Library
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Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure which is a common problem in people and also an important condition in cats.
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Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine (hormonal) disorder of cats. It is most common in older cats, rarely seen in cats under eight years of age.
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Hypokalaemia is a term that refers to low blood concentrations of potassium. Potassium is an important electrolyte (chemical) within the body and is very important for the normal function of muscles and nerves.
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Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a retrovirus from the same family of viruses as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). FIV is transmitted primarily by biting through transmission of saliva which has a large concentration of virus in it. FIV is diagnosed on a blood test by looking for an immune response (antibodies) to the virus. A vaccine is available in Australia to prevent FIV infection.
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FIA is caused by a very specialised group of bacteria called mycoplasmas, which attack the cat's red blood cells, leading to anaemia. The earliest indication may be pallor of the mucous membranes. FIA is treated with specific types of antibiotics. Sometimes infection can recur once treatment is stopped so careful monitoring of blood tests is required.
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Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is an uncommon but fatal disease of cats caused by a virus called a feline coronavirus (FECV). The first signs of FIP may be very vague: dullness, lethargy, and inappetance are common findings. FIP is a fatal illness, and essentially all cats that develop clinical signs will go on to die of the disease.
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Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is a potentially life threatening viral infection of cats. Fortunately because of attempts to control transmission and with the availability of good vaccines to protect against FeLV, the disease is much less common. As its name implies, FeLV is able to cause neoplasia (cancer) of the white blood cells (leukaemia), but in addition the virus may also cause the development of solid tumours (lymphomas) at various sites in the body. There is currently no specific treatment for FeLV infected cats (i.e., no treatment that is able to eliminate the virus from the body).
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Feline miliary dermatitis is a general term to describe a skin condition that usually involves an allergic response. It is a very itchy skin problem and affected cats may lick, bite, and scratch at the affected skin. The priority in investigation of miliary dermatitis is to rule out the possible involvement of fleas. The key to successful treatment is identifying the underlying cause and dealing with this. Treatment will be directed initially at preventing fleas, even if no evidence of flea infestation is found.
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Adrenal disease describes tumours or hypertrophy (excess growth) of the adrenal gland(s). Tumours may be benign (adenoma) or malignant (adenocarcinoma).
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Gastrointestinal disease in ferrets is all too frequent - from dental disease, through gastric foreign bodies to persistent diarrhoea. Some are readily prevented while others require considerable diagnostic investigation and long term treatment.