Author: George

  • Suprelorin

    Deslorelin (Suprelorin) is an anti-androgenic hormone used as an off-label treatment for anoestrus and other oestrus disorders in female cats. It has also been used in cats for conditions such as inappropriate elimination.   Actions Deslorelin effects contraception by temporarily suppressing the reproductive endocrine system, preventing production of pituitary (FSH and LH) and gonadal hormones (estradiol and progesterone […]

  • Nocardiosis

    Nocardiosis is not an uncommon bacterial disease in cats, caused by a genus of weakly-staining Gram-positive, catalase-positive, rod-shaped bacteria found worldwide in soil that is rich with organic matter. Most Nocardia infections are acquired by inhalation of the bacteria or through traumatic introduction. Although serological tests can be run to determine strain identities, the generic name is […]

  • Cryptorchidism (retained testicle)

    Introduction Each testicle starts out inside the abdominal cavity of the kitten and descends into the scrotum after passing through the inguinal canal in the groin. Normally, testicles are present in the scrotum at birth or shortly afterward, although they may be very small and difficult to detect. By the age of 6 to 8 […]

  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

    Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) represents the most common myocardial disease in cats. Other variants of cardiomyopathy, including restrictive and dilated cardiomyopathy, account for only 30% of cases seen in this species. Aortic thromboembolism is one of the most serious and difficult-to-manage complications of feline cardiac disease. Most, but not all, cats presenting with signs of aortic thromboembolism are found to have […]

  • Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD)

    Contents 1 Introduction 2 Causes 3 Clinical signs 4 Diagnosis 4.1 Calcium Oxalate 4.2 Struvite 4.3 Others 5 Treatment 6 Aftercare 6.1 Medication 6.2 Dietary change 7 References   Introduction The term ‘cystitis’ means an irritation of the urinary bladder. It occurs in both male and female cats and is also known as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). It affects the bladder (not the kidneys), resulting […]

  • Asthma

    Asthma is quite common in cats and can be as severe as it is in humans. Feline chronic bronchitis and feline asthma are two of the most common respiratory diseases in cats. Although clinical signs such as coughing, wheezing and exercise intolerance are similar, it remains controversial whether chronic bronchitis and asthma are two separate […]

  • Acid-base balance

    Acid-base balance is critical when testing feline biochemistry to assess homeostasis. Acid-base balance is important for maintaining the narrow pH range that is required for various enzyme systems to function optimally in the body. Normal blood pH ranges from 7.3-7.4.3 Decreased pH is termed acidemia and is caused by an increase in the concentration of hydrogen ions […]

  • FHV (feline herpes virus)

    The feline herpesvirus I (FHV-1) is one of the most common viral infections in cats, and is responsible for the clinical disease known as feline viral rhinotracheitis, an upper respiratory tract infection known colloquially as Cat Flu. FHV-1 has the ability to persist in latent form in the trigeminal nerve, making reccurrence (or recrudescence) of […]

  • Eosinophilic granuloma complex

    Feline eosinophilic granuloma complex (EGC) is a common inflammatory skin disease of cats, which consists of a group of lesions that affect the skin, mucocutaneous junctions, and oral cavity. Feline eosinophilic dermatoses is the term now used to encompass EGC lesions[1]. EGC is not a specific disease but simply several cutaneous reaction patterns in cats. […]

  • Feline behaviour

    Cats are essentially asocial. This is often miscontrued as demeaning by cat lovers (ailurophiles), or sociopathic by ailurophobes. The reason for their asocial nature relates to the hard-wiring of their brain, specifically their cerebral cortex. In order to maximise utilisation of cerebropinal reflexes essential for hunting, cats have evolved into great hunters by maximising physical […]