli as a noise or pinching. In both conditions, the muscles relax, i.e. become limp, and relaxation of the sphincters of the bladder and anus may permit urine and motion to be passed. Bear in mind that in death the eyes do not close automatically; they may remain open just as they might in unconsciousness, to this cannot be used as a distinguishing signs.
However, two signs are characteristic of the death. Firstly, the body will gradually become colder (how cold depends on the temperature of the surrounding), and within three to seven hours the muscles become rigid (rigor mortis) a sure sign of death.
An unconscious cat can resemble a dead animal in that there may be no movement for a long period, and during this time it may not respond to such stimuli as a noise or pinching. In both conditions, the muscles relax, i.e. become limp, and relaxation of the sphincters of the bladder and anus may permit urine and motion to be passed. Bear in mind that in death the eyes do not close automatically; they may remain open just as they might in unconsciousness, to this cannot be used as a distinguishing signs.
However, two signs are characteristic of the death. Firstly, the body will gradually become colder (how cold depends on the temperature of the surrounding), and within three to seven hours the muscles become rigid (rigor mortis) a sure sign of death.
Q: What causes anemia?
Answer: Three main causes of anemia are recognized. One is the severe loss of cells due to bleeding (hemorrhagic anemia) which can occur suddenly if a major blood vessel is severed. Loss obviously, a slow but persistent loss of blood can produce this type of anemia, e.g. from a heavy infestation with blood-sucking parasites such as fleas, or from poisoning with the anti-coagulant rat poison warfarin which both damages the blood vessels and prevent the escaping blood from clotting.
Hemolytic anemia arises from the destruction of red blood cells within the circulation. This can be caused by the blood parasite Haemobartonnella felis or by bacterial toxins, or by such poisons as lead, phenol and chlorate and the drugs phenacetin and sulphafurazole.
Finally, anemia may be due to a failure or the red bone marrow contained within certain beans to produce the sufficient replacement cells to keep pace with natural losses. Because each red blood cell survives for about ten to eleven weeks it can take a long time for this defective production to result in discernible anemia. It can develop if the cat is deprived of adequate amounts of the few materials necessary for the production of red blood cells such as iron, protein, and vitamin B.
Damage to the bone marrow can also be responsible for hypo plastic anemia, rarely this is due to bone marrow tumors or excessive doses of radiation. In the cat most likely cause of bone marrow damage is drugs. Cats have greater difficulty then many other species in detoxicating many drugs i.e. breaking them down in the liver to harmless substance which can be excreted. They are therefore particularly at risk from any toxic side-effects which a drug may possess. Drugs known to damage the bone marrow in the cat include the antibiotic chloramphenicol, insecticides and aspirin. In fact, aspirin has two effects which in combination produce anemia very rapidly. It cause ulceration and hemorrhages in various organs, particularly the intestines, and because of the effect on the bone marrow the blood cells that are lost cannot be effectively replaced. Aspirin also has toxic effects on the liver and is extremely harmful to cats. A daily does of half a 300 mg tablet will kill most cats in two to three weeks.
Hemolytic anemia arises from the destruction of red blood cells within the circulation. This can be caused by the blood parasite Haemobartonnella felis or by bacterial toxins, or by such poisons as lead, phenol and chlorate and the drugs phenacetin and sulphafurazole.
Finally, anemia may be due to a failure or the red bone marrow contained within certain beans to produce the sufficient replacement cells to keep pace with natural losses. Because each red blood cell survives for about ten to eleven weeks it can take a long time for this defective production to result in discernible anemia. It can develop if the cat is deprived of adequate amounts of the few materials necessary for the production of red blood cells such as iron, protein, and vitamin B.
Damage to the bone marrow can also be responsible for hypo plastic anemia, rarely this is due to bone marrow tumors or excessive doses of radiation. In the cat most likely cause of bone marrow damage is drugs. Cats have greater difficulty then many other species in detoxicating many drugs i.e. breaking them down in the liver to harmless substance which can be excreted. They are therefore particularly at risk from any toxic side-effects which a drug may possess. Drugs known to damage the bone marrow in the cat include the antibiotic chloramphenicol, insecticides and aspirin. In fact, aspirin has two effects which in combination produce anemia very rapidly. It cause ulceration and hemorrhages in various organs, particularly the intestines, and because of the effect on the bone marrow the blood cells that are lost cannot be effectively replaced. Aspirin also has toxic effects on the liver and is extremely harmful to cats. A daily does of half a 300 mg tablet will kill most cats in two to three weeks.
Q: My cat’s gums and lips look very pale: does this mean that he is suffering from anemia?
