Pet Health Library
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All cats have a large number of bacteria, such as Pasteurella multocida, in their mouths which can be transmitted to the bite wound. An infected bite wound can become red, swollen and painful with a risk of spread of infection elsewhere in the body.
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Cat scratch disease, or cat scratch fever, is a disease of humans, not of cats. A cat scratch is often associated with the disease, however this is not believed to be the means by which infection occurs. Recent evidence suggests that the major route of infection is by flea bite. The disease is caused by a bacterium-like organism called Bartonella henselae. Bartonella henselae is sensitive to a number of antibiotics.
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Losing weight is often a difficult process and animals, like people, often take weeks or months to shed those unwanted pounds.
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Aggression can be a serious and dangerous behaviour problem for cat owners. There are many different motivations for aggression and making a diagnosis, determining the prognosis (the chances of safe and effective correction) and developing an appropriate treatment plan are usually best handled by a veterinary behaviourist.
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Most male animals that are kept for companionship, work, or food production (horses, dogs, cats, bulls, boars) are neutered unless they are intended to be used as breeding stock.
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There are many different diseases that can affect the kidneys in the cat. Chronic renal failure (CRF) is the end point of a number of different disease processes. Signs can be non-specific and diffucult to distinguish from general signs of ageing. Treatments will vary with each specific disease and situation.
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Chronic upper respiratory tract (URT) disease is a relatively common problem in cats, and can have many causes. The most common form is termed chronic post viral or idiopathic rhinitis.
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Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of this membrane which becomes swollen and reddened often making it more visible. Conjunctivitis can affect one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) eyes.
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All tissues and organs of the body may develop cancer (an abnormal overgrowth of their constituent cells).
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Constipation can be defined as an abnormal accumulation of faeces resulting in a difficulty in passing bowel motions. This may result in reduced frequency or absence of defecation.