Cat friendly clinic

Arthritis in older cats

Arthritis in older cats

Cat friendly clinic, Cat diseases / By

Osteoarthritis in older cats is far more common than many cat owners realize. In one study of geriatric cats, radiologically detectable degenerative changes were found in 90 percent of the animals. Another study found radiological signs of degenerative joint disease in 92 percent of the cats included in the study. These figures should not be interpreted to mean that every older cat is necessarily in severe pain. Radiographic changes and the actual intensity of pain do not always correlate. However, they do highlight the importance of considering osteoarthritis in older cats early on.

Arthritis in older cats Read More »

Mycobacterial panniculitis in cats

Mycobacterial panniculitis in cats

Cat friendly clinic, Skin diseases, Cat diseases / By

Mycobacterial panniculitis in cats is a rare but important differential diagnosis when a cat exhibits skin nodules, weeping sores, crusts, deep ulcers, or non-healing wounds for weeks or months. From a veterinary perspective, it is crucial to understand that not every wound on the back, abdomen, groin, or flanks is a common abscess. Especially in cats that go outdoors, have fight injuries, small puncture wounds, chronic skin inflammations, or recurring open sores, infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria must also be considered.

Mycobacterial panniculitis in cats Read More »

Congenital malformation of the tricuspid valve in cats

Congenital malformation of the tricuspid valve in cats

Cat friendly clinic, Cat diseases / By

A congenital malformation of the tricuspid valve in cats is a heart defect present from birth. The tricuspid valve lies between the right atrium and the right ventricle. Its function is to regulate blood flow in the right side of the heart: blood should flow from the right atrium into the right ventricle and not flow back when the ventricle contracts. If this valve is malformed, it cannot close properly or, less commonly, is narrowed. This often leads to blood flowing back into the right atrium with each heartbeat. In international veterinary literature, this is often described as "tricuspid valve dysplasia." The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that it is a congenital malformation of the valve leaflets or other components of the tricuspid valve complex.

Congenital malformation of the tricuspid valve in cats Read More »

Shock lung in cats

Shock lung in cats

Cat diseases, Cat friendly clinic / By

Acute respiratory distress in cats is always an emergency. If a cat suddenly starts breathing heavily, with its mouth open, stretches its neck forward, spreads its elbows, shows pale or bluish mucous membranes, collapses, or appears extremely lethargic, you must not wait. In such situations, every minute counts. Cats often show signs of respiratory distress late and may only appear quieter, more withdrawn, or less resilient for a long time. By the time the owner clearly recognizes the respiratory distress, the cat is often already critically ill.

Shock lung in cats Read More »

Pleural effusion in dogs and cats

Pleural effusion in dogs and cats

Cat diseases, Cat friendly clinic, Dog diseases / By

Pleural effusion in dogs and cats: Stabilization before referral to the veterinary clinic. Why pleural effusion in dogs and cats is a true emergency. Pleural effusion in dogs and cats means that fluid has abnormally accumulated in the chest cavity, more precisely in the pleural space between the lung and the chest wall. This fluid is not "inside" the lung, but outside of it. Nevertheless, it can

Pleural effusion in dogs and cats Read More »

acute liver failure in cats

Acute liver failure in cats

Cat friendly clinic, Cat diseases / By

Acute liver failure in cats is an emergency. If your cat suddenly appears severely weak, stops eating, vomits repeatedly, has yellowish mucous membranes, develops bleeding, seems disoriented, or has seizures, you should immediately seek veterinary care. Cats with severe liver disease often deteriorate rapidly within a few hours. Liver and gallbladder diseases in cats must therefore be investigated early because the causes are very diverse and some cases can quickly become critical.

Acute liver failure in cats Read More »

Actinomycosis in cats

Actinomycosis in cats

Cat friendly clinic, Cat diseases / By

Actinomycosis in cats is a rare but serious bacterial infection caused by bacteria of the genus Actinomyces. From a veterinary perspective, it is important to understand that these pathogens do not necessarily come "from the outside." Rather, they are opportunistic bacteria that can normally be found as part of the natural mucosal flora and only cause illness when they penetrate deeper layers through an injury, dental or oral disease, a foreign body, or other tissue trauma.

Actinomycosis in cats Read More »

Salivary gland cancer in cats

Salivary gland cancer in cats

Cancer in animals, Cat friendly clinic, Cat diseases / By

From a veterinary perspective, a newly appearing, firm, or slowly growing swelling on the lower jaw, at the base of the ear, or on the side of the neck should not be observed for days or weeks in a cat, but rather examined promptly. It is typical for adenocarcinoma of the parotid or mandibular gland (salivary gland cancer) in cats that the change may initially be painless. This often leads owners to wait too long in practice.

