auroracatclinicadmin's blog

(TH) There are many types of parasites that are found in the GI tract of cats and dogs. Worms such as roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms are very common in almost all parts of the world. These parasites shed their infective eggs in the pet's stool and contaminate the environment; some eggs can live on yards or fields for years. The eggs are ingested by the pet and the life cycle is completed when the worm grow into an adult in the intestine of a new host.

(TH) “Age is not a disease.” Older or senior cats go through many of the same health changes as people do, e.g., weight loss or gain, change in appetite and behavior, inappropriate elimination, decrease in vision or hearing, hair loss, persistent coughing or gagging, joint pain, and blood circulatory changes. Alert your veterinarian to these or other changes in your cat’s health.The gradual onset of health problems in an apparently healthy cat often goes unnoticed. Once symptoms appear, the disease may be in an advanced stage and it is difficult as well as costly to diagnose and treat.

(TH) Excess weight is a serious health problem for cats and is common in many countries. The two main causes of obesity are too much food and too little exercise.

(TH) It’s the Healthy Choice! Keeping unwanted cats out of already crowded shelters is the most talked about reason. BUT DID YOU KNOW: Having your cat spayed or neutered can benefit their physical and mental health? It decreases your cat’s risk of cancer and makes your cat less temperamental and more affectionate to you and your family. We recommend all cats (male or female) to be surgically altered by the age of 5-7 mont As time passes and your cat grows older, the gradual onset of disease often goes unnoticed.

(TH) Roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, giardia, coccidia, and toxoplasma are the most common intestinal worms in cats. These worms can cause poor health, stunted growth, poor skin coat, diarrhea with mucous or blood, vomiting, anemia and depression of the immune system.
Most of these parasites can cause diseases in humans, ranging from skin infections to blindness.  This is why it is important to check your cat's fecal sample every 6 months to ensure the health and safety of everyone in your household!

(TH) Healthy Teeth = Happy Cats. Oral disease and infection is common in cats of all ages, although it is more common in cats 7 years and older. If left untreated, the infection can lead to gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss. The infection can spread through the bloodstream to cause kidney, liver, lung and heart disease.Common signs of oral disease are: yellow-brown tartar near the gum line; red, swollen or bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, abnormal drooling, pawing at the mouth, loose or missing teeth, difficulty eating, and loss of appetite.

(TH) Laboratory tests are an important means by which your veterinarian can diagnose various disorders that could be affecting your animal's body. Blood chemistry panels provide useful information on the health and function of your cat’s internal organs (pancreas, kidney, intestine, liver, thyroid, and electrolytes). Complete blood counts provide information regarding anemia and oxygen carrying ability of blood as well as information regarding infection and inflammation.

(TH) General anesthesia is used every day in most practices. While anesthesia is not totally risk-free, the risk has been greatly reduced by the availability of pre-anesthetic blood tests, improved anesthetic drugs, state of the art monitoring equipment and increased veterinary expertise. Today, cats of all ages are acceptable candidates for anesthesia. Procedures that require anesthesia/sedation are: Surgery, dental procedures, x-rays, ear flush, anal gland expression, and management of aggressive cats.