How To Keep Your Cat Healthy - Your Guide to Cat Diseases and Conditions, and How to Cure Them

Even with the best care, cats can become ill. Sometimes this means a simple "kitty cold," at other times the disease might have a more lasting or even fatal result. The following are some of the more common causes of serious illness in cats.

An upper respiratory infection (URI) is the medical term for what many cat lovers call a "kitty cold." Indeed, the symptoms match those of a human cold, sneezing and discharge from the nose. While they seem similar, the human and cat version of this infection are different, and one species cannot be infected by the other. However, URI is highly contagious among cats. If you have a multi-cat household and notice URI symptoms, isolate the cat immediately.

The best treatment for URI is time and loving care. Use a warm, moist cloth to keep your cat's eyes and nose free of discharge. You might need to warm her food to enhance the smell to encourage your cat to eat.

URI symptoms, which include a decreased appetite, can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Watch your cat carefully; not eating or drinking can lead to dehydration. Also, if your cat becomes extremely lethargic, it may mean the URI has turned into something more serious.

The symptoms of URI may last a few days to several weeks. Cats with URI may also be lethargic and have a decreased appetite. Monitor the cat carefully; a growing lack of appetite and fever can lead to dehydration. Not eating can lead to liver problems. Lethargy can mean a minor URI has become a more serious problem, such as pneumonia. If you notice this occurring, or if the discharge becomes very thick and yellowish-green, contact your veterinarian. Severe URIs may need to be treated with antibiotics.

Chlamydia is a type of bacteria that has many variations. Usually, each variant is species specific; feline Chlamydia is not transmitted to humans. In cats, the bacteria usually infects the eye, causing conjunctivitis. Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics.

Symptoms of Feline Chlamydia

* Anorexia (loss of appetite; may occur as the disease progresses)

* Coughing

* Difficulty breathing

* Fever (may occur as the disease progresses)

* Pneumonia (in young kittens 2 to 4 weeks old, which could be fatal)

* Runny nose (rhinitis)

* Sneezing

* Watery eyes due to conjunctivitis (either one or both eyes)

Panleukopenia is a condition in which a cat's white blood cell count drops dramatically. Since white blood cells are vital to the cat's defense against disease, this condition leaves cats vulnerable to deadly infections. The virus is transmitted via body secretions. Feces are particularly common transmitters. It can be carried in water or on shoes.

Panleukopenia is often referred to as a number of different terms, such as

* Panleukopenia (often shortened to "Panleuk" in verbal discussion)

* FPV (Feline Panleukopenia Virus OR Feline Parvo Virus)

* FP (Feline Panleukopenia)

* Feline Distemper

* Feline Infectious Enteritis

* Feline Infectious Gastroenteritis

* Feline Agranulocytosis

* Cat Plague

* Cat fever

* Show fever

* Psuedomembranous Enteritis

* Maladie du jeune chat

* Feline Typhus

* Feline Tyfoid

* Colibacillosis

* Agranulocytosis

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) causes a variety of diseases, one of which is leukemia, or cancer of the white blood cells. Infected cats often appear healthy in the early stages of the disease. The illness may take months or years to cause death. For a long time, FeLV was the most fatal disease among cats. Today, although vaccinations are available to protect cats from this disease, it continues to be a leading cause of death, as there is no treatment.

FeLV is usually transmitted through cat fighting with each other. Because large quantities of the FeLV are shed in puncture wounds and cat saliva associated with fighting result in the injection of PeLV into other cats. Other less frequent routes of viral spread include sharing food and water bowls, cats grooming each other, and transmission from mother to kittens before birth.

Cat Illness Symptoms - Keeping Your Kitty Healthy

Cat illness symptoms can be easy to spot, like vomiting up a hairball, or harder to determine, like when they are running a temperature. Some of the more familiar symptoms of illness are eye and ear discharge, hair loss, sneezing and coughing, and diarrhea or constipation. Hairballs are quite normal, and not usually a problem. Other signs require some attention to notice, such as loss of appetite, excessive thirst or abnormal urination, skin problems, and depression.

Cats normally alternate periods of sleeping and rest with periods of play and activity. Some cats eat whenever they are hungry if you allow them to self feed, or daily when you set down some food. A loss of appetite, of course, will be seen by their food dish remaining full, or if they turn away from it. When you clean out their litter box, you would notice any loose stools from diarrhea, and if constipated, you may notice them spending a long time in the litter box trying to defecate.

One symptom alone is not usually serious, but in combinations, cat illness symptoms may indicate real problems only a veterinarian can diagnose. If your cat is lethargic, not acting normally, there could be other causes. Combined with thirst and weight loss, it could point to chronic kidney failure. While not curable, this is controllable with diet and medication.

