health and technology

Hair Loss in Cats
Hair loss, aka 'Alopecia' is a common problem for cats. Hair loss in cats can stem from many causes, causing it to be sometimes difficult to diagnose and treat. This article by PetMD.com for About.com details the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of hair loss in cats.
Inflammation of the Pancreas in Cats
The pancreas is part of the endocrine and digestive system, which is integral for the digestion of foods, producing the enzymes that digest food, and producing insulin. When the pancreas becomes inflamed, the flow of enzymes into the digestive tract can become disrupted, forcing the enzymes out of the pancreas and into the abdominal area. Learn more about pancreatitis in this article from PetMD.c…
Managing Chronic Diseases in Cats
Managing a chronic disease in cats need not be as overwhelming as you might expect, provided you are given sufficient instruction and support by your veterinarian, know what symptoms are red flags, and what side effects might be considered normal, and hold to a regular routine. Routine is all-important to cats, and even a very sick cat will expect his medication and other treatment to be delivere…
Feline Inflammatory Bowel Disease - IBD - IBS in cats
Disease profile of feline inflammatory bowel disease aka IBD or IBS. Learn more about symptoms, diagnosis, and management of feline IBD.
Feline Arthritis - Disease Profile - Osteoarthritis in Cats
Senior cats that exhibit the symptoms of aching joints may be afflicted with Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease. Excess weight may be a contributing factor, and weight control (including exercise) is an important part of any treatment program for Osteoarthritis.
Chronic Renal Failure in Cats
Feline Disease Profile of Chronic Renal Failure (CRF), which is a common disease of older cats. Learn the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of CRF cats.
Feline Diabetes
Feline disease profile on feline diabetes, a disease that strikes many cats, but one that can be managed through diet and medication. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes in cats
Giardia - Profile of a Gastrointestinal Parasite in Cats
Although giardia is only found is a small number of cats, it can wreak havoc within shelters, catteries, and other areas where cats have close contact. Find out more about giardia, the symptoms of giardiasis, and its diagnosis, and treatment.
Hyperthyroid Disease in Cats
Hyperthyroidism is disease which attacks senior cats, and is being seen more often in recent years, as cats are living longer because of advances in veterinary science and increased awareness on the part of caregivers.
Radioactive Iodine Therapy for Hyperthyroid Cats
This series has been following the treatment of a hyperthyroid cat, using oral medication with Tapazole. At 18 months into the treatment, it is time for radioactive iodine therapy. Learn more about the isotope procedure with this article.
Feline Panleukopenia AKA Feline Distemper
Feline Panleukopenia is an extremely contagious virus with a high mortality rate that often targets kittens. Find out more about how feline panleukopenia is transmitted, its symptoms, and treatment and prevention of feline panleukopenia.
Dental Care Plan for Cats
Dental care for your cat is critical, not only for promoting good dental health, but the overall health of your cats, as well. Here are tips and tools you need to get your cat aimed toward better dental health.
Hearing Loss and Ear Problems
Cats can compensate for early degrees of hearing loss, so sometimes their human companions are unaware of the problem until complete deafness occurs. Sharp eyes may spot symptoms, both early and late:
Eye Problems and Blindness in Cats
Feline disease profile on eye problems and blindness in cats. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of problems that affect the vision of cats, including conjunctivitis, cataracts, glaucoma, tumors, and other conditions involving the eyes of cats.
Bartonella henselae in Cats
Feline upper respiratory infections (URI) can be baffling and frustrating, but sometimes are very curable, especially if the cause is a bacteria called Bartonella henselae. Guest article by Tina Camporeale.
FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)
So, my cat is FIV positive. What do I do now? This series tracks your Guide's experiences with living with an FIV+ Cat.
Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Feline disease profile on Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart which affects cats of all ages. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of HCM.
Feline Hypertension
Although hypertension was uncommon in cats at one time, since cats are living longer today, it is seen more frequently than in previous years.
Fatty Liver Disease in Cats (Hepatic Lipidosis)
Hepatic Lipidosis can be corrected easily by dietary measures if caught quickly enough, but is fatal if left untreated.
Neurological Disorders in Cats
Neurological disorders in cats present with a variety of symptoms, stemming from a variety of possible causes, from injury to hypertension to parasitical invasion. Learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of the more common neurological disorders in cats.
