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Pets when raised with care and affection become members of the
family. Just like caring for a family member, pets also require
special attention. Cats are one of the most popular pets in the
world. Cat owners should be wary of various kinds of early signs
and symptoms of various kinds of cat diseases and medical
conditions.
In the United States, cats make up for about 30% to 37% of the
number of pets in American Homes and more than 30% of them are
strays that have been adopted. Thus it becomes all the more
important to take special care and notice for early signs of any
disease. Mentioned below are signs and symptoms of some of the
major diseases that cats can suffer from.
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Diabetes- Diabetes is a complex disease in
cats that happens due to the lack of production of insulin or
the inappropriate response to it. There are two types of
diabetes that cats usually suffer from- Type I and Type II.
Cats requires routine insulin therapy for survival. Some of the
common symptoms of diabetes are change in appetite, loss of
weight, increased frequency of urination, sweet-smelling
breath, lethargy, dehydration and urinary tract infections. The
causes of diabetes are not exactly known. Some of the factors
that play a role are genetics, kinds of pancreatic diseases,
certain kinds of medication and deposition of certain proteins
in pancreas.
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Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)- Cats that
are infected with the FIV virus do not show the symptoms until
years into the initial infection. This disease severely weakens
the immune system of cats and makes them vulnerable to various
other diseases. Cats suffering from FIV are usually kept in
isolated and safe environments that are free from physical and
mental stress. Some of the common signs of FIV are enlarged
lymph nodes, anemia and fever, discharge through the eyes and
nose, disruption in urination and urinating habits, dental
diseases, loss of hair and redness of skin, slow healing wounds
and behavioral changes.
-
Feline Leukemia Virus (FelV)- This disease was
first documented in the 1960s and the isolated virus is a form
of feline RNA retrovirus. This virus severely disrupts the
immunity system in cats. This is one of the most commonly
diagnosed diseases in domestic cats and also their subsequent
deaths. Certain cats show symptoms of the disease at all
whereas others show symptoms like poor condition of the coat,
problems with eyesight, diarrhea and vomiting, changes in
behavior, enlarged lymph nodes, seizures, reproductive problems
in female cats, jaundice, respiratory problems and chronic skin
conditions.
A lot of the diseases that feline pets suffer from have
vaccines that are given at an early age. While adopting kittens
it is always safe to be doubly sure and get them vaccinated.
The Top 3 Dietary Diseases Diagnosed In Cats
Dietary diseases are unfortunately quite common in our furry
feline friends and more often than not, this is due to the poor
nutritional qualities of mass produced dry food and wet food.
This is why selecting the right brand of food or even cooking for
your cat is crucial to ensuring that it leads a long and happy
life.
Chronic renal disease
Chronic renal disease is one of the leading causes of death in
kitties across the globe. It occurs when the kidney has been
gradually decling and deteriorating over years, and certain types
of breeds such as Siamese, Burmese, and Persian cats are more
prone to this disease than other cats. In order to prevent the
onset of this disease, cats need to be fed a diet high in quality
proteins and low amounts of phosphorous and sodium.The quality of
the protein is the main differentiating factor here especially
for older kitties in order to prevent the disease from ever
occurring. One of the major problems with this disease is that
the cat may not display any symptoms for years to come, and when
symptoms are displayed, it is often too late to do anything.
Regular vet checks are the best way to ensure that your cat is in
optimum health.
Diabetes mellitus
House cats are particularly at risk of developing diabetes
mellitus especially as they grow older. This disease normally
occurs due to a combination of high blood glucose levels,
obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. The symptoms are particularly
hard to diagnose, and it is essential to keep your cat's weight
at a healthy level.Prevent your cat from overeating and indulge
the cat in regular exercise throughout its life. The best way to
improve your cat's exercise levels is to get it a feline
companion, which also has several other benefits. If your cat is
diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, it will require periodic
insulin injections, and it may continue for the rest of your
cat's life.
Urinary tract disease
This disease affects a cat's bladder and urethra, and it results
in the cat having trouble urinating and maybe even urinating
blood. Urinary tract disease is particularly painful in cats and
there are numerous possible reasons as to why it may occur. Some
of the most common reasons include bacterial infections,
dehydration, high ash content in dry food, and
cystitis.Fortunately, the symptoms are pretty evident for this
disease as the cat is likely to meow in pain while attempting to
urinate. Urine flow is typically blocked and your cat will need
to be put under some medication of your vet's choosing. Your
kitty will also be put on a diet until the disease is removed
entirely.