Answer: No, not necessary. In many cats the gums, lips and plate (which are the most easily examined mucous membranes) together with the inner lining of the eyelids and the tongue may appear a very pale pink. But in most of these animals laboratory tests establish that there is actually no anemia, i.e. no deficiency of the red blood cell or of the red oxygen-carrying pigment (hemoglobin) which the cells contain. Clearly, pallor of the mucous membranes is a normal feature of many cats.
Apart from anemia the other important cause of extreme pallor of these membranes is shock. This usually follows some from of injury and is accompanied by other signs which are so obvious (extreme weakness, panting, cold paws even in warm surroundings, trembling and often loss of consciousness) that is usually easy to diagnose.
In anemia the lack of hemoglobin to carry sufficient oxygen to the tissues causes the animals to tire easily and to breathe rapidly even after only mild exertion. In severe cases the beat rapidly even when resting.
Apart from anemia the other important cause of extreme pallor of these membranes is shock. This usually follows some from of injury and is accompanied by other signs which are so obvious (extreme weakness, panting, cold paws even in warm surroundings, trembling and often loss of consciousness) that is usually easy to diagnose.
In anemia the lack of hemoglobin to carry sufficient oxygen to the tissues causes the animals to tire easily and to breathe rapidly even after only mild exertion. In severe cases the beat rapidly even when resting.
Q: My cat keeps shaking this head. Is there anything wrong with?
Answer: For the majority of cats is signifies that one are usually both ears are infected with ear mites, a condition referred to popularly as ‘ear mange’ or sometimes ‘canker’.
The mites are so small that with the eye alone they can hardly be distinguished inside the ear canal. However, with a magnifying glass they can be seen as small, whitish speck moving slowly over the lining of the canal. Veterinarians usually use a combined magnifying glass and light source, an auriscope or cotoscope to view the ear. When some of the wax from the ear is placed under a microscope the mites can be easily identified.
Ear mites do not penetrate the skin but live and breed on the surface, grazing on the dead skin cells and possibly sucking lymph from the skin vessels.
Although many cats can have small number of ear mites and show no obvious signs of discomfort, in some cats their activity produces considerable inflammation and irritation of the outer ear (otitis externa). This causes the cat to shake, rub and scratch its ears almost constantly. The cat often inflicts dreadful damage upon itself with its claws by ripping at the ear flaps and the skin of the head behind them, often causing wounds and bleeding. This continuous rubbing can often cause all the hair to be removed from the skin behind the ear and from between the ear and the eye. Also a blood blister (hematoma) may be formed in the ear flap which should be drained surgically, otherwise the flap will distort into a ‘cauliflower ear’ in healing.
In response to the irritation in the ear canal, large amount of drink brown wax is formed which dries into crusts in the ear.
In most cases the ear mites are easily eliminated by cleaning the ears and applying a parasiticidal preparation, usually as ear drops, for a few days. Both ears should treated and, because the mites are readily transmitted between animals, all the dogs and the cats in the household should be treated simultaneously, whether they are showing signs yet or not. Mites can also travel to other pats of the body and so it is good idea to treat the whole body with a parasiticidal spray or powder.
Much less common is bacterial infection in the ear, or objects such as grass seeds or grit in the canal. These can also cause the cat is best examined by your veterinary surgeon who can supply the appropriate medication.
The mites are so small that with the eye alone they can hardly be distinguished inside the ear canal. However, with a magnifying glass they can be seen as small, whitish speck moving slowly over the lining of the canal. Veterinarians usually use a combined magnifying glass and light source, an auriscope or cotoscope to view the ear. When some of the wax from the ear is placed under a microscope the mites can be easily identified.
Ear mites do not penetrate the skin but live and breed on the surface, grazing on the dead skin cells and possibly sucking lymph from the skin vessels.
Although many cats can have small number of ear mites and show no obvious signs of discomfort, in some cats their activity produces considerable inflammation and irritation of the outer ear (otitis externa). This causes the cat to shake, rub and scratch its ears almost constantly. The cat often inflicts dreadful damage upon itself with its claws by ripping at the ear flaps and the skin of the head behind them, often causing wounds and bleeding. This continuous rubbing can often cause all the hair to be removed from the skin behind the ear and from between the ear and the eye. Also a blood blister (hematoma) may be formed in the ear flap which should be drained surgically, otherwise the flap will distort into a ‘cauliflower ear’ in healing.
In response to the irritation in the ear canal, large amount of drink brown wax is formed which dries into crusts in the ear.