Parasitic Diseases and Conditions of Cats
Additional resources on parasitic diseases in cats, assembled by About Guide to Veterinary Medicine, Janet Tobiassen Crosby.
Feline Bordetella - How Feline Bordetella Affects Cats
Feline Bordetella (also known as bordatella) is an often misunderstood disease and can be mistaken for other URIs in cats. Kari Winters, author and cat expert, shares her experiences with feline bordetella.
Feline Acne
Although it may not embarrass cats the way it does us, kitty acne is a common and potentially serious condition. Prevention can be as simple as changing your cat's food dish.
FLUTD - Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder
To those of us who have been blessed with healthy cats, it is a devastating blow when urinary tract disorders rear their ugly heads. Unfortunately, these conditions are common and they can sneak up quickly with tragic results if you are not consciously watching for the early symptoms.
Viral infections
 Rabies (hydrophobia) is a fatal viral disease that can affect any mammal, although the close relationship of dogs with humans makes canine rabies a zoonotic concern. Vaccination of dogs for rabies is commonly required by law. Please see the article dog health for information on this disease in dogs.[1]
 Canine parvovirus is a sometimes fatal gastrointestinal infection that mainly affects puppies. It occurs worldwide.[2]
 Canine coronavirus is a gastrointestinal disease that is usually asymptomatic or with mild clinical signs. The signs are worse in puppies.[3]
 Canine distemper is an often fatal infectious disease that mainly has respiratory and neurologic signs.[4]
 Canine influenza is a newly emerging infectious respiratory disease. Up to 80 percent of dogs infected will have symptoms, but the mortality rate is only 5 to 8 percent.[5]
 Infectious canine hepatitis is a sometimes fatal infectious disease of the liver.[6]
 Canine herpesvirus is an infectious disease that is a common cause of death in puppies less than three weeks old.[7]
 Pseudorabies is an infectious disease that primarily affects swine, but can also cause a fatal disease in dogs with signs similar to rabies.[8]
 Canine minute virus is an infectious disease that can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal signs in young puppies.[9]
Bacterial infections
 Brucellosis is a sexually transmitted bacterial disease that can cause uveitis, abortion, and orchitis in dogs.[6]
 Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by a spirochaete. Symptoms include liver and kidney failure and vasculitis.[10]
 Lyme disease* is a disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochaete, and spread by ticks of the genus Ixodes. Symptoms in dogs include acute arthritis, anorexia and lethargy. There is no rash as is typically seen in humans.[11]
 Ehrlichiosis is a disease caused by Ehrlichia canis and spread by the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineous. Signs include fever, vasculitis, and low blood counts.[6]
 Rocky Mountain spotted fever* is a rickettsial disease that occurs in dogs and humans. It is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii and spread by ticks of the genus Dermacentor. Signs are similar to human disease, including anorexia, fever, and thrombocytopenia.[12]
 Clostridium species are a potential cause of diarrhea in dogs. Associated species include C. perfringens and C. difficile.[13]
 Kennel cough is an infectious respiratory disease which can be caused by one of several viruses or by Bordetella bronchiseptica. It most commonly occurs in dogs in close confinement such as kennels.[14]
Fungal infections
 Blastomycosis* is a fungal disease caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis that affects both dogs and humans. Dogs are ten times more likely to be infected than humans. The disease in dogs can affect the eyes, brain, lungs, skin, or bones.[15]
 Histoplasmosis* is a fungal disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum that affects both dogs and humans. The disease in dogs usually affects the lungs and small intestine.[16]
 Coccidioidomycosis* is a fungal disease caused by Coccidioides immitis that affects both dogs and humans. In dogs signs include coughing, fever, lethargy, and anorexia. Many cases include lameness due to bome lesions.[17]
 Cryptococcosis* is a fungal disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans that affects both dogs and humans. It is a rare disease in dogs, with cats seven to ten times more likely to be infected. The disease in dogs can affect the lungs and skin, but more commonly the eye and central nervous system.[18]
