Here is another informational tidbit from one of my online newsletters! Very important to keep our babies healthy!

Cat Crazy Newsletter

Saturday November 07, 2009

3 Symptoms You Should Never Ignore In Your Cat

Hi N. Cathy S.,

With most diseases, the earlier you spot a problem and begin to treat it, the better. Today I want to tell you about some important symptoms you should never ignore. If your cat displays any of these symptoms, seek treatment immediately.

A symptom is a sign of a disease and one symptom could indicate several different diseases. The symptoms I will be giving you are all important and the diseases that can cause them can be significant.

3 Symptoms You Should Never Ignore:

1.Red Eye - A "red eye" is a non-specific sign of inflammation or infection. It can be seen with several different diseases. Some of these diseases can involve various parts of the eye including the external eyelids, third eyelid, conjunctiva, cornea and sclera. It may also occur with inflammation of the structures inside the eye, with glaucoma (high pressure within the eye) or with certain diseases of the orbit(eye socket). Either one or both eyes can become red, depending upon the cause of the problem. Some of these causes can be serious and ultimately cause blindness.

2.Coughing - This is a relatively uncommon problem in cats. Coughing is a common protective reflex that clear secretions or foreign matter from the throat, voice box and/or airways, and protects the lungs against aspiration. It affects the respiratory system by hindering the ability to breathe properly. Common causes include obstruction in the windpipe, bronchitis, pneumonia, heartworm disease, lung tumors and heart failure. Some of these causes are life threatening. All cats with a cough should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

3.Bloody Diarrhea - Blood in the feces can appear as "melena" which makes the stools appear black and tarry. Its presence suggests digested blood in the feces. Melena is
different from fresh blood in the stool (hematochezia). Bleeding into the colon or rectum appears as fresh blood in the stool. Bloody diarrhea should be evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible.

I will cover more symptoms in upcoming newsletters. It is my hope that this advice will help you to spot problems early and keep your kitty healthy.

Until next time,
Dr. Jon

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