In most cases the ear mites are easily eliminated by cleaning the ears and applying a parasiticidal preparation, usually as ear drops, for a few days. Both ears should treated and, because the mites are readily transmitted between animals, all the dogs and the cats in the household should be treated simultaneously, whether they are showing signs yet or not. Mites can also travel to other pats of the body and so it is good idea to treat the whole body with a parasiticidal spray or powder.
Much less common is bacterial infection in the ear, or objects such as grass seeds or grit in the canal. These can also cause the cat is best examined by your veterinary surgeon who can supply the appropriate medication.
Q: The cats in my neighbourhood are always fighting. How would I know if my cat had been bitten?
Answer: Bites are usually found on tome cats. They occur out of inter-male rivalry for mates and for territory. But occasionally castrated males, and some times even females, get into fights and are wounded. In a fight, the parts of the body which usually get bitten are the front legs are head as the two adversaries face each other, and the tail hind-quarters as on cat turns to run away. However, when two cats are rolling on the floor in a fight almost any part can get bitten. Occasionally, female cat can develop an abscess on the nick from the over-enthusiastic gripping of the skin by a male as he mounts her to mate.
Typically, a cat bite is produce by two long canine teeth (the tope and bottom teeth on the side of the jaw) penetrating the skin and underlying tissues. These teeth are sharp and narrow and so the wounds that re created on the skin surface are very small, bleed are very little and soon close over. They are also well hidden by the hair coat. Any blood is usually soon removed when the cat retires afterwards to literally lick his wounds. Therefore, unless there is some very obvious sign after the fight such as a torn ear, you may be unable to tell that your cat has been fighting. However, a cat can remain excited for a long time after a serious fight and attempts on your part to soothe the animal may be rewarded by quite serious bites or scratches.
One or two days after the fight has occurred you may notice some of the following signs:
1 Your cat limps on the leg or is unwilling to move a particular part of his body such as the nick or tail.
2 He flinches, cries or become aggressive when you touch a particular part of his body.
3 He loses interest in food and only wants to rest.
These sings are due to a developing abscess at the site of the bite. Bacteria from the biting cat’s mouth and on the bitten cat’s skin and hair get pushed deep down into the subcutaneous tissue by the long teeth. The surface of the skin closes over and starts to heal because the punctured wound is so small, and the bacteria deep in the tissue begin to multiply and produce toxins. These toxins cause inflammation at the site and they are also carried in the blood to other parts of the body. In severe case, their effect on the brain is to produce a loss of appetite and listlessness, usually with a rise in body temperature.
To confirm that is responsible, examine the area very closely. Somewhere there will be two tiny wounds about ½ to 1 inch (1.25 to 2.5 cm) apart; on a limb or on the tail the wounds are usually on opposite sides. You may feel them first as two small, rough scabs and on parting the hair you see two scab-filled wounds with a tiny dot of dried blood in the centre.
As a result of the continuing battle between the bacteria and the body’s defensive white blood cell, pus is gradually formed (this consists of dead are living bacteria, dead and living whit blood cell and inflammatory exudates) and the resulting lesion is called an abscess. As the abscess becomes well-defined the inflammation and the pain become less, though bacterial toxins are still being absorbed, so that there may still be a poor appetite and general lassitude. However, these signs are not always present.
It may be possible to feel the abscess as a soft fluctuating mass beneath the skin and eventually, if felt, it would burst, usually on to the surface as the skin is gradually eroded from beneath. These discourage of a mixture of pus and blood is sometimes the first thing that an owner knows about the affaire. Some abscesses can be enormous and damage a lot of skin which then sloughs away.
At whatever stage these bite wounds are discovered, veterinary attention should be obtained. Treatment may be with hot bathing (hot fomentation), surgical excision of the abscess and/or antibiotic administration (injections, tablets or creams) depending on the stage of the process. Once the abscess has been opened or has burst and then been cleaned, the aim is for the wound to heal. This should happen from the deepest part outwards so that the skin is the last to knit together. Otherwise, the infection will be locked in again and father abscesses will develop as a result. Initially the application of hydrogen peroxide and later regular bathing and the insertion of anti-bacterial creams into the wound help to achieve this.
Bacteria from the bite wounds can also spread to other parts of the body; bites in the chest region may give rise to pus in the chest (pyothorax). Of course, abscesses can also arise for reasons not associated at all with bites, e.g. an infected tooth socket, which necessitates removing the tooth and draining the abscess.
