Urinary Tract Infection, commonly called a UTI is one of the most common illnesses that we see in our clinic.  It can also be called FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease) so if you see either term they are interchangeable.  Common causes of UTIs include crystals (we will get to that later), or stones in the bladder, bladder infections, urethral obstruction, inflammation in the urinary bladder, and other abnormalities in the urinary tract.

Common symptoms of a UTI you want to look out for in your cat:

1. Difficult urination
2. Painful urination
3. Blood in the urine
4. Frequent trips to the litterbox /  frequent squatting
5. Smaller volume of urine / more spots in litterbox
6. Inability to urinate
7. Vocalization while urinating

One of the causes of a UTI or FLUTD mentioned above is urinary crystals.  Crystals can form in the urinary bladder due to a change in the pH balance in the urinary bladder due to diet but can also be a result of stress, a new environment, liver or kidney disease, or ingestion of poisonous substances like antifreeze.  The three most common urinary crystals that form in cats are struvite, oxalate, & urate crystals.

Please keep in mind, these are only 3 of the most common urinary crystals that are found in cats, so if crystals do present in your cat's urinalysis, your veterinary staff will discuss the diagnosis, treatment, & prognosis with you.  The main reason crystals need to be addressed quickly in the urine once diagnosed is that create urinary stones in the bladder if not treated, which then requires surgery to remove those stones.  

This article concludes our Cat Health month on the Blog.  Stay tuned next month for Poison Prevention Awareness.  Articles as always will be up every Monday.  Don't forget to stay in touch through our website & also on our Facebook page. Click the Facebook icon to be directed to our  page.

Today's topic will be discussing the importance of feline dental health along with the importance of spaying & neutering your cat.

The media, vet clinic, TV commercials (thank you ASPCA) stress the fact that too many kittens and puppies are produced every year, and that there just are not enough potential owners to keep up with the demand. The obvious conclusion is that we should breed fewer cats and dogs, produce fewer litters, and educate the public on the importance of spay/neuter procedures. The easiest way to ensure that less litters occur is through sterilization procedures, so a larger percentage of cats and dogs are incapable of breeding.

Risks of Not Spaying
1. Pregnancy: Cats can have large litters, sometimes 10+ kittens.  
2. Mammary Cancer: This is the 3rd most common cancer in cats. Spaying your female cat reduces her risk of mammary cancer by 40-60%.
3. Tumors in the reproductive tract: Cancer/tumors can occur in both the ovaries & uterus
4. Infection in the reproductive tract: Also known as a pyometra, this life threatening infection causes the uterus to fill with pus which is often fatal.

The typical age that kittens are spayed is between 5-8 months old, but can be done earlier.  Some animal shelters spay & neuter as early as 2 months old.  Early neutering does not affect the growth rate, and there are no appreciable differences in skeletal, physical, or behavioral development between those animals neutered early than those neutered at a more traditional age.

For male cats, there are different benefits other than pregnancy prevention when owners choose to neuter. ​

1. Prevents disease: FeLV & FIV are disease common in cats who roam. FeLV is also transmitted via cat bites which most commonly occurs between intact males
2. Prevent injury: Intact males are significantly more territorial than neutered males which causes a dramatic increase in the number of fights between intact males which leads to bite wounds, abscesses, and other injuries.
3. Reduces Roaming: Intact males are always looking for a mate which can cause them to frequently wonder away from home. This can lead to hit by car accidents, cat fights, or wildlife encounters.
4. Keeps your house cleaner: Intact males spray urine to mark their territory.  This means your house is going to smell like cat urine.
5. Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer: One of the more common cancers in cats, we take away the testicles during surgery, this eliminates the the risk of that particular type of cancer.

If you still decide that you are going to keep your cat intact (male or female), I strongly encourage you to read our handouts on breeding, pregnancy, & partition. 
Please click on the picture for direct link to our resource page.

Dental disease, including teeth and gums is one of the most common problems faced by all pet owners.  Many cat owners may think that dental health is primarily a dog issue, but studies show that 50-90% of cats older than four years of age suffer from some form of dental disease, but fortunately the most common forms of these diseases are largely preventable or treatable with appropriate preventive dental care and monitoring.

As mentioned above, the easiest way to prevent disease, infection, pain is good dental care, health, and prevention.  Brushing your cat's teeth at home, using a good dental treat, and regular dental cleaning by your veterinarian are all things that can help prevent dental disease. 

