Articles
-
Cryptorchidism is the failure of one or both testicles to descend into the scrotum. Some purebred cats are more at risk, but it can affect any cat and is believed to be an inherited trait. Diagnosis can usually be made by palpation but sometimes requires blood testing or abdominal ultrasound if the cat’s history is unknown. Risks of retained testicles include testicular cancer, spermatic cord torsion, and the development of undesirable male characteristics, so neutering is strongly recommended. Surgery is generally routine, and recovery is similar to any abdominal surgery.
-
Retinal detachment can cause sudden blindness or vision changes. It is generally secondary to an underlying condition like high blood pressure. Diagnostics and treatment are discussed. Prognosis is guarded to good depending on the underlying cause.
-
Ringworm infections in cats are caused by a fungus, not a worm. They can be easily recognized, though definitive testing by fungal culture is recommended. Ringworm is highly contagious and can be spread between animals and from animals to people. The clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and risks are explained in this handout.
-
A salivary mucocele is an accumulation of saliva that has leaked from an injured salivary gland or duct. Some mucoceles cause swelling of the face and neck, while others interfere with a dog’s ability to swallow or breathe normally. Treatment typically requires surgical removal of the affected salivary gland(s).
-
Seborrhea or seborrheic dermatitis is a skin disorder in which the sebaceous glands produce an excessive amount of sebum causing scaly, flaky, itchy, and red skin. It typically affects the back, face, and flanks and may be worse in areas with skin folds such as the feet, neck, lips, armpits, thighs, and underside. Seborrhea can be a primary or secondary disease and is diagnosed using multiple tests to determine the underlying cause. Treatment or management depends on the cause
-
A seizure is a sudden surge in the electrical activity of the brain causing signs such as twitching, shaking, tremors, convulsions, and/or spasms. Epilepsy is used to describe repeated episodes of seizures. With epilepsy, the seizures can be single or may occur in clusters, and they can be infrequent and unpredictable or occur at regular intervals. Since many different diseases can lead to seizures, it is important to perform diagnostic tests to investigate the underlying cause of the seizures. Treatment of seizures in the cat depends on the nature of the underlying disease.
-
Several changes occur in the aging cat; they often progress slowly, so it is essential to have your senior cat examined by a veterinarian twice yearly. This is important so that if your cat develops a disease, it can be recognized and treated as early as possible, thereby maintaining her quality of life for as long as possible.
-
Septic arthritis occurs when bacteria or another infectious agent is introduced into one or more joints, leading to painful inflammation. The signs of septic arthritis include heat, swelling, and pain in one or more joints. There is typically decreased range of motion in the affected joint(s), as well as fever, lethargy, and lack of appetite. This handout discusses causes, signs, treatment, and follow-up care.
-
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter produced by the body that regulates mood, sleep, body temperature, pain perception, blood vessel constriction, gastrointestinal function, and even blood clotting. An animal with serotonin syndrome experiences excessive effects of serotonin. This handout reviews the causes, diagnosis and treatment.
-
Solar dermatitis is a skin disease caused by exposure to the sun. It occurs mainly in cats with white or pale patches of skin that are non-pigmented areas. The most commonly affected areas in the cat are the ears, but the nose and the eyelids are sometimes involved. Your veterinarian will recommend taking a tissue biopsy from the affected area if there is any concern that the condition may be progressing to squamous cell carcinoma.