Typically, a cat bite is produce by two long canine teeth (the tope and bottom teeth on the side of the jaw) penetrating the skin and underlying tissues. These teeth are sharp and narrow and so the wounds that re created on the skin surface are very small, bleed are very little and soon close over. They are also well hidden by the hair coat. Any blood is usually soon removed when the cat retires afterwards to literally lick his wounds. Therefore, unless there is some very obvious sign after the fight such as a torn ear, you may be unable to tell that your cat has been fighting. However, a cat can remain excited for a long time after a serious fight and attempts on your part to soothe the animal may be rewarded by quite serious bites or scratches.
One or two days after the fight has occurred you may notice some of the following signs:
1 Your cat limps on the leg or is unwilling to move a particular part of his body such as the nick or tail.
2 He flinches, cries or become aggressive when you touch a particular part of his body.
3 He loses interest in food and only wants to rest.
These sings are due to a developing abscess at the site of the bite. Bacteria from the biting cat’s mouth and on the bitten cat’s skin and hair get pushed deep down into the subcutaneous tissue by the long teeth. The surface of the skin closes over and starts to heal because the punctured wound is so small, and the bacteria deep in the tissue begin to multiply and produce toxins. These toxins cause inflammation at the site and they are also carried in the blood to other parts of the body. In severe case, their effect on the brain is to produce a loss of appetite and listlessness, usually with a rise in body temperature.
To confirm that is responsible, examine the area very closely. Somewhere there will be two tiny wounds about ½ to 1 inch (1.25 to 2.5 cm) apart; on a limb or on the tail the wounds are usually on opposite sides. You may feel them first as two small, rough scabs and on parting the hair you see two scab-filled wounds with a tiny dot of dried blood in the centre.
As a result of the continuing battle between the bacteria and the body’s defensive white blood cell, pus is gradually formed (this consists of dead are living bacteria, dead and living whit blood cell and inflammatory exudates) and the resulting lesion is called an abscess. As the abscess becomes well-defined the inflammation and the pain become less, though bacterial toxins are still being absorbed, so that there may still be a poor appetite and general lassitude. However, these signs are not always present.
It may be possible to feel the abscess as a soft fluctuating mass beneath the skin and eventually, if felt, it would burst, usually on to the surface as the skin is gradually eroded from beneath. These discourage of a mixture of pus and blood is sometimes the first thing that an owner knows about the affaire. Some abscesses can be enormous and damage a lot of skin which then sloughs away.
At whatever stage these bite wounds are discovered, veterinary attention should be obtained. Treatment may be with hot bathing (hot fomentation), surgical excision of the abscess and/or antibiotic administration (injections, tablets or creams) depending on the stage of the process. Once the abscess has been opened or has burst and then been cleaned, the aim is for the wound to heal. This should happen from the deepest part outwards so that the skin is the last to knit together. Otherwise, the infection will be locked in again and father abscesses will develop as a result. Initially the application of hydrogen peroxide and later regular bathing and the insertion of anti-bacterial creams into the wound help to achieve this.
Bacteria from the bite wounds can also spread to other parts of the body; bites in the chest region may give rise to pus in the chest (pyothorax). Of course, abscesses can also arise for reasons not associated at all with bites, e.g. an infected tooth socket, which necessitates removing the tooth and draining the abscess.
Q: What does it means if my cat is always scratching himself?
Answer: Scratching is the cat’s response to an itch in the skin, otherwise called pruritus. Itching can have number of causes: allergic reactions, inflammation due to chemicals on the coat, the bites of insects or arachnids (e.g. fleas or ear mites), infection with bacteria and foreign bodies in the skin. All of these cause the release of proteolytic enzymes which attack never ending in the skin and trigger the release of electrical impulses that the pass via regarded as separate sensation. In the cat, scratching is most commonly due either to the irritation of ear mites or to flea infection.
It is, of course, important to establish the true cause and then to remove it if possible. Consequently, your veterinary surgeon should be consulted at an early stage.
Scratching, and also biting and chewing, can result in extensive self-mutilation, and while the cause is being brought under control it may be necessary to administer internally, or apply externally, drugs to control the itch. In many even be necessary to protect the area which is being damaged, for example by fitting an Elizabethan collar. Sometimes firm pressure, or the application of the heat or cold, will relive the itching, at least temporarily. Scratching can be made worse by boredom or depression, so that whenever possible a scratching animal should be distracted, for example by being fed, played with or being allowed outdoors.
It is, of course, important to establish the true cause and then to remove it if possible. Consequently, your veterinary surgeon should be consulted at an early stage.
