Common Cat Diseases
Most cat diseases are preventable with feline vaccinations beginning when a cat is around six or seven weeks old. Vaccinations for rabies, feline distemper, feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus are available and should be given to both indoor and outdoor cats. For other diseases, your emergency veterinarian in Waldorf offers treatment 24 hours a day, seven days week.
Feline Urinary Tract Disease
Cats with bloody urine that urinate too frequently or struggle to urinate may have an inflamed bladder and/or urinary tract disease. Veterinarians think bacteria or interstitial cystitis (bladder infection) may cause feline urinary tract disease. In addition, the stress involved with moving or adding another cat to your household may interfere with your cat’s immune system functioning and make it easier for a virus to infect the urinary tract.
Treatment for feline urinary tract disease includes your emergency vet prescribing antibiotics and recommending you feed your cat smaller meals throughout the day. Making sure your cat drinks plenty of water will also help flush out an infected urinary tract.
Feline Upper Respiratory Infections
When cats are ill with a contagious, upper respiratory infection called chlamydiosis , they have runny noses, eye discharge, loss of appetite, cough and sneeze frequently. Diagnosis of chlamydiosis involves your Waldorf veterinarian testing samples of your cat’s eye discharge. If pneumonia bacteria are present in the sample, your vet may want to take x-rays of your cat’s lungs to determine the severity of the infection. Cats with chlamydiosis and other respiratory infections are given antibiotics and supportive care.
Feline Ear Infections
Symptoms of ear infections in cats include head shaking, pawing at ears, vomiting and a smelly discharge seeping from the infected ear. Ears may also be red and swollen, depending on how much your cat paws and scratches the affected ear. To treat ear infections in cats, your emergency vet will prescribe antibiotics to eliminate bacteria causing the infection.
Schedule an Appointment with our Waldorf Veterinarian
If your cat suffers a medical emergency, your Waldorf veterinarian at Veterinary Emergency and Urgent Care provide immediate treatment, day or night. Call (301) 705-9700 for answers to your questions about cat diseases requiring emergency attention.
