In all likelihood, your pets will suffer from one or more diseases during their lifetimes. Successfully diagnosing cat disease depends on several factors. Perhaps the most important element in a diagnosis is on the part of the pet’s owner, who must be familiar with the common symptoms of disease and who is responsible for bringing the cat to the veterinarian or otherwise alerting a medical specialist. The methods of diagnosis depend greatly upon the cat, the symptoms that are presented and the possible diseases that those symptoms suggest.
Recognizing When Your Cat Is Not Well
Nearly all diseases that your cat may experience show themselves in some way. If your cat isn’t feeling well or has an underlying medical condition, it is only a matter of time before the disease presents itself in one or more symptoms. The particular symptoms that your cat is showing help to dictate the type of disease as well as possible modes of treatment. However, before a diagnosis can be made and a treatment planned out, you must recognize that something is the matter.
The following is by no means a comprehensive list of adverse symptoms, but these are some of the most common symptoms that are caused by frequently occurring feline diseases:
- Fever
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Refusal to eat or drink
- Difficulty breathing
- Congestion, coughing, sneezing or discharge
- Open sores or wounds
- Red and irritated skin or lesions
- Limping, difficulty walking, sitting or moving generally
- Lethargy
- Change of mood
- Change in color, thickness or quality of coat
- Visible or tangible growths or lumps
If your cat shows any of these symptoms for more than a day or so, he may be suffering from some type of disease. In these cases, it is best to take your cat to a veterinary office for a prompt examination.
In order to recognize these symptoms quickly, it is necessary that you know your cat’s normal, healthy behavior. Any variation of these may indicate sickness, although cats, like humans, do experience good and bad days generally.
Diagnosing a Disease
When you take your cat into a veterinarian for examination, he will rely heavily upon the symptoms that you have noticed in order to make his diagnosis. This is another reason why keeping an accurate record of your cat’s health is crucial.
Some of the most common methods used to diagnose different feline diseases include:
- Full physical exam
- Blood sample
- Stool sample
- Skin scraping
- Allergy elimination exam
- Urinalysis
- X-rays
Once your veterinarian has made a diagnosis of your cat’s disease or condition, you may begin to formulate a treatment plan for your pet. The treatment plan is directly dependent upon the diagnosis. Consult with a veterinarian for advice regarding the different treatment options for your cat’s disease or condition, as well as the relative feasibility of each of those options in your particular situation. By knowing your cat and acting quickly, you stand a much better chance of leading your pet to a full recovery.