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587315 tn?1333552783

WHEN TO TAKE YOUR CAT TO THE VET



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

21 Responses
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723510 tn?1230873036
I believe covering their food when they're done (usually with the closest object they can get their claws into, like socks or a plastic bag left on the floor, lol) goes along with the same instinct to cover their poop .

When our kitties were wild carnivores, they covered their poop so predators could not follow their trails by the smell making tracking down their location  more difficult. Same goes for their food. If they leave a trail of unfinished food behind them, they will become that predators next meal very easily. Thay had to cover their tracks to survive being they were/are a favorite on the food chain.
Helpful - 0
365714 tn?1292199108
hmmm what kind of fun? Now you got me curious. I need to send Sahib over to investigate.
Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
Sara isnt mad at anyone.........but i did have some fun in the corner!!!!
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365714 tn?1292199108
I think Sarah was mad at me for making the comment about the milk. I meant no harm. It was just a concern.  My grandma used to give Sahib milk, but as far as I know she hasn't lately.  I don't think he is intolerant either, but sometimes it's better to err on the side of caution.  I used to give waldo a little bit of garlic because I read it was good in one source. He didn't have problems with it either, so go figure. I guess it's better to be careful.

Now Sarah, get out of that corner...lol...
Helpful - 0
541150 tn?1306033843
Sarah,

I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry. Should I stand in the corner? My post was directed to MJ about the garlic part, not the milk. I had a kitty who loved milk, and I would give her milk for breakfast every day, and she never showed signs of discomfort or diarrhea. Like I said, some cats are lactose intolerant, but others aren't. S is one of those lucky kitties who can enjoy the good milky taste and still poop formed biscuits :)

My previous post was merely a pathetic intent to add to MJ's post. I would never question your intentions towards your S. I know you love that cat like a baby!!! :)
Helpful - 0
587315 tn?1333552783
Good LORD, now we have ANOTHER Wolfie going in the corner!!  LMAO.

Oh Sara, get out of the corner!  The little bit of milk you give him is not enough to give him the poops!  I've heard a few vets say that a little bit is okay.  But, if kitty starts to get the runs, ya know they've gotten too much.
Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
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..................
Helpful - 0
541150 tn?1306033843
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.
Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
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.
Helpful - 0
365714 tn?1292199108
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."
Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Helpful - 0
541150 tn?1306033843
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.
Helpful - 0
506791 tn?1439842983
I recall reading an article about a study done by animal behaviorists at the University of Nebraska, Omaha, when my wife and I lived out there in the late 80's.

It seems that cats actually prefer cooked meat to raw meat, in mouse-sized portions.

All of my girls love pork, so Christmas dinner was a treat for then, my wife and me ,-)  (I've only had one who really loved beef, Hildie, who is 7 years old now.)

As to the "covering up" of food, only 2 of the 11 cats I've had over the years have done this; they were sisters from the same litter.  They'd eat part of what I put on the plate for them, cover it up and come back later to finish.

I think its a holdover from when our kitties were wild carnivores, needing to cache food for later.

Be well all - Pip
Helpful - 0
541150 tn?1306033843
No, it just means they feel disgusted by the food. They don't like it or they're sensing something wrong with it. He never did this with the dry food. He started doing this today. I just cooked for him right now. The meat is fresh and healthy. He did it again and turned his back on the food. I guess he's going to have to eat it. He is kindda giving me a hard time now. Doesn't want chicken or meat or salmon.........nothing. He is still eating, but I can tell he doesn't like it. I may look up  communities online with people feeding their cats cooked meat see if they've been through this and how I can make the food more appealing to him.
Helpful - 0
587315 tn?1333552783
That's a good explanation.  It makes lots of sense.  :D.  Great insight.  Thanks!
Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
My dad always said that when Snickers was doing the covering up around his bowl he was trying to hide it.  Said that was in their nature to hide things so noone else could get it.  Always made sense to me!!!!
Helpful - 0
587315 tn?1333552783
Yes, girl, I've seen many cats do the scratching like they're covering up waste near the food before.  I wish I knew what the deal is for that.  I can't come up with an explanation or even a guess!  I'd love to find out the reason!!

I really don't think that many people will bother to look at the first post for emergencies or THIS one.  Otherwise, the jerk that wrote in about the kitten being attacked by a dog wouldn't have written.
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541150 tn?1306033843
Nevermind, I know why he is trying to cover the food and it is NOT to try and save it for later.
Helpful - 0
541150 tn?1306033843
How about this other one:

Trying to cover the food like they do with their waste after the owners have dedicated time and effort making a good, tasty meal.

Seriously, what does that mean? It is freaking me out. First time I ever see this kind of behavior. Does the food taste like poop to him?

You are right about this post. I wish everyone read this one before posting about a serious condition. Please, everybody, take them to the vet, then post. We cannot provide vet care for your pets, and even though some advices on here are better than may vets', it is still worth taking your pet for medical attention when needed.
Helpful - 0
587315 tn?1333552783
You're welcome!  I was trying to put this in the Cat Forum Health Pages and screwed up and put it on here!!  Have you seen the health pages on here?  They are located on the right side of the screen under "e-mail this" and "stop watching"

I found the info on the internet and cut and pasted the article because I thought it was good!
Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
This is very informative!!!  Thank you..........sara
Helpful - 0
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