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An Aortic Thromboembolism (ATE) is an extremely painful, common, life threatening complication of cats with heart disease. It occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms (usually in the heart) which then passes down the aorta (the main artery which leaves the heart and lies along the spine before splitting into 2 to go down each leg).
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What respiratory diseases commonly affect cats? Many cats may be affected by obstructive and allergic respiratory diseases, sometimes called "asthma" or "bronchitis". Although not easy to classify these conditions do share a common finding of "hyper-responsive" or "over-reactive" airways. Inciting agents may act as direct irritants to the airways or provoke an allergic response in the respiratory tract. The end-result is the same: 1) muscle spasms in the bronchi, 2) increased production of mucus, and 3) the accumulation of cellular material in the airways. The airways can become narrowed, and the inability to clear the bronchi of this material leaves the cat susceptible to secondary respiratory infections. In obstructive or allergic lung disease, the cat experiences greatest difficulty during expiration or breathing out. Air may become trapped in the lungs, causing the lungs to over inflate. In some cases, this chronic trapping of air leads to the development of emphysema in the cat.
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Behaviour changes in older cats in pain. As cats get older changes in their behaviour may be noticed. Exuberant playful (and often crazy!) kitten behaviour gives way to adult cats sleeping in the sun and prowling around the house. We take it for granted that older cats will take even longer naps in the sun or on our beds. It is important, however, to differentiate normal feline behaviours from abnormal ones, as some behaviour changes in aging cats arise from pain and are definitely not normal.
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The term blocked cat refers to a condition in which the cat's urethra (the tube which carries urine from the bladder to the outside) becomes blocked so that the cat cannot pass urine. The condition is more common in male cats than females.
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Abdominal enlargement is not unusual in dogs. It can occur with obesity but there are many other causes. For example, redistribution of fat into the abdominal cavity may occur with Cushing's syndrome (hyperadrenocorticism).
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Acepromazine is used as a sedative and a preanaesthetic agent. Acepromazine may also be used for behaviour modification and to prevent vomiting when travelling (motion sickness). Acepromazine…
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Aciclovir is an antiviral drug. It is used to treat viral conditions affecting the eyes such as conjunctivitis. This drug is not available as a veterinary preparation. Your veterinary surgeon…
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Ademetionine is used in the treatment of chronic liver (hepatic) problems. It helps the liver cells to function normally and reduces fibrosis of the liver. Animals with liver failure have a…
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These notes are provided to help you understand the diagnosis or possible diagnosis of cancer in your pet. For general information on cancer in pets ask for our handout "What is…
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The adrenal glands are closely associated with the kidneys. Each has a central medulla which is approximately one fifth of the total size of the gland and produces adrenalin, the so-called 'emergency hormone'.