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Causes of Cat's Cancer
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Every day there are millions of cats around the world that contract a broad range of illnesses. When an owner’s feline companion becomes ill, it is good for them to recognize any clinical signs that may be present and know whether their cat had the potential to come into contact with an unknown animal if an interaction was not seen. Information like this will help the veterinarian to make a proper diagnosis and create a treatment plan for the animal. Some illnesses can be potentially fatal and can possibly be spread to other pets in the household, so it is important to make sure the cat receives medical attention when it starts to show signs of illness. One disease that any cat owner should be aware of is Feline leukemia (FeLV).
Feline leukemia
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About thirty percent of infected cats develop an active infection and show clinical signs of illness; thirty percent become