Salivary gland cancer in cats Read More »

Cancer of the external ear canal in cats

Cancer of the external ear canal in cats

Cancer in animals, Cat friendly clinic, Cat diseases / By

If you suspect your cat has adenocarcinoma of the ceruminous glands of the ear (cancer in the external ear canal), you should consult a veterinarian promptly, within 2 to 3 days. This is especially important if there is unilateral, foul-smelling, or bloody ear discharge, visible pinkish growths in the ear canal, head tilt, dizziness, an uncoordinated gait, frequent scratching of the ear, or enlarged lymph nodes in the head and neck area.

Cancer of the external ear canal in cats Read More »

Aggression in cats

Aggression in cats

Cat friendly clinic, Cat diseases / By

Aggression in cats is one of the most common behavioral problems that bring cat owners to the vet. From a veterinary perspective, however, aggression in cats is almost never simply "bad behavior." In many cases, aggression in cats is a warning sign. Underlying causes can include fear, pain, stress, territorial conflicts, unsuitable environmental conditions, hormonal influences, or misguided play behavior. This is precisely why it is so important not to dismiss aggression in cats as a character flaw, but to understand it as a serious symptom. Expert sources from Cornell, Merck, International Cat Care, and the Feline Veterinary Medical Association unanimously emphasize that aggression must always be considered within its context and that medical causes should be ruled out before any behavioral intervention.

Aggression in cats Read More »

Aelurostrongylosis

Aelurostrongylosis in cats

Cat diseases, Cat friendly clinic / By

Aelurostrongylosis is a parasitic lung disease in cats that is often diagnosed later than it should be. As a veterinarian, I frequently see cat owners mistaking coughing, fatigue, reduced playfulness, or labored breathing for a harmless irritation, asthma, or a temporary infection. This is precisely the problem: Aelurostrongylosis can begin insidiously but develop into a serious lower respiratory tract disease. It is typically caused by the feline lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, which infests the bronchioles and lung tissue. There, Aelurostrongylosis leads to inflammation, coughing, mucus production, and, in severe cases, significant respiratory distress.

Aelurostrongylosis in cats Read More »

Freestyle Libre for Cat with Diabetes

Freestyle Libre for Cat with Diabetes

Cat friendly clinic, Cat diseases / By

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common hormonal diseases in cats. In my daily work as a veterinarian, I regularly see feline patients whose diabetes diagnosis initially causes great uncertainty for their owners. Many wonder how they can reliably monitor their cat's blood sugar without having to constantly take their pet to the vet. This is precisely where the Freestyle Libre feline diabetes monitoring system comes in. This modern system enables continuous monitoring of glucose levels and significantly simplifies the management of the disease for both veterinarians and owners.

Freestyle Libre for Cat with Diabetes Read More »

Feline distemper

Feline distemper

Cat friendly clinic, Cat diseases / By

Feline panleukopenia (FPV) is caused by the feline panleukopenia virus, a parvovirus that can be extremely resistant in the environment. The virus preferentially infects rapidly dividing cells: intestinal mucosa, bone marrow, and lymphatic tissue. This explains the typical symptoms: severe gastrointestinal infection, dehydration, and often pronounced leukopenia (a significant drop in white blood cell count). This is also why feline panleukopenia is not "just" diarrhea, but a potentially life-threatening emergency.

Feline distemper Read More »

Promoting fluid intake

Promoting fluid intake in dehydrated cats

Cat friendly clinic, Cat news / By

Promoting fluid intake is a central theme in modern small animal medicine. With a particular focus on promoting fluid intake in dehydrated cats, this approach is gaining increasing importance, as many cats with mild to moderate dehydration do not necessarily require inpatient intravenous fluid therapy. As a veterinarian with many years of experience in the internal medicine care of cats, I see daily how crucial targeted fluid intake promotion is for the prognosis, organ function, and quality of life of dehydrated cats.

Promoting fluid intake in dehydrated cats Read More »

Unclassified cardiomyopathy (UCM) in cats

Unclassified cardiomyopathy (UCM) in cats

Cat friendly clinic, Cat diseases / By

Unclassified Cardiomyopathy (UCM) in Cats: A Veterinary Guide to Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment. Explained by your veterinarian, Susanne Arndt. As a veterinarian, I unfortunately see many cats with heart disease in my practice. While many owners have heard of HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy), Unclassified Cardiomyopathy (UCM) in cats is often a mystery.

Unclassified cardiomyopathy (UCM) in cats Read More »

Scroll to Top