Scratching, and also biting and chewing, can result in extensive self-mutilation, and while the cause is being brought under control it may be necessary to administer internally, or apply externally, drugs to control the itch. In many even be necessary to protect the area which is being damaged, for example by fitting an Elizabethan collar. Sometimes firm pressure, or the application of the heat or cold, will relive the itching, at least temporarily. Scratching can be made worse by boredom or depression, so that whenever possible a scratching animal should be distracted, for example by being fed, played with or being allowed outdoors.
Q: My cat drools saliva a lot. Is normal?
Answer: Cats with a severe dental problem or with a foreign body stuck in their mouths usually salivate profusely, as do cats poisoned with organ phosphorus compounds (e.g. certain weed killers or an overdose of same preparation to kill fleas). However, in all these instances the animals will show other abnormal signs; pawing it the mouth and loss of appetite with oral disorders; vomiting and trembling with organ phosphorus poisoning .
Perfectly healthy cats will produce large amounts of saliva, which drips from their mouths, if they are frightened or excited. Te panic that seizes some cats when they are handled, for example to give a pill, causes stimulation of that part of the nervous system called the parasympathetic nervous system and the cat proceeds to drool.(The problem can also occur with tablets which contain bitter ingredients protected by an outer coating. If such tablets are broken or crushed before being given to the cat, they will produce spectacular frothing at the mouth which is very distressing to the cat.)
A cat will also salivate profusely in a hot environment and spread saliva over the coat with the tongue. The resultant evaporation of the saliva from the coat removes heat from the body (latent heat of vaporization) which serves to cool the body and thereby helps maintain a content body temperature. This process achieves the same effect as sweating I humans; sweating is not important in regulating the body temperature of the cat.
In some cats, salivation on being stroked can often occur in conjunction with purring, head-rubbing and treading (kneading) movement of the feet. This is an indication of the cat’s delight at seeing you. Excessive salivation is also feature of a display of aggression, most commonly preceding a cat fight.
Perfectly healthy cats will produce large amounts of saliva, which drips from their mouths, if they are frightened or excited. Te panic that seizes some cats when they are handled, for example to give a pill, causes stimulation of that part of the nervous system called the parasympathetic nervous system and the cat proceeds to drool.(The problem can also occur with tablets which contain bitter ingredients protected by an outer coating. If such tablets are broken or crushed before being given to the cat, they will produce spectacular frothing at the mouth which is very distressing to the cat.)
A cat will also salivate profusely in a hot environment and spread saliva over the coat with the tongue. The resultant evaporation of the saliva from the coat removes heat from the body (latent heat of vaporization) which serves to cool the body and thereby helps maintain a content body temperature. This process achieves the same effect as sweating I humans; sweating is not important in regulating the body temperature of the cat.
In some cats, salivation on being stroked can often occur in conjunction with purring, head-rubbing and treading (kneading) movement of the feet. This is an indication of the cat’s delight at seeing you. Excessive salivation is also feature of a display of aggression, most commonly preceding a cat fight.
Q:Do healthy cats normally shed hair?
Answer: Yes, they do. Normal hairs undergo a cycle of growth, unlike the claws which grow continuously. Firstly, there is period when the hair grows by the multiplication of cells at the bottom of the hair follicle deep in the skin; this phase is called anagen. This is followed by a period when the growth stops and the hair is retained in the follicle; this phase is called telogen. These non-growing hairs, called ‘club’ hairs, are less firmly anchored then the growing hairs and consequently are more easily removed. Removal may be grooming or simply by fraction from setting or laying. Eventually the cells which the hair begin to multiply again and a new hairs is formed. This new hair growth up the follicle; along-side the old club hair if this is still present, though as the new hair emerges at the surface the old hair becomes detached and is shed.
In the cat, as in the dog and man the growth of the hairs is not synchronized, i.e. they are not all at the same stage at the same time. Adjacent hair cab be at any stage in the growth cycle-the so-called mosaic pattern of the growth. However, in the cat the greatest activity (i.e. the most shedding of old hairs and growth of the new ones) occurs in the late spring when the hours of daylight markedly increase. The periodicity of light has more influence then the environmental temperature. The under hairs (secondly hair) often undergo a period of subsidiary growth activity in the late autumn (fall). Growth activity is minimal during the winter months.
The rate which hairs grow in the cat averages one hundredth of an inch (0.25 to 0.3 mm) per day, and is also least in the winter and greatest in the late spring. The sex of the cat and whether it has been neutered have a little effect on either the growth cycle or the growth tare. However, in generalized disease or ill health the total number of hairs in the resting phase increases so that increased shedding of the hair can be sign of illness. Also, in sane hormonal (endocrine) disorders many hairs enter the resting stage at the same time and are therefore shed simultaneously. Severe damage to hairs, for example by ringworm, may cause them to break off, leaving a stubble.