 Ringworm is a fungal skin disease that in dogs is caused by Microsporum canis (70%), Microsporum gypseum (20%), andTrichophyton mentagrophytes (10%). Typical signs in dogs include hair loss and scaly skin.[19]
 Sporotrichosis is a fungal disease caused by Sporothrix schenckii that affects both dogs and humans. It is a rare disease in dogs, with cat and horse infections predominating in veterinary medicine. The disease in dogs is usually nodular skin lesions of the head and trunk.[20]
 Aspergillosis* is a fungal disease that in dogs is caused primarily by Aspergillus fumigatus. Infection is usually in the nasal cavity. Typical signs in dogs include sneezing, nasal discharge, bleeding from the nose, and ulcerations of the nose.[21]
 Pythiosis is a disease cause by a water mould of the genus Pythium, P. insidiosum. It occurs primarily in dogs and horses, but can also affect humans. In dogs it affects the gastrointestinal system and lymph nodes, and rarely the skin.[22]
 Mucormycosis is a collection of fungal and mold diseases in dogs including pythiosis, zygomycosis, and lagenidiosis that affect the gastrointestinal tract and skin.[6]
Protozoal diseases
 Giardiasis* is an intestinal infection in dogs caused by the protozoa Giardia lamblia. The most common symptom is diarrhea. Thezoonotic potential of giardiasis is controversial.[23]
 Coccidiosis can be caused by a variety of coccidian organisms in dogs, most commonly Isospora. There are usually no symptoms, but diarrhea and weight loss may occur.[24]
 Leishmaniasis* is spread by the sandfly, and in the dog as well as human has both cutaneous and visceral forms. The dog is considered to be the reservoir for human disease in the Americas.[25]
 Babesiosis* is spread by members of the family Ixodidae, or hard ticks. The two species of the genus Babesia that affect dogs areB. canis and B. gibsoni. Babesiosis can cause hemolytic anemia in dogs.[26]
 Neosporosis* is caused by Neospora caninum[27]
Other infections
 Protothecosis in dogs is caused by a mutant form of green algae and is usually disseminated. Symptoms include weight loss,uveitis, retinal detachment,and anal seepage.[6]
Parasites
 Intestinal parasites
 Hookworms* are a common parasite of dogs. Most common is Ancylostoma caninum, followed by Uncinaria stenocephala and A. braziliense. Signs include diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss.[6]
 Tapeworms* are also common and in the dog are usually Dipylidium caninum, which is spread by ingesting fleas and lice. Also common is Taenia pisiformis, spread by ingesting rabbits and rodents. Rare tapeworm infections are caused by species of the genera Echinococcus, Mesocestoides, and Spirometra. There are usually no symptoms.[6]
 Roundworms (see also toxocariasis) infecting the dog include Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina. Signs are usually mild, but may include diarrhea, pot-bellied appearance, poor growth, and vomiting.[6]
 Fleas* in dogs cause itching and hair loss. The most common flea in dogs is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, followed by the dog flea, C. canis.[28]
 Ticks* are an external parasite of the dog and can spread diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever,babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis. They can also cause a neurological disorder known as tick paralysis.[29]
 Heartworm disease in dogs is spread by mosquitoes and is spread by the parasite Dirofilaria immitis. Signs include cough, difficulty breathing, and death.[30]
 Mites
 Ear mites in dogs are microscopic members of the species Otodectes cynotis. Symptoms include itching, inflammation, and black debris in the ear.[31]
 Cheyletiellosis is a mild pruritic skin disease in dogs caused by Cheyletiella yasguri. Humans can be transiently infected.[31]
 Chiggers*, also known as harvest mites, can cause itching, redness and crusting in dogs.[6]
 Mange in dogs include demodectic mange and sarcoptic mange. Demodectic mange is caused by Demodex canis. Signs include hair loss, redness, and scaling, and is contagious to humans!. Sarcoptic mange is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei canis. Signs include intense itching and scaling, and is contagious to humans.[31]
 trichinellosis caused by Trichinella spiralis, T. britovi[32]
 Demodex also known as demodicosis live in small numbers in the sebaceous glands and hair follicles. These mites can cause inflammation and hair loss, they can also lead to secondary bacterial infections such as fever, lethargy, and in larged lymph nodes.
 Sarcoptes scabiei is a mite that burries into humans and dogs alike and causes scabies. There is only one symptom, itchy and red skin.