Years ago no one blinked when someone had a cat declawed, but these days declawing is passionately debated. Still, some individuals are not aware of the seriousness and potential ramifications of declawing and make the decision without being fully informed. Unfortunately, declawing cannot be undone if the human later regrets the decision, so continued efforts at public education about the ins and outs of de ...

Cat Scratch Disease (Bartonella henselae) may be most well known as the title of a popular song, but its less glamorous identity is that of a zoonotic (transmissible from animals to people) disease. Cat Scratch Fever is caused by a bacteria that is present in up to 20% of domestic housecats, but only shows symptoms in a tiny fraction of that number. An even smaller number of feline Bartonella carriers will ...

Your little baby is all grown up and about ready to be spayed (if she is a girl) or neutered (if he is a boy). Naturally, you are worried, but while any surgery has its risks, spaying and neutering is a common procedure that most veterinarians have had lots of practice doing. What should you expect before, during and after the operation? Pre-surgical preparation Most veterinarians will ask that you fast you ...

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) belongs to the family retroviridae. It is an infectious disease found in cats and is similar to the HIV virus found in humans. FIV weakens the immune system of the infected animal and makes it susceptible to infections and diseases that do not normally attack healthy cats. There is no cure for FIV. The condition is fatal in the long run but there is no reason why an infec ...

Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic in Cats The heart has four chambers: two chambers at the top, the right and left aorta; and two chambers on the bottom, the right and left ventricles. The left ventricle is responsible for receiving oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumping the blood out into the aortic valve, the main artery of the body, which feeds the oxygenated blood to all parts of the body. Hypertrophic ...

Cats will commonly vomit from time to time, often because they might have eaten something that upset their stomachs, or simply because they have sensitive digestive systems. However, the condition becomes acute when the vomiting does not stop and when there is nothing left in the cat's stomach to throw up except bile. It is important you take your pet to a veterinarian in these cases. While vomiting may hav ...

Chlamydiosis in Cats Chylamydiosis refers to a bacteria based chronic respiratory infection, caused by the Chlamydia psittaci bacterium. Cats that have developed this infection will often exhibit traditional signs of an upper respiratory infection, such as watery eyes, runny nose, and sneezing. With treatment, the prognosis is positive. Symptoms and Types Chlamydiosis infection affects the respiratory syste ...

Demodicosis Demodicosis, or mange, is an inflammatory skin disease in cats that is caused by various types of Demodex mites not visible to the naked eye. Demodex mites are commonly found on the skin of mammals, and in most cases are not symptomatic of an abnormal condition, but when the immune system is compromised, by stress or illness, or the body is producing excess oil or hormones, the Demodex populatio ...

Cestodiasis in Cats Tapeworm infection can affect cats (as well as many other mammals), typically settling in the small intestine. Invasion by the Cestoda tapeworm results in a medical condition that is referred to as cestodiasis. The tapeworm species can include Taenia, Dipylidium Caninum, Echinococcus, and Mesocestoides. Treatment to destroy tapeworms is a critical step in preventing transmission to human ...

Most of us put a lot of thought into naming our new dog or puppy. We realize our dog's name will speak volumes about our own personality, insights, or sense of humor. And what a great way of revealing just a tidbit of information about yourself to passers-by. Did you hear about the woman at the dog park who was heard calling, "Bella, here Bella!" by a fellow Twilight fanatic, thus sparking a conversation an ...