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519 results for “cat birth”
How many kittens does a cat usually have in a litter?
A cat usually has 2-8 kittens per litter (up to 12, most often 3-6). Fertile cats can have two litters a year, but frequent breeding strains the mother, so don't overbreed. Large litters can leave kittens weak from undernutrition and the mother short on milk - hand-feed weak ones with pet goat-milk formula, and boost the mother's milk with goat milk, crucian carp soup, or bone broth.
Vaginal and Vestibular Tumors in Dogs and Cats
Vaginal and vestibular tumors are the second most common reproductive tract tumor in female dogs and cats, ranging from benign leiomyomas to transmissible venereal tumors. Signs include a mass protruding from the vulva, difficulty urinating, and bloody or pus-like discharge. Surgical removal is the main treatment.
Hydrocephalus in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Hydrocephalus is accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within or around the brain, from birth defects or later causes such as vitamin A deficiency, meningitis, or chronic disease. It causes dullness, poor vision, and aimless wandering, and has no specific cure beyond supportive care.
Tetralogy of Fallot in Dogs and Cats
Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect combining four abnormalities that lower blood oxygen. Affected pets are stunted, blue-tinged, and prone to breathless spells. Care focuses on oxygen, limited activity, and surgical repair.
Ventricular Septal Defect in Dogs and Cats
Ventricular septal defect is a congenital hole in the wall between the heart's lower chambers, with a clear hereditary tendency. Signs include slow growth, easy fatigue, cough, and breathlessness, and severe cases shorten life. Treatment improves heart function and prevents secondary infection.
Atrial Septal Defect in Dogs and Cats
Atrial septal defect is a congenital hole in the wall between the heart's upper chambers, often inherited, causing poor exercise tolerance, weakness, and breathlessness. Severe cases progress to right-sided heart failure. Surgical repair is the definitive treatment.
Omphalitis (Umbilical Infection) in Dogs and Cats
Omphalitis is a bacterial infection of the umbilical stump in newborn puppies and kittens, causing inflammation, discharge, and sometimes tissue death. Left untreated it can spread through the body and become life-threatening. Good hygiene at birth and prompt veterinary care prevent serious complications.
Agalactia in Dogs and Cats
Agalactia is insufficient or absent milk after birth, leaving puppies or kittens hungry, nibbling the mother raw, and at risk of starvation. It is managed by better nutrition, treating the underlying cause, and, when needed, medication to stimulate milk let-down.
Postpartum Eclampsia in Dogs and Cats
Postpartum eclampsia, or milk fever, is low blood calcium in nursing mothers that causes whole-body tetany, usually two to four weeks after birth in small or large-litter females. It is an emergency treated by correcting calcium and calming seizures; without care it can be fatal in one to two days.
Postpartum Septicemia in Dogs and Cats
Postpartum septicemia is a whole-body infection from severe uterine or vaginal infection after birth, often due to a dirty environment or retained placenta. Signs include refusal to eat and rapid fever above 40 C with cold skin, and urgent antimicrobial and supportive care is required.