Pale and wan

In the last few weeks we have seen several anaemic cats. Their carers brought them in because they sensed something was wrong but they weren’t sure what. 

All of the cats had gone off their food and were a bit quieter than usual. Anaemic dogs

are more lethargic than normal, but it’s hard to tell if a cat is lethargic, especially in winter!

On examination we found the cats’ gums were paler than usual and ordered a blood count. All of them had red cell counts that would have humans gasping for an oxygen mask. Cats are definitely experts at conserving energy and hiding any illness.

The youngest kitten had found a tasty box of rat poison, which stops the blood from clotting normally. He had bled into his chest and was having difficulty breathing. The direct antidote and a few days in hospital soon had him back on the prowl.

The pathologist found some blood parasites called Hemoplasmas in a blood smear from a four year old Burmese named Chloe. Rest and a course of antibiotics soon had Chloe in the pink again.

Old Jester was not so lucky. His vet found that he had an enlarged liver. When we took a sample of the liver we found cancer cells. He had bled into his abdomen. Chronic diseases like cancer also suppress the bone marrow where blood cells are made. 

Old timer Lord Wellington had kidney disease. Cats with kidney disease are often anaemic. Wellie is on a special diet for his kidneys, which has bought him several extra years of life so far. He is comfortable with his moderate anaemia at the moment as he has had time to compensate for it. Anaemia of kidney disease is difficult and expensive to treat but his carers are considering his options at the moment. 

Blood transfusions in cats are always a risky business. Both donor and recipient have to be exactly the same blood type. We also cross match the bloods because some cats react even to their own blood type. On most occasions we can avoid a transfusion if we keep the patient quiet and unstressed for a few days.

If you think something is not quite right with your feline friend you are probably right! We always take your gut feelings seriously so don’t hesitate to call us. Better to catch dropping blood counts early than let your cat suffer.

Hairballs?

Hairballs are overrated as a problem in cats.  A true hairball is hair wrapped in saliva and requires no treatment.  Hairballs almost never cause illness in pet cats. 

On the other hand we should see your cat if she vomits frequently - whatever the vomitus is! If she is turning her nose up at her dinner or hiding then we should see her as soon as possible. Normal cats eat several times a day so even a single day of poor appetite is significant.

If she vomits a lot but doesn’t feel poorly she may still have a problem. Some cats are very sensitive to specific proteins like chicken, beef or lamb. A change to a diet free of the common proteins that cause hypersensitivity or to one that is specially treated to reduce reactions often helps these cats.

Often the only sign of inflammatory bowel disease or cancers of the bowel is frequent vomiting. Eventually affected cats lose weight or stop eating, but this is when the disease is well advanced. If a cat does not respond within a few weeks to a change of diet as mentioned above then we investigate more closely.  

Animal herbalist

Cats who prefer herbal treatments or have chronic problems will be pleased to hear that animal herbalist Nicki Froescheis has moved to Canberra. Nicki has European postgraduate training in herbal treatment for pets.
Nicki says that herbal treatment is useful for chronic diseases such as arthritis, bladder inflammation, palliative treatment for cancers, immune disorders, dementia and skin diseases as well as many other problems. Herbs are not much help in life threatening conditions or problems which come on suddenly.
Nicki assesses each individual patient and tailors the herb formula accordingly. Appointments can be made with Nicki on 0404 127 973 and she will arrange to meet you at Hall Vet Surgery.

Weight loss is not always good...

You might think that vets are obsessive about recording cats’ weights. They have good reason – sometimes gradual weight loss is the only sign of serious disease in cats. By the time a cat goes off her food or starts vomiting disease can be quite advanced.
Fur or hair ball vomits coupled with gradual weight loss indicate gastrointestinal disease. Causes of gut disease include parasites like worms and giardia. These are easy to diagnose and treat compared to other gut diseases.
Food sensitivities are uncommon but inflammatory bowel disease and bowel cancer occur relatively often in cats. Diagnosing and treating these can be quite a challenge and require much patience on the part of owner and vet.
A myriad things cause weight loss with a patchy appetite. We will nearly always order blood tests to check for kidney or liver disease, particularly in older cats.
Weight loss despite a good appetite can be due to diabetes or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Annual check-ups and weigh-ins in cats under 10 years pick these problems up early. Cats over 10 years of age should be checked at least twice a year. With appropriate treatment affected cats go on to live long and happy lives.
Even if your cat is aiming to lose weight regular weigh-ins and veterinary supervision are essential. We want gradual loss of weight because rapid weight loss in cats can lead to liver disease.