In the cat, as in the dog and man the growth of the hairs is not synchronized, i.e. they are not all at the same stage at the same time. Adjacent hair cab be at any stage in the growth cycle-the so-called mosaic pattern of the growth. However, in the cat the greatest activity (i.e. the most shedding of old hairs and growth of the new ones) occurs in the late spring when the hours of daylight markedly increase. The periodicity of light has more influence then the environmental temperature. The under hairs (secondly hair) often undergo a period of subsidiary growth activity in the late autumn (fall). Growth activity is minimal during the winter months.
The rate which hairs grow in the cat averages one hundredth of an inch (0.25 to 0.3 mm) per day, and is also least in the winter and greatest in the late spring. The sex of the cat and whether it has been neutered have a little effect on either the growth cycle or the growth tare. However, in generalized disease or ill health the total number of hairs in the resting phase increases so that increased shedding of the hair can be sign of illness. Also, in sane hormonal (endocrine) disorders many hairs enter the resting stage at the same time and are therefore shed simultaneously. Severe damage to hairs, for example by ringworm, may cause them to break off, leaving a stubble.
Q: Should a healthy cat have a wet nose?
Answer: This certainly seems to be the case with most normal healthy cats. However, there is no evidence that the skin on the nose contains any special moisture-producing glands. The moisture on the nose seems to come from the cat licking its nose from time to time, but mainly from a watery section produced by glands in the lining of the nasal chambers which appears at the corners of the nostrils and spreads over the surface of the nasal skin. The prime functions of this nasal secretion or to increase the moisture content of the air inhaled and improve the sense of the small.
Cats that are dehydrated as a result of illness or a lack of liquid to drink, particularly those with obviously high body temperatures, characteristically have a dry nose. Three factors may be involved:
1 Dehydrate cats produce less secretions, including both saliva and nasal secretion.
2 An increased body temperature will increase the evaporation of moisture from the nose.
3 The cats that is unwell neglects its normal habits, including grooming and licking its nose.
However, a dry nose is not reliable as a sign of illness; a cat that has been laying in front of the fire or radiator will also have a dry nose. (But if the dry nose is accompanied by the other abnormal signs, such as listlessness and a black of appetite, then it would be sensible to seek your vet’s advice.) Conversely, a wet nose can be found in an animal with fever if it has recently had its nose in the water bowl.
Cats that are dehydrated as a result of illness or a lack of liquid to drink, particularly those with obviously high body temperatures, characteristically have a dry nose. Three factors may be involved:
1 Dehydrate cats produce less secretions, including both saliva and nasal secretion.
2 An increased body temperature will increase the evaporation of moisture from the nose.
3 The cats that is unwell neglects its normal habits, including grooming and licking its nose.
However, a dry nose is not reliable as a sign of illness; a cat that has been laying in front of the fire or radiator will also have a dry nose. (But if the dry nose is accompanied by the other abnormal signs, such as listlessness and a black of appetite, then it would be sensible to seek your vet’s advice.) Conversely, a wet nose can be found in an animal with fever if it has recently had its nose in the water bowl.
Q: What signs indicate good health in the cat?
Answer: The healthy cat should appear later and interested in what is happening around it, moving its eyes and ears in response to movements and sounds. It should be reasonably active and keen to explore its territory out-of-doors. The cat should present a sleek, well-groomed appearance with a clean glossy coat and bright, sparkling eyes which have no evidence of discharge at their corners. The skin should elastic and unbroken, and the ears clean. The body should be firm and well-muscled, and warm to the touch. A healthy cat will almost certainly be observed grooming itself.
The animals should be neither thin nor overweight, and its movements should appear easy and supple without signs of pain or stuffiness. The tongue and gums should be pale pink and the teeth clean and white.
The cat’s appetite should be good, but not ravenous, and its thirst should not be excessive. There should be no difficulty in picking up or swallowing its food. Urine and motions should be passed without straining, and be normal in appearance.
Breathing should also be easy, without coughing, wheezing or exaggerated movement of the chest, and not unduly rapid (i.e. panting). Finally, the pulse rate and the temperature should be normal if taken; around 120 pulses per minute and 101.5F (38.4C), though both are slightly raised in very young animals.
Of course, for a cat to be completely healthy all of these signs should be present. However, it is not unusual to find cats appear healthy in all respects save one; very thin cats who are still extremely active, or cats with skin disorders whose appetite and other behavior is perfectly normal. But even single abnormal sign should be investigated. Some signs popularly supposed to be reliable indicators of good health, namely purring and a wet nose, may in fact occur both in healthy cats and in those suffering from an illness.
