Common Cat Diseases And Their Treatment
Cats, like every other animal, are prone to many different specific illnesses that carry distinctive symptoms. Being aware of what ails your cat will help in figuring out the right treatment for your cat and will make them healthy and well again. The outer environment carries many different diseases that can affect domestic cats and lead to serious illness.
However, keeping them indoors cannot protect them entirely as well. But the good news with cat illness is that their diseases are curable and can be prevented when treated early and with the right kind of medication.
Keep on reading to know more about common cat diseases and how they must be treated.
Top Common Cat Diseases
- Hookworms in Cats
Hookworm is a kind of intestinal parasites that are very common in cats. These worms are small and thin that are not even an inch long; however, all worms have teeth or plates on their mouthpart that helps them to hook to the intestinal wall of your pet. These hookworms attach themselves to your pets intestinal ways and feed on their tissue and blood.
They also have the ability to detach and move to other spots and tend to leave behind ulcers where they were feeding before. The severity of symptoms for these hookworms varies from species to species, and most of these worms are not life-threatening; however, they do have the ability to cause an excessive and fatal loss of blood if not treating early.
Cat disease symptom list for hookworms include:
- Inability to gain weight
- Diarrhea
- A bloody and tarry stool
- Anemia
- Irritation on skin
- Severe coughing
The severity of this disease depends entirely on the species of hookworm involved in the infestation; along with the health, age, and a number of worms present on your feline. If you suspect hookworms in your beloved pet, then it is essential that you start treatment right away.
The eggs of these worms get passed through your pet's feces and under warm and moist environment, they tend to hatch. These larvae have different ways to infect your cats; they can enter through the skin directly, be ingested when your cat links the ground or its fur or they can be ingested through a rodent or a roach and then be eaten by a cat.
The treatment for this disease requires the use of some very good and strong medication. You can get these medications without a vet prescription from World Pet Express. Treatment for hookworms includes Heartgard and Profender for cats. Follow the treatment as advised by the box and do not overdose on the medication.
- Roundworms
There are two different species of roundworms that can infect cats; both of these species are round and can grow up to four inches in length. They appear in white and pale brown in color and look very similar to noodles. While one species of roundworm only harm cats, other species can harm humans; for this reason, it is important that these parasites can be treated as soon as they are diagnosed.
These worms tend to migrate to your pet's intestine and can soak up any and all nutrients from your pet's diet. The eggs for these worms can be clearly seen under a microscopic examination of your pet's stool. You can also keep a check of your pet's symptoms and know if it has been infested with these parasites; these symptoms are:
- Dull colored hair coat
- Failure to gain and lose weight
- Potbelly appearance
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting of roundworms
- Excessive coughing
These roundworms get transmitted to your beloved feline through the mother’s milk, by ingesting of these eggs directly or through any animal that acts as a transmitted for these parasites such as a roach or a beetle. Once diagnosed, it is important that treatment must take place.
To treat these parasites, you can purchase medication such as Profender and Heartgard. These tablets help in treating these worms and restore the health of your beloved pet back.
- Stress
Stress is a defense mechanism that pets make use of similar to humans. It can arise in environments that are dangerous for your cat's survival. However, stress can become pathological when it arises repeatedly even in situations where your pet is secure and protected.
Most of the time cats have the ability to manage stress very well whereas other times it becomes a recurring issue and must be treated with proper medication. Before treating stress, it is essential you focus on the symptoms to confirm the problem your feline is having. The symptoms for stress include:
- Increased aggressiveness
- The increase in anxious behavior
- Urine Marking
- Disorder in eating
- The repeated onset of diseases that are infectious
When you diagnose stress using the above treatment, it is essential that you treat your pet with proper medication. The best product to treat stress in a feline is Fortiflora. This medicine works for stress management in cats as well as dogs. It is also a nutritional supplement and provides great benefit to your pet.
- Fleas And Ticks
These blood-sucking parasites are the nightmare for every pet owner. They not only make your pet scratch themselves aggressively but also act as a carrier to many other dangerous diseases. Fleas and ticks can be difficult to treat using simple flea combs and hands; for this reason, treating these pests with the right medication is very important.
Fleas are dangerous in all stages and so buying the right kind of medication can get rid of them early. Some medicines for fleas and ticks include Revolution, Vectra, Broadline, Advantage, Frontline Plus, and Program.
Medicines such as Program help in treating immature ticks and fleas whereas Vectra treats pests of all stages. Make sure you do your own investigation and then invest in the right kind of medication to treat your pet.
