Hair Loss in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment
Table Of Content
Retroviruses are unstable, live for only minutes outside the cat's body, and are readily destroyed by most disinfectants. Fortunately, the virus is not very hardy in the environment and can only survive on surfaces for a couple of hours. Because they have a weakened immune system, cats with FeLV should not be fed raw food, but instead a complete and balanced dry and/or canned food. If your veterinarian suspects your cat has FeLV, they can be screened through a simple ELISA snap blood test. If your veterinarian uses a reference laboratory, snap test results can be available within 24 hours. In some instances, this test can also be performed right in the office while you wait.
7 Images That Will Change Your Mind About Feral Cats - PETA
7 Images That Will Change Your Mind About Feral Cats.
Posted: Thu, 25 May 2017 15:59:53 GMT [source]
Stress and Anxiety
Cats with fleas should be treated immediately to avoid further, more serious complications to their overall health, including tapeworms or Bartonella. Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat any secondary bacterial infections that may be present. Sometimes appetite stimulants or anti-inflammatory medications are prescribed in leukemia cat pet patients who have a poor appetite or fever. Occasionally, blood transfusions may be recommended for continued quality life for cats with severe anemia. Feline cutaneous lymphoma can present various clinical signs, including itching, alopecia (hair loss), scaly skin, skin redness, loss of skin color, ulcers, nodules, pustules, and plaques. As a cat owner, it’s important for you to understand everything you can about feline leukemia.
Signs & Symptoms of Feline Leukemia: What Cat Owners Need to Know
Signs of hair loss may be obvious or subtle, depending on the disease. Congenital or hereditary hair loss is commonly either symmetric (appearing similar on both sides of the body) or localized to one region. Signs of acquired hair loss are varied and often influenced by the underlying cause(s). Inflammation, skin color change, scaling, thickening or redness of the skin, excessive shedding, and itching are common.
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) FAQs
Owners should be advised to watch for clinical signs of FeLV-related disease, particularly secondary infections. Although FeLV-positive cats often respond well to treatment, treatment for such infections or other illnesses should be early and aggressive because of potential immunocompromise. Some positive cats can live without major complications for years with routine veterinary care, proper feeding and care, minimal stress, and avoidance of secondary infections. Infected cats should be kept strictly indoors to reduce the risk of other infections and to prevent spreading the virus to other cats. Your cat should visit the veterinarian at least every 6 months to monitor for disease-related disorders and secondary infections. Your veterinarian will make a recommendation for appropriate vaccinations against other feline viruses (vaccination for FeLV will not help once a cat is infected with the virus).
Your vet will also ask about any other symptoms you might be seeing, like any scratching, head shaking, behavioral changes, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, or urinary issues. Because FeLV is contagious to other cats, we recommend these cats go to homes where they’ll be the only cat or to a home that already has a cat with FeLV. The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
thoughts on “Hair Loss in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment”
Otherwise apparently healthy cats with regressive and, most commonly, progressive infections serve as reservoirs of FeLV for both vertical and horizontal viral transmission. The virus is most commonly shed in saliva, with less common sources of virus including nasal secretions, milk, urine, and feces. Tears and feces may contain virus but are not clinically important in disease transmission or diagnostic detection.
The virus does not live long outside the cat’s body -- probably just a few hours. Grooming and fighting seem to be the commonest ways for infection to spread. Kittens can contract the disease in utero or through an infected mother’s milk. The disease is often spread by apparently healthy cats, so even if a cat appears healthy, it may be infected and able to transmit the virus.
It's important for all cat owners to be aware of this pernicious disease and the signs your cat may be at risk. If you have any concerns about your pet's health, take your cat to the vet for an evaluation immediately. The sooner that your pet is diagnosed, the better chance they have at a long and happy life. In addition to these preventative measures, it’s important to work closely with your veterinarian to address any underlying health issues that may be contributing to your cat’s hair loss. Your vet may recommend specific grooming products, dietary supplements, or medications to help manage your cat’s symptoms and improve their quality of life. Often, vets tend to be more proactive with antibiotics in a cat that has feline leukemia, since its immune system is not as robust.
Many healthy kittens available at shelters - Boston Herald
Many healthy kittens available at shelters.
Posted: Sun, 13 May 2018 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Recurrent infections of the skin, bladder, nose and/or eyes are also common signs of cat leukemia. In cases where the animal is terminally ill, the owner can make the animal’s remaining days as comfortable as possible. This generally includes changing their diet to a more healthy alternative. Unfortunately, death is likely to occur within 20 weeks from the appearance of the skin lesions. However, with the right maintenance and care from you and your vet both, you can give your cat the best chance at a happy life throughout the remainder of their disease.
Affected cats can develop anemia (a low red blood cell level), cancers, and/or suppression of the immune system. Widespread testing and vaccination efforts have helped to reduce the prevalence of the disease over the past 30 years, and in 2010 approximately 3% of the cats in the United States were infected. There is increased risk for the disease among outdoor cats, unneutered males, and cats with other diseases (especially respiratory disease, mouth diseases, and abscesses).
Vaccines against FeLV are not considered core vaccines and are intended to protect cats against FeLV infection or to decrease the likelihood of persistent viremia. Types of vaccines include killed whole virus, subunit, and genetically engineered (recombinant). Vaccines may vary in protective effect, and manufacturer claims and independent comparative studies should be carefully noted.
Comments
Post a Comment