The animals should be neither thin nor overweight, and its movements should appear easy and supple without signs of pain or stuffiness. The tongue and gums should be pale pink and the teeth clean and white.
The cat’s appetite should be good, but not ravenous, and its thirst should not be excessive. There should be no difficulty in picking up or swallowing its food. Urine and motions should be passed without straining, and be normal in appearance.
Breathing should also be easy, without coughing, wheezing or exaggerated movement of the chest, and not unduly rapid (i.e. panting). Finally, the pulse rate and the temperature should be normal if taken; around 120 pulses per minute and 101.5F (38.4C), though both are slightly raised in very young animals.
Of course, for a cat to be completely healthy all of these signs should be present. However, it is not unusual to find cats appear healthy in all respects save one; very thin cats who are still extremely active, or cats with skin disorders whose appetite and other behavior is perfectly normal. But even single abnormal sign should be investigated. Some signs popularly supposed to be reliable indicators of good health, namely purring and a wet nose, may in fact occur both in healthy cats and in those suffering from an illness.
Q: Should I always take my cat to the vet at the first sign of illness?
Answer: Generally speaking yes, and certainly if it is causing you anxiety. Most owners would prefer to know what, if anything, wrong with their cat as soon as possible, and most vets would sooner that owner brought their animal for examination even for some trivial conditions rather to let a major illness go untreated.
Sometimes it is very clear from clinical signs that the animal is ill, for instance, when there is sudden change in temperament from an active, inquisitive cat to one that is listless and interested only on sleeping; or where blood is being passed (in the motions, urine or vomit); or where there is frequent sneezing with running eyes and nose.
At other time, when the cat appears normal in all respects save one, it can be difficult to decide whether this indicates the start of an illness or not. An isolated bout of coughing, or even vomiting, is not unusual for example from a small hairball. Temporary lameness may simply be the result of minor brushing after jumping, nor is a day’s in appetence uncommon, especially if the cat has been fed elsewhere. If the signs persist, certainly for longer then twenty-four hours, it would be wise to obtain a professional opinion. The more signs of the illness there are (from the list in the previous question), the more severe they are, the longer they persist, the more likely it is that the condition is of significance and should receive attention. Sometimes quiet serious injuries can produce few signs; for example, after a road accident there may be very little to see except some damage to the claws, some dirt and oil on the coat and pallor due to internal hemorrhage. Whenever you are in doubt the importance of changes you notice always ask your vet for advice.
Sometimes it is very clear from clinical signs that the animal is ill, for instance, when there is sudden change in temperament from an active, inquisitive cat to one that is listless and interested only on sleeping; or where blood is being passed (in the motions, urine or vomit); or where there is frequent sneezing with running eyes and nose.
At other time, when the cat appears normal in all respects save one, it can be difficult to decide whether this indicates the start of an illness or not. An isolated bout of coughing, or even vomiting, is not unusual for example from a small hairball. Temporary lameness may simply be the result of minor brushing after jumping, nor is a day’s in appetence uncommon, especially if the cat has been fed elsewhere. If the signs persist, certainly for longer then twenty-four hours, it would be wise to obtain a professional opinion. The more signs of the illness there are (from the list in the previous question), the more severe they are, the longer they persist, the more likely it is that the condition is of significance and should receive attention. Sometimes quiet serious injuries can produce few signs; for example, after a road accident there may be very little to see except some damage to the claws, some dirt and oil on the coat and pallor due to internal hemorrhage. Whenever you are in doubt the importance of changes you notice always ask your vet for advice.
Q: As animals can’t communicate their feelings in words, how would I know if my cat is suffering?
Answer: In acutely painful conditions the cat resents being moved (including being lifted) and will flinch, cry, or even attempt to bite or scratch when the painful area is handled. In many illnesses the cat does not experience any severe pain but nevertheless is obviously feeling unwell or uncomfortable.
The general signs of illness to which for are as follows:
1 General lack of interest in what is happening around it and in going outdoors- the cat appears depressed, dejected and listless.
