Cat diseases: symptoms and treatment

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Many people think cats don't get sick. In reality, unfortunately, this is not the case. There are cat diseases that anyone who plans to have a tailed purr in the house or already owns one should be aware of.

Panleucopenia

So let's take a look at known cat diseases and their symptoms. Let's start with the viral ones. The most dangerous cat disease is panleukopenia. It is a highly contagious viral disease. The disease can be characterized as follows: it affects the gastrointestinal tract of the animal, there is a significant decrease in leukocytes in the blood. The causative agent of this disease is a DNA-containing virus of the parvovirus family.

This cat disease (photos of sick animals cause only compassion and a great desire to help these kids) is quite common in our country, in the states of Asia and Europe. Most often, mass diseases were recorded in late autumn and spring. This is due to the seasonal dynamics of the birth rate of kittens. Note that this disease is characterized by a latent virus carrier. Ticks and mosquitoes contribute to the spread of this feline disease. The most common type of infection is fecal-oral. Although there have been cases that infection occurred through the oral-nasal route. The incubation period ranges from two days to two weeks.

Panleukopenia is a viral feline disease. Symptoms and treatment

The disease can manifest itself in three forms: acute, hyperacute and subacute. The second type of ailment is mainly observed in small kittens under the age of three months. The disease begins suddenly, the babies stop sucking the breast of the mother cat, refuse food, quickly lose weight and constantly squeak. Unfortunately, the death of kittens in this case occurs within the first two days.

The following symptoms are typical for the acute form: general depression, vomiting, fever up to 41 degrees. After a couple of days, diarrhea appears. First watery-bilious, later mucus appears mixed with blood. There is also abdominal pain and bloating. With a favorable course, cats recover in a week. If the course is unfavorable, then dehydration occurs, a decrease in leukocytes is observed, and the electrolyte balance is disturbed. This reduces the body temperature to 37-38 degrees. A similar symptom is a sign of a poor prognosis.

In the subacute course of the disease, all the same signs are observed as in the acute, but less pronounced. Symptoms develop gradually over a week or two.

The disease is diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs, research results. A special test is used to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment of cat disease in this case is carried out in a complex manner. At an early stage, globulins such as Vitafel and Globfel are used. They are used twice, sometimes three times. To activate cellular immunity, new generation immunomodulators are used. To maintain the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system, a solution of Sulfocamphocaine is used. To suppress vomiting - antiemetics, for example, Metoclopramide. Broad spectrum antibiotics are also used. To restore the electrolyte balance, various solutions are given intravenously or subcutaneously, for example, Ringer's lactate solution.

Leukemia (leukemia)

This is a viral disease of cats. In this case, malignant tumors affect the hematopoietic system and lymphoid. The causative agent is an oncogenic type C virus. Usually, infection occurs by feeding, as well as by gestation.

This disease develops slowly, usually hidden. This disease of cats often manifests itself after exposure to adverse factors. For example, there was a sharp change in food or content.

Symptoms of leukemia

Usually the disease occurs in a chronic or latent form. In chronic course, there are three stages: prodromal, clinical and terminal. The main symptoms of the disease are: anemia, depression, loss of appetite, gradual exhaustion, disruption of the heart.

In the test results, there is a shift of the leukocyte formula to the left. The hematocrit gradually decreases, the amounterythrocytes.

If we talk about the latent form, then it is not accompanied by the development of clinical signs, it does not manifest itself for a long time, but when exposed to stress, a vivid development of the disease can occur.

Leukemia. Diagnosis and treatment

How is a cat disease diagnosed? Now let's figure it out. The diagnosis is made on the basis of a number of studies, including histological. For confirmation, special test systems and enzyme immunoassay methods are also used.

Note that pathogenetic and etiotropic therapy has not been developed for this disease. A slight effect of the treatment can be achieved when using immunomodulators with cytotoxic drugs.

Infectious respiratory diseases

This is a common name for highly contagious acute mixed infections. For such feline diseases are characteristic: catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, oral cavity and conjunctiva. These diseases include calcivirosis, rhinotracheitis, viral rhinitis.

Usually, infection occurs by airborne droplets and contact. Although the transmission path cannot be ruled out. The incubation period is different, depending on the specific pathogen. For example, a viral infection is characterized by a period of 3 to 19 days.

