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Seizures
Seizures are a relatively common neurological disease of cats. A seizure is a clinically detectable manifestation of paroxysmal, excessive, and synchronous discharges of a population of hyperexcitable cerebral neurons. They are usually sudden in onset, short in duration and spontaneously resolve. Seizures which occur frequently are categorised as epilepsy. Seizures are thought to occur through the action of […]
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Sacrocaudal dysgenesis
Sacrocaudal dysgenesis is a common neurological disease of Manx cats. This is a malformation involving the caudal part of the neural tube and associated sacrocaudal somites. As a rule there is agenesis of the caudal vertebrae and the caudal sacral vertebrae. Spina bifida often occurs in the remaining sacral vertebrae and occasionally the 7th lumbar vertebra. This vertebral column […]
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Domestic shorthair
“The phrase ‘domestic cat’ is an oxymoron. George Will A domestic shorthaired cat (DSH) is a cat fancy term used to describe a shorthaired cat that does not have a pedigree or belong to a recognized cat breed. The domestic shorthair should not be confused with the American Shorthair, which is a Cat Fanciers’ Association […]
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Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder affecting the thyroid gland of older cats, characterized classically by elevated total thyroxine (T4) above the reference range of 20-40 nmol/L. Iodine content of the diet has been suggested as a likely etiologic factor in feline hyperthyroidism[1]. It is uncommon to see hyperthyroidism in cats under 10 years of age, and […]
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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. […]
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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 […]
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Vaginitis in Cats
Vaginitis, defined as an inflammatory disease of the vagina, occurs commonly in cats secondary to bacterial infections such as Chlamydia spp and Citrobacter spp infection, traumatic matings and foreign bodies[1] and pyometron. In addition, some generalized dermatoses can affect the vagina, including desquamative inflammatory vaginitis and atrophic vaginitis[2]. Ascending infections from the vagina can lead […]
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Chlamydia in Felines
Chlamydiosis, cause by Chlamydophila felis, is a common bacterial disease of cats which causes upper respiratory tract disease, conjunctivitis and pneumonia[1]. Because the symptoms of chlamydiosis in cats primarily involves upper respiratory tract disease, it needs to be distinguished form Cat Flu, which has similar presenting symptoms. C. felis was first isolated from the lung […]