Library
-
There are many different diseases that can affect the kidneys in the cat. Chronic renal failure (CRF) is the end point of a number of different disease processes. Signs can be non-specific and diffucult to distinguish from general signs of ageing. Treatments will vary with each specific disease and situation.
-
Raising an orphaned kitten can be a rewarding experience. However, kittens are very fragile, and raising them can be difficult, time consuming, and not always successful. Included are basic considerations and frequently asked questions in regards to hand rearing kittens.
-
Heart disease can be divided into two groups, congenital and adult onset forms. In congenital disease the defect is present at birth. The cause of most types of adult onset heart disease is unknown. Heart disease is relatively common in cats, and treatments will depend on the cause of the problem.
-
The liver is a vital, complex organ which performs a number of crucial functions, principally involved with metabolism and is sometimes termed the "factory of the body" which controls many of the chemical processes necessary for normal bodily function.
-
The liver has a massive blood supply so many cancer cells from elsewhere arrive within it and start to grow. In dogs metastatic tumours are three times as common as primary tumours and over 30% of malignant cancer is said to metastasize to the liver.
-
Obesity, defined as an excess of body weight of 20% or more, is the most common nutritional disease of domestic cats. Although the frequency varies from one country to the next, we know in some countries that up to 40% of adult cats are obese!
-
Thiamine deficiency used to be a common condition due to the fact that in days gone by, raw fish was a common component of a cat's diet. However, commercial manufacturers realized this problem and foods were fortified with thiamine and the disease was rarely seen.
-
Maintaining nutritional intake in sick cats is vitally important. Unlike healthy cats that are able to reduce their metabolic rate when not being fed, cats that are unwell are unable to turn their rate down and will therefore 'starve' much more quickly.
-
Cats do have a requirement for vitamin A in their diet and deficiency can lead to problems. However, too much vitamin A can also be harmful and this can lead to toxicity.
-
Vomiting describes the return of food from the stomach. It may be related to disorders of the stomach but is a sign that can occur with many other different diseases and problems.