These infections also come in different forms, such as hyperacute, subacute, occult and chronic.

Herpes virus infection

Usually, with a herpes virus infection, a hyperacute course of the disease is observed. Usually,this happens in kittens aged from a week to a month and a half. It usually starts all of a sudden, there is a strong swelling of the oral mucosa. During this period, kittens cannot suckle milk from their mother, as a result of which they may die within a day.

Characteristic signs for a viral infection in acute form are: fever up to 41 degrees, depression, flatulence, abdominal pain, swelling of mucous membranes, frequent breathing. Further, there may be a copious outflow from the eyes, nose. It is also possible the appearance of shortness of breath, coughing and severe salivation. Sometimes it also happens that ulcers develop on the soft and hard palate of the animal. They also appear in the language. As a result, the cat refuses water, food. This can lead to dehydration.

Chronic course of the disease is often observed in the presence of secondary bacterial infections. In a latent form, the disease does not manifest itself in any way, however, during the study, some infectious and pathological changes can be identified.

Calcivirus. Symptoms

The acute course of the disease can be characterized by the following symptoms: short-term fever, swelling of the nasal mucosa, discharge from the eyes, nose.

It often happens that a sick animal coughs and sneezes. The duration of the illness is about two weeks. After which the animal usually recovers. Sometimes calcivirus infection causes various and secondary bacterial infections. ATresulting in cat bronchitis or gastroenteritis.

How to identify a contagious respiratory infection? Treatment

Accurate diagnosis can only be made on the basis of laboratory tests. In the treatment, an individual complex therapy is selected. Immunomodulators are used. They are administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

Sulfocamphocaine, Essentiale Forte, glucose solution and saline are also used. All of these drugs are administered subcutaneously. To accelerate the healing of ulcers, Actovegin injections are injected intramuscularly.

Urolithiasis

This diagnosis is often made by veterinarians in clinics for cats. As a rule, this disease is chronic. Feline urolithiasis is a disease of the lower urinary tract.

The disease begins to appear unexpectedly. First, the pet lingers on the tray for a long time. But at the same time there are no traces of urination. Another symptom of the disease is an increase in body temperature up to 40 degrees. In this case, the animal becomes lethargic. Then more ominous signs appear:

• pain when urinating;
• frequent urges without any urination;
• stagnation of urine;
• traces of blood in the urine.

There are also symptoms of intoxication, namely: vomiting and lack of appetite. If you do not start treatment urgently, then within a few days the animal may die. This feline disease can be caused as an infection, hereditarypredisposition, as well as improper feeding, lack of water, early castration and a large amount of fish in the diet.

Diagnosis and treatment of urolithiasis

The diagnosis is based on the results of a series of examinations. Usually an ultrasound, X-ray is done. Blood is also taken for a biochemical study to accurately confirm this particular feline disease. How to treat a cat with such a serious diagnosis?

If the animal came to the veterinarian not in a critical condition, while the stones are small, they do not cause injury to the urethra, then medications are prescribed. They can be used at home. In this case, drugs are prescribed that “break” the stones, stimulate the excretion of urine in the usual way, as well as antispasmodics.

If such therapy does not help, then a catheter is placed in the cat's bladder. In critical situations, surgical intervention is performed. In severe conditions, supportive drips are also used.

Other cat diseases

The above ailments are very serious and common feline diseases. Now let's talk about what diseases these animals are also susceptible to. Cats can be diagnosed with various diseases of the cardiovascular system:

1. Myocarditis, which is characterized by inflammation of the heart muscle. Usually occurs acutely or chronically. Diagnosis is based on signs and ECG data.
2. Endocarditis. A disease characterized by inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.
3. Arteriosclerosis. With such an ailmentconnective tissue grows in the walls of blood vessels.

Cats also have various diseases of the respiratory system. Often doctors make diagnoses such as: laryngitis, bronchitis, pleurisy. Sometimes pneumonia occurs.

We must not forget about cat skin diseases. The most common ailment is dermatitis. Also, cats have pyoderma, phlegmon, toxidermia.

Small conclusion

In our article, various cat diseases were considered, their symptoms were indicated, as well as the ways of transmission. In addition, methods for diagnosing and treating ailments were described. We hope that this information was not only interesting for you, but also useful.