WHEN TO TAKE YOUR CAT TO THE VET

[zodiacqueen]

When to Take Your Cat to the Vet

Cats are notorious in their ability to mask discomfort, pain, and illness. It is best to err on the side of caution - at least call your vet with your cat's symptoms, or better yet, take your cat to the vet as soon as possible.

The following are just a few signs that should cause you to seek veterinary attention:
Ataxia - unsteady gait or staggering. Possible causes include middle ear infections, neurological disease, or poisoning.

Straining to Eliminate - using great effort to urinate or defecate, especially while vocalizing. Possible causes are severe constipation, urinary tract disease, or lower urinary tract obstruction. The latter is common in males and can be fatal. Immediate veterinary care is critical.

Vomiting - vomiting several times within the hour, especially if blood appears in the vomitus, the cat is lethargic, or refuses to eat. Possible causes include ingestion of a foreign object, liver and kidney disease, gastrointestinal problems, and poisoning.

Diarrhea - diarrhea is a symptom of many conditions or diseases. Diarrhea may cause the cat to suffer from dehydration, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, high fever, lethargy, bloody and/or watery stools. Possible causes are stomach or intestinal viruses, intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretions (i.e., eating garbage or other offensive or irritating materials), inflammatory bowel disease, neoplasia, fungal or bacterial infection, hyperthyroidism, and loss of pancreatic function. If diarrhea is persistent, immediate vet care is vital.

Hemorrhage - any bleeding from a body opening, the eye, or the inner ear, or pulsating blood from a cut or wound. Even if the bleeding stops, the cat should be seen immediately by a vet.

Change in Gum Color - if any change in a cat's normally pink gums become white, blue, yellow, or bright red, see a vet immediately. White or pale gums may indicate anemia or systemic shock; blue gums from breathing problems; yellow gums from red blood cell destruction, liver disease, or gall bladder disease; red gums from septic shock or severe infection.

Lameness - any limping, neck or back pain, or the inability to use one or more limbs requires veterinary attention. Possible causes include bony infection, fractures, abnormal blood clotting, or heart disease.

Breathing Difficulties - any labored breathing requires immediate veterinary attention. Possible causes include asthma, lung disease, foreign body aspiration, severe upper respiratory illness, or cardiovascular disease.

Seizures - any spasm or convulsion including disorientation, twitching, or apparent loss of ability to recognize surroundings require immediate vet care. Possible causes include idiopathic epilepsy, liver or kidney disease, low blood sugar, infection or inflammation of the central nervous system, or a brain tumor.

Sudden Blindness - walking into walls or appears unable to see, immediate vet attention is vital. Possible causes include retinal detachment, liver insufficiency, or glaucoma.

Abdominal Problems - pawing at abdomen, adoption of a "praying" position, or laying on the ground with legs tucked underneath the body, resentment of abdominal manipulation. Possible causes are abdominal bleeding, organ rupture, or inflammation of the abdominal wall lining.

Lumps, Bumps, Swelling - any local swelling of any size on your cat could be an abscess but it could also be a tumor (benign or malignant), cyst, insect bite, hematoma, fracture, or soft tissue trauma (sprain, pocket of fluid such as infected oil gland). Vet care should immediate.

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/vet.html

[dominosarah]

Really Snickers is okay with the milk.  My vet knows he gets a few drops of it too.  He did tell me about the allergies cats can have with it.  He has a real small bowl and the milk doesnt cover the bottom........I would never do something to him if i knew he was getting sick from it.  Im going to the corner now and waiting for someone to come and take my cat away..................

[PrettyKitty1]

Garlic is only bad when the cat has bleeding issues. Garlic is good for the fur. Garlic doesn't give cats bleeding problems, but a cat who already has bleeding problems should not be given garlic. I learned this one from Dr. Aleda. Since I switched Abby to the new diet I have been giving him a product called Missing Link (recommended by herself) and it contais garlic to help enhance fur and skin. Remember, my kitty had bleeding issues, and not even garlic has brought that problem back, thank Goodness. I agree with you with everything else. When Abby was a baby I gave him milk one day to calm him down because he was crying hard. It did calm him down but the next day my cat was evacuating very, very loose stool.

So I guess garlic would be in the same place as milk. You shouldn't give a cat milk if the cat is lactose intolerant. You shouldn't give your cat garlic if your cat has bleeding problems.

Well, I suppose he likes my food then. I thought he was disgusted by it and the covering part was a sign that he felt disgusted by the food. He is still eating it, so it must be because he likes it. If he doesn't like his food he won't eat it since that thing is so spoiled....I should have known before posting...but it did freak me out because I have never seen him do this. Oh well, Abby has taught me something new.

[dominosarah]

Yes i know about the milk thing.  My dad started giving him about 2 tablespoons of milk a day when he was a kitty and i still give him his few drops.  He has no problem with it.

[MJIthewriter]

Snickers may be an exception but be careful with milk. Some cats are lactose intolerant and giving them milk may give them the runs.

Here's an interesting article about what human foods to avoid feeding pets:
http://cats.about.com/cs/catfood/a/humanfood.htm

Foods that are toxic (copied from the site):

- Onions, Garlic, & Related Root Vegetables
- Tomatoes, Green (raw Potatoes)
- Chocolate
- Grapes and Raisins

Not toxic but not good to feed either:
- Milk

"Although milk is not toxic to cats, it may have adverse effects. Simply put, adult cats fed a nutritious diet don't need milk, and many cats are lactose-intolerant, which means that the lactose in milk and milk products produces stomach upset, cramps, and gassiness. If your cat loves milk, and begs for it, a small amount of cream may be okay, two or three times a week. (The more fat in the milk, the less lactose.) Another compromise is CatSip, a product made from skim milk with an enzyme added that helps the digestion of lactose. Catsip is available in supermarkets such as Safeway, Albertson's and A&P, as well as pet products chains, such as PetSmart and Petco."

[dominosarah]

Snickers would do it with his little bowl of milk he gets and he LOVES milk!!!!  I really think the covering is their nature.  Abby likes your food PK!!!!!  Hey i get alittle protective of my can of redi whip......if there is any left i hide the rest of it so nobody can eat the rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PrettyKitty1]

Interesting, my cat prefers raw meat, but I'm just too scared to keep him on raw foods forever. I still fear Toxoplasmosis, but some people claim that as long as you know where the meat comes from then you shouldn't have any problems. Still, I cook his meat, but I don't think he is too excited about it (I don't overcook). This is a cat who has spent his entire life eating commercial foods, so the change is obviously not of his preference. I hope he is doing that off of pure instinct, to save it for later, and not because he feels disgusted by his food.