Cat flu, or a respiratory infection can be fought with antibiotics and care. Symptoms include what you might expect, coughing, sneezing, runny eyes, fever, heavy breathing, loss of appetite and fever. Just like in humans!

Abscess can be from an injury or cat fight, when infection sets into a wound. Symptoms will include swelling, fever, and lethargy. This is treatable with antibiotics or occasionally surgery is needed.

Combinations of cat illness symptoms can mean more serious problems like feline diabetes or distemper. The signs of feline diabetes are similar to human diabetes symptoms, increased thirst and urination. Other signs include weight loss, poor coat condition, loss of appetite, and general lack of energy. This condition can be treated, again as in human cases, with insulin injections and diet.

Other cat illnesses symptoms the vet can diagnose include feline distemper, leukemia, ringworm, urinary tract infections, worms and cat AIDS (FIV). Cat illness symptoms mirror our human symptoms, and if you take your cat in to see the veterinarian on a regular basis, just like seeing your own doctor, prevention is the best medicine.

Keeping your cat healthy is part of cat care and your responsibility as a caring cat owner. Your kitty may need special food, or medicine, and testing only a vet can provide. Most cats enjoy happy, healthy, long lives and become part of the family. And you can usually tell when your cat is not feeling right because their activity patterns will visibly change. That is the time to stop and pay attention closely, so you help your little friend through a problem time in their life. They depend on you for everything!

Keeping Your Backyard Chickens Healthy - Common Chicken Diseases To Watch For

Taking care of them can be a lot of work. They need a proper chicken coop and run so they are safe from predators. They need proper nutrition and exercise. Chickens are susceptible to disease just like any other pet. Some of these can be caused by improper care while others can develop in even the most pampered chicks. Here are some of the most common afflictions of backyard chickens.

External Parasites - Fleas, Ticks, Lice, and Mites

Parasites are pretty common among chickens. These include tiny mites, fleas, ticks, and lice. Mites can be so small they are hard to even see. Lice look similar to the head lice seen on the heads of young kids. Fleas and ticks can infest your chickens just like they do your dog or cat. These are easy to see crawling over the feathers or burrowed into the skin.

These parasites are annoying to your chickens and may even cause serious medical conditions like tick fever. At the very least they can cause itching and skin irritation. Mild infestations should be treated quickly before they get out of hand. You can buy parasite drops or sprays from the feed store that will handle most of these problems. However, if the infestation is severe you may need to get help from your veterinarian before it harms your flock.

Internal Parasites - Worms

Chickens can also get internal parasites and these are usually more dangerous to their health. These can cause pale comb, diarrhea, weight loss, and even death. If you notice these symptoms in your chicks, internal parasites could be the cause. Chickens get worms just like puppies sometimes get. To get a diagnosis, collect some feces and take it to your vet. He will be able to determine the type of parasite and prescribe the appropriate medication for treatment. When your chickens have worms, be extra meticulous about cleaning up their feces in order to prevent spreading them to other chicks in the flock. It is also a good idea to not eat any eggs that your chickens produce when they have worms.

Marek's Disease - A Deadly Viral Condition

Marek's Disease is a fairly common viral disease of chickens that is very hard to eradicate. It can live for a long time in your chicken coop and survive harsh conditions. It can be spread by you from chicken to chicken or spread through dust and feather dander.

This disease usually strikes the white blood cells of young chickens. This causes cancer to develop. You may become aware of the condition when you notice a chicken with paralyzed legs, wings, or neck. The afflicted chicken can have other symptoms as well like weight loss, breathing difficulties, and diarrhea. Marek's Disease cannot be treated or cured. Luckily your chicks can be vaccinated and spared suffering from this condition. Always vaccinate your birds or buy chicks that have already had their vaccinations.

Fowl Pox - A Common Virus

Fowl pox is another viral disease that can strike your flock of backyard chickens. They can pass this virus among themselves by fighting or pecking insects off each other. The bite or scratch allows the virus to enter the body. By the time the wound has formed a scab, the disease begins to manifest. Most of the time, chickens do recover from fowl pox. But while in a weakened state they may succumb to a secondary infection. Once a chicken has had this viral infection and recovers from it, he is immune for life.

Disease Prevention

Chickens are generally pretty hardy animals and will recover from ailments given proper care. The notable exception to that is Marek's Disease that has no cure. A lot can be done to prevent disease in your backyard chickens. Maintaining proper hygiene is very important in preventing the spread of disease. Keep your chicken coop clean and free of feces. Clean out the feces daily and clean the coop or hen house on a regular basis. Change the water and food you give your chickens daily rather than just adding to it so viruses and parasites won't be spread internally. Also, be careful when working with your flock that you do not spread disease from chicken to chicken by handling them. Marek's Disease in particular can travel on your clothing. Just like any other pet, your chickens need proper health care and you should seek advice from your vet on a regular basis.