2 Laying in its bed and sleeping much more then is usual.
3 Loss of appetite, with later loss of weight and possible increased shedding of hair.
4 Failure to groom itself, or to sharpen its claws.
There may also be other specific signs, often developing later in an illness:
1 Vomiting and/or diarrhea
2 Sneezing and/or coughing
3 Discharges from the eyes and/or nose.
4 Difficulty in eating e.g. drooping food from the mouth, gulping and drooling saliva.
5 Protrusion of the third eyelids (‘haws’)
6 Repeated licking, biting, rubbing or scratching, especially at a particular part of the body.
7 Lameness.
8 Remaining in an unusual posture for long periods.
9 Labored breathing.
10 Distension (i.e. swelling) of the abdomen.
Precisely what constitutes suffering is obviously open the individual interpretation, but an animal showing any of these signs must clearly be experiencing some discomfort. And the longer the signs persist then the more significant they become. It is worthwhile remembering, however, that it is normal for the female cat in heat to go off her food and to make calling noises suggestive of extreme pain, although in fact she is perfectly healthy.
The general signs of illness to which for are as follows:
1 General lack of interest in what is happening around it and in going outdoors- the cat appears depressed, dejected and listless.
2 Laying in its bed and sleeping much more then is usual.
3 Loss of appetite, with later loss of weight and possible increased shedding of hair.
4 Failure to groom itself, or to sharpen its claws.
There may also be other specific signs, often developing later in an illness:
1 Vomiting and/or diarrhea
2 Sneezing and/or coughing
3 Discharges from the eyes and/or nose.
4 Difficulty in eating e.g. drooping food from the mouth, gulping and drooling saliva.
5 Protrusion of the third eyelids (‘haws’)
6 Repeated licking, biting, rubbing or scratching, especially at a particular part of the body.
7 Lameness.
8 Remaining in an unusual posture for long periods.
9 Labored breathing.
10 Distension (i.e. swelling) of the abdomen.
Precisely what constitutes suffering is obviously open the individual interpretation, but an animal showing any of these signs must clearly be experiencing some discomfort. And the longer the signs persist then the more significant they become. It is worthwhile remembering, however, that it is normal for the female cat in heat to go off her food and to make calling noises suggestive of extreme pain, although in fact she is perfectly healthy.
Q: What signs and symptoms are the most serious and require immediate professional attention?
Answer: In human medicine the term symptoms is usually reserved for sensations apparent only to the patient (i.e. which are purely subjective) such as feeling dizzy or having painful knee; whereas signs are features which can be detected by an external observer, including the doctor. In veterinary medicine the inability of patients to communicate means that strictly speaking only signs are available for diagnosis; any sensation that are felt but produce no external manifestation remain hidden from us.
The following signs would indicate a real emergency that should receive immediate attention:
1 Sever bleeding.
2 Serious difficulty in breathing.
3 Collapse (i.e. being unable to stand).
4 Unconsciousness.
5 First (convulsions).
6 Shock (the signs of shock in the cat are essentially the same as in humans). There is rapid, shallow breathing (panting), the lips, gums and tongue appear pale grayish and cold, the paws feel cold even in warm surroundings, and the animal often shivers and may vomit.
Accidents often produce service injuries that should receive attention with the minimum of delay, for example:
1 Penetrating fractures (where the broken the bones have been force through the skin.)
2 Paralysis.
3 The protrusion of internal organs(either through the natural opening or through a wound).
4 Severe burns or scalds.
Swift action is necessary on the other occasion:
1 If you know or strongly suspect that that your cat may have eaten some poisonous substance.
2 if it has or might have been batten by a poisonous snake.
3 If it strains continuously (which includes a cat having difficulty giving birth).
4 If it is suffering from heat stroke (having been confined in an overheated area such as car parked in direct sunlight), or from hypothermia (i.e. exposure to extreme cold).
The following signs would indicate a real emergency that should receive immediate attention:
1 Sever bleeding.
2 Serious difficulty in breathing.
3 Collapse (i.e. being unable to stand).
4 Unconsciousness.
5 First (convulsions).
6 Shock (the signs of shock in the cat are essentially the same as in humans). There is rapid, shallow breathing (panting), the lips, gums and tongue appear pale grayish and cold, the paws feel cold even in warm surroundings, and the animal often shivers and may vomit.
Accidents often produce service injuries that should receive attention with the minimum of delay, for example:
1 Penetrating fractures (where the broken the bones have been force through the skin.)
2 Paralysis.
3 The protrusion of internal organs(either through the natural opening or through a wound).
4 Severe burns or scalds.
Swift action is necessary on the other occasion:
1 If you know or strongly suspect that that your cat may have eaten some poisonous substance.
2 if it has or might have been batten by a poisonous snake.
3 If it strains continuously (which includes a cat having difficulty giving birth).
4 If it is suffering from heat stroke (having been confined in an overheated area such as car parked in direct sunlight), or from hypothermia (i.e. exposure to extreme cold).
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