Cat Care
Cat Cancer
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells on or in the body. Cancer in pets is a fairly common disease and is one of the leading causes of death in pet cats and dogs.
Symptoms commonly seen in cats with cancer are:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- A sore that does not heal
- A lump that changes shape or size
- Continuing weight loss
If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, please call us (334-745-0060) and schedule an appointment to have your cat thoroughly examined by our veterinarian. There are a wide variety of tests that we can perform to verify whether your cat has cancer. While cancer is never the diagnosis we would like to hear. It is better to catch it in its early stages.
The three most common types of cancer in cats are lymphoma, soft-tissue sarcoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Lymphoma is the most common of these three. Many types of cat cancer are treatable. Treatments offered for cancer in humans are increasingly available for pets and include:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
If necessary, we can perform laser surgery here in our office. In addition to existing drugs, researchers are continually working to improve cancer therapies’ effectiveness and improve animals’ (and humans’) reactions to them.
Cat Care
Cat Anesthesia
Anesthesia is a reversible unconsciousness. Animal Health Center, Opelika, Auburn, will utilize anesthesia to sedate your cat for certain surgeries and other procedures. Anesthesia is used to help with pain and to relax the muscles. The relaxation of the muscles and the suppression of reflex movement assists our veterinarian during surgery. The unconsciousness the cat experiences ensures that they will not recall the procedure or sense any pain.
Before your cat undergoes surgery or a procedure, we will assess internal organ system function with a blood panel and heart function with an electrocardiogram to determine the safest anesthetic protocol to use for your cat. The induction of anesthesia will cause your cat to become unconscious. Once induced, they will be intubated and connected to oxygen and anesthetic gas.
While under anesthesia, your cat is connected to state-of-the-art monitors, and one of our trained technicians will observe them until they have fully recovered. Our two Licensed Veterinary Technicians have more than 50 years of combined experience and will monitor your cat closely. Cats do differ from humans when anesthetized, as they typically do not recover with a sense of nausea as humans often do.
Why Give Your Cat Anesthesia?
Cat anesthesia is used during procedures in which your cat needs to be immobilized for diagnostic procedures like x-ray or during surgery, in which your cat would otherwise feel pain. Sedating your cat allows us to keep your cat perfectly motionless and pain-free during surgery and other procedures. While under anesthesia, your cat will be in an unconscious state and will not feel any discomfort.
Post-Anesthesia
The veterinary team at Animal Health Center, Opelika, Auburn, will examine your cat’s vital signs, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure as he or she comes out of surgery or awakens from any sedatives used. We will monitor your cat until he or she is ready to return home. Don’t be surprised if your cat feels sedated for a while after returning home.
Our friendly staff will discuss your cat’s pain management plan with you, as your cat may need pain medication for several days after a procedure. If that is the case, we will provide you with specific instructions. Make sure you follow all instructions we provide you to ensure your cat’s full recovery.
If you should have any questions or concerns, please call Animal Health Center, Opelika, Auburn (334-745-0060). Please note that some cats may not regain their appetite for a day or two after surgery.
Cat Care
Cat Dental
Dental disease is a challenge for many cats. By four years of age, many cats have considerable gingivitis, and many also have periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a slow progressing but serious disease that causes pain and affects your cat’s overall health and well-being. Most of the time, cats will not show signs of oral discomfort with this disease. Because the pain associated with dental problems progresses slowly over time, cats learn to live with it. This is why your cat needs to visit your veterinarian annually to assess its oral health.
Common Dental Problems for Cats
- Periodontal disease
- Gingivitis
- Plaque buildup
- Tooth loss
- Mouth sores and ulcers
- Feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORL)
Proper Dental Hygiene for Your Cat
There are several ways to care for your cat’s teeth and gums properly. All of them involve a commitment to your cat’s oral health. Your cat cannot tell you if it needs dental care, so it is up to you to be proactive and address their needs. To monitor your cat’s oral health:
- Watch for signs of possible dental issues such as bad breath
- When possible, establish a teeth-cleaning routine when your cat is young
- Good nutrition is the foundation of good dental health
- Schedule semi-annual exams for cats
- During your cat’s checkup, talk to your veterinarian about any odd behaviors you’ve noticed or concerns you have
- Early prevention is essential to avoiding or treating serious dental issues
Proper teeth cleaning for your cat consists of an oral exam and x-rays. These are typically performed while your cat is under anesthesia and can help us accurately diagnose any dental disease that may be present. Many cats produce feline odontoclastic resorption lesions (FORL) in their teeth. These are cavity-like lesions at the neck of the tooth (where the gum meets the tooth). These lesions cause the roots to be resorbed and are extremely painful to your cat.
Other dental issues in cats include gingivitis and periodontal disease, both of which might require medication or dental work to alleviate the pain. The importance of annual exams cannot be underestimated. In order to keep your cat healthy, visits to your veterinarian that include oral exams are crucial.
Call Animal Health Center, Opelika, Auburn, today (334-745-0060) to schedule a dental exam for your cat.