FeLV & FIV are relatively common feline diseases that present similar in some ways and are commonly mistaken for one another.  Below, I have expanded on each disease, causes, presenting signs, treatment, etc to allow you as a cat owner to become better educated.

FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus)
​Common Name: FeLV
Breed, Age, Sex: All breeds, younger cats are more likely to become infected, male & female are both affected
Risk Factors: Free roaming, domestic cats, multi cat environment
Zoonotic*: No
Presenting signs: Secondary infection, nose & eye discharge, weakness, lethargy*, decreased appetite, diarrhea, vomiting.  Some forms of cancer can occur.
Treatment: Prevention is key! Test & vaccinate!  If cancer is present, chemotherapy is possible.  Blood transfusions & antibiotics may also be used.
Prognosis*: Guarded to poor.  Cats testing positive for FeLV can live several years with relatively good quality of life, but complications do occur dramatically decreasing lifespan & quality of life.

As I mentioned before, these diseases are very similar in a lot of ways, and sometimes can be a little confusing.  Below I have broken down each disease into even more simple terms to help you distinguish between each disease.

February is National Cat Health month.  Our Blog posts this month will be covering common cat diseases, issues, and also give you a in-depth look at the vaccines that we offer, what is in each vaccine, and what each vaccine prevents.  In this post, we will be covering Feline Rabies, RCP (Feline Distemper combo), and URI (Upper Respiratory Infections).

The vaccine Rabies comes in a feline and canine version, but both versions treat the same disease. Michigan currently does not require rabies as a vaccine for cats, but it is STRONGLY recommended by veterinarians due to the zoonotic* nature and fatal prognosis*.  Below, I have expanded on the Rabies disease, so as an owner you can be more educated on the disease that this vaccine prevents.​​

The vaccine RCP is our feline combo vaccine that is used to prevent the following diseases: feline viral rhinotracheitits, calici virus, and panleukopenia.  Below, I have expanded on each of the diseases that RCP prevents so as an owner, you can be more educated on what your vaccines prevent.

Feline Viral Rhinotracheititis
Common Name: Feline Herpes
Breed, Age, Sex: All breeds, all ages, male & female affected
Risk Factors: Multi cat households, stress, secondary infection, inadequate vaccination
Zoonotic*: No
Presenting signs: Eye discharge, nasal congestion, sneezing, +/- nasal discharge & other eye issues that can be seen through an eye exam
Treatment: Mainly supportive care. Some doctors may use a medication called Lysine to limit flareups. Vaccinate!

Calici Virus
Common Name: One cause of upper respiratory tract infections
Breed, Age, Sex: All breeds, all ages (kittens most likely), male & female affected
Risk Factors: Multiple cat homes, crowding, stress, and poor sanitation
Zoonotic: No
Presenting Signs: Lethargy*, anorexia*, sneezing, nasal discharge, drooling, joint pain/lameness, and fever
Treatment:​ Supportive care, fluids, syringe feeding if needed, pain meds. Vaccinate!

Panleuokopenia
Common Name: Feline Parvovirus
Breed, Age, Sex: All breeds, all ages (mostly kittens), male & female affected
Risk Factors: Unvaccinated kittens under 6w, vaccinated kitten 8-20w (mother's anitibodies may kill off vaccine), pregnant females recieving modified live vaccine*
Zoonotic*: No
Presenting Signs: Vomiting, anorexia*, diarrhea, sudden death, extreme lethargy*, hiding, ataxia*, fever, extreme dehydration
Treatment:​ Fluids, antibiotics, anti-emetics*, appetite stimulants, syringe feeding. Vaccinate!

URI (Upper Respiratory Infections) are one of the most common illnesses that we see in our feline patients.  They can be caused by a variety of viruses, and sometimes can be rather tricky to get rid of.  I have expanded below on causes, signs, and treatment of this disease.

URI (Upper Respiratory Infections)
Common Causes: Herpes Virus & Calici Virus
Breed,Age,Sex: Higher frequency in flat faced cats (Persians & Himalayans), younger cats/kittens are most often affected, but older cats are at risk for chronic* infections, male & female affected
Risk Factors: Multi cat homes, introducing new cats to a house
Presenting Signs: Sneezing, congestion, eye & nose discharge, lethargy*, anorexia*
Treatment: Fluids (if URI is severe), antibiotics, eye medicine, separation from other cats to prevent transmission until healthy