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96 results for “Cat Health, Anemia”
What Causes Feline Rhinotracheitis (Cat Flu)?
Feline rhinotracheitis, commonly called cat flu, is one of the most frequent infectious diseases in cats. A cat can look healthy at the breeder yet sneeze, runny nose and weepy eyes days after coming home - because the culprit herpesvirus lies dormant in nerve cells and flares when environment or nutrition changes. Importantly, cat flu is not caused only by herpesvirus; calicivirus, chlamydia, mycoplasma and Bordetella are also agents. This article explains what cat flu is, its varied causes, and how to tell the agents apart by symptoms - always confirm with a vet.
Why Cats Become Picky Eaters and How to Fix It
A picky cat risks malnutrition, anemia, low blood sugar, and a weak immune system, so correcting it protects health. The fix is structure: controlled portions, few treats, a gradual mix-down to staple food, and timed meals that teach good habits. This guide covers the harm and the practical methods.
Two Ways to Protect Your Cat from Parasites
Parasites can pass from cats to people, so take them seriously. Spot them by symptoms like poor coat, pale gums, lethargy, and visible worms in stool or around the anus, and by checking bedding. Prevent by keeping cats indoors, cleaning the home against fleas and ticks, feeding balanced food, and applying topical dewormer every three months, dropped on the skin not the fur.
What Causes Cat Bad Breath
A healthy cat's mouth smells faintly of fish or food, never foul. Lasting odor means trouble: soft food and cans cause cavities and tartar, digestion issues and oral infection add smell, and B-vitamin deficiency is a culprit. Watch for dirty teeth, drooling, or gum pain, brush young, and see a vet for diagnosis and treatment.
What to Do If Your Dog or Cat Has Tapeworms
Many species of tapeworms parasitize dogs and cats, and the adult worms seriously harm their health, while the larval stages often use livestock or humans as intermediate hosts, threatening both animals and people. Common species include Dipylidium caninum, Taenia spp., Echinococcus granulosus, Mesocestoides, Spirometra mansoni, and Diphyllobothrium. Infection causes intestinal inflammation, malnutrition, and in severe cases intestinal blockage, with signs like vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and odd behavior. Diagnosis relies on clinical signs plus fecal egg exams. Prevention means regular deworming, not feeding raw offal, and controlling fleas. Treatment uses praziquantel (5 mg/kg dogs, 2 mg/kg cats), arecoline hydrobromide, bunamidine, or fenbendazole under veterinary guidance. Because some tapeworms (like Echinococcus) also endanger human health, prompt and correct control matters.
5 Steps to Read a Cat Food Ingredient List
Ingredients are listed by weight, so the earliest items dominate. For a carnivore, meat should lead—fresh meat best, then dehydrated, then meat meal—with about 10% organ meat for taurine and fat. Avoid controversial fillers (grains, potato, tapioca, pea), plant oils, and thickeners; steer clear of harmful additives like BHA/BHT, ethoxyquin, propylene glycol, and artificial flavors. Look instead for bonuses: taurine, fish oil (omega-3/6), and vitamins E and B.
Is a Pet Health Check-Up Really Necessary?
Like human screenings, pet check-up prices vary by region, and yes, it's an extra cost—but it's not wasted money. A check-up includes an external exam (eyes, ears, mouth), bloodwork (inflammation, infection, anemia, organ function), radiology (bones and organs), fecal testing (parasites), and urinalysis (urinary tract; in older cats it also shows kidney health). Cats and dogs have limited lifespans and often develop multiple diseases in old age, so early detection changes the outcome. Schedule a first exam at about 30 days old, yearly for seniors, and roughly every two years for healthy adults. Always use a proper veterinary clinic.
Rickets in Dogs and Cats
Rickets in dogs and cats is a growing-animal bone disease from vitamin D, calcium, or phosphorus deficiency, producing soft, deformed bones, lameness, and dental problems. It is prevented and treated with corrected diet, sunlight, and veterinary-directed calcium and vitamin D.
Cat Deworming Schedule and Precautions
Parasites are among the few diseases preventable by routine care; timely deworming is key to a cat's health.
What to Do for Anemia in Cats
Anemia refers to a low red blood cell count. It can be caused by many different blood problems, including blood loss, damaged red blood cells, and insufficient red blood cell production.