5 Hidden Dangers to Your Cat's Health
When it comes to caring for your cat, I have a few simple recommendations:
1. **Maintain a safe environment**: Keep your cat indoors.
2. **Feed high-quality food**: Choose a meat-based protein diet.
3. **Think about preventive care**: Schedule annual physical examinations, laboratory tests, and the appropriate vaccines.
4. **Provide lots of affection and exercise**: Ensure your cat gets plenty of love and activity.
By following these basic tips, you can help keep your feline friends healthy for potentially decades. However, as cat guardians, you should also be aware of five “silent” killers in cats. Knowing the most common silent killers helps you recognize clinical signs early, allowing veterinarians to treat them promptly.
Related Post: Cat's secret nature
### 1. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
One of the top silent killers of cats is chronic kidney disease (CKD), also known as chronic renal failure or chronic kidney injury. These terms all mean that 75% of both kidneys are ineffective and not working. Clinical signs include:
- Excessive drinking and urinating
- Larger clumps in the litter box
- Weight loss
- Bad breath (due to toxins causing ulcers in the mouth, esophagus, and stomach)
- Lethargy
- Hiding
With appropriate management, cats can live with CKD for years. Chronic management may include a low-protein diet, frequent blood work, increased water intake (e.g., using a water fountain or feeding grueled canned food), medications, and even subcutaneous fluids (administered at home with proper training). Learn More....Learn More....
### 2. Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is an endocrine disease where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, seen in middle-aged to geriatric cats. Clinical signs similar to CKD include:
- Excessive thirst and urination
- Vomiting/diarrhea
- Weight loss
However, hyperthyroidism increases metabolism, causing a ravenous appetite despite weight loss. It can also result in:
- A racing heart rate
- Severe hypertension (leading to acute blood loss, neurological signs, or even a clot or stroke)
- Secondary organ injury (e.g., a heart murmur or changes to the kidney)
Treatment options include medication (methimazole), surgical removal of the thyroid glands, a special prescription diet (y/d® Feline Thyroid Health), or I131 radioiodine therapy. Early treatment reduces potential side effects or organ damage.Treatment System....
### 3. Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a costly, silent killer, often affecting overweight to obese cats. In DM, the pancreas fails to secrete adequate insulin (Type I) or there is resistance to insulin (Type II). Clinical signs include:
- Excessive urination and thirst
- Larger clumps in the litter box
- Weight loss despite an overweight or obese condition
- Decreased or ravenous appetite
- Lethargy or weakness
- Vomiting
- Abnormal breath (e.g., acetone breath)
- Walking abnormally (e.g., lower to the ground)
Treatment requires twice-daily insulin injections, dietary changes (high protein, low carbohydrate), frequent blood glucose monitoring, and regular veterinary visits. With supportive care, cats can manage well, but diabetic complications (e.g., diabetic ketoacidosis) can be life-threatening. Details......
### 4. Cardiac Disease
Heart disease is frustrating for cat owners and veterinarians because 50% of cats with heart disease have no detectable heart murmur. Clinical signs include:
- An abnormal heart rhythm
- A racing heart rate
- Collapse or syncope
- Increased respiratory rate
- Difficulty breathing
- Blue-tinged gums
- Open mouth breathing
- Acute paralysis (typically of the hind limbs)
- Cold, painful hind limbs
- Sudden pain or lameness
- Sudden death
Diagnosis involves physical exams, chest radiographs, the Cardiopet® proBNP Test, and echocardiograms. Treatment may include emergency care, oxygen therapy, diuretics, blood pressure support, and heart medications, though long-term prognosis is poor.Know more.....
### 5. Cancer
As cats live longer, more cases of cancer, particularly gastrointestinal cancer like lymphosarcoma, are diagnosed. Clinical signs include:
- Not eating
- Vomiting/diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Abdominal distension or bloating
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Hiding
- Fever
- General malaise
Prognosis is often poor, so early detection and treatment are crucial.
### Additional Tips
- Keep your cat indoors to prevent trauma.
- Maintain a healthy weight to avoid obesity-related issues like diabetes.
- Schedule annual vet visits to catch physical abnormalities early.
- Keep the litter box clean to monitor urination patterns and detect medical issues sooner.
- Seek veterinary attention immediately if you notice clinical signs.
By being aware of these silent killers and recognizing signs early, we can diagnose and treat medical problems sooner, improving outcomes for your cat. Learn More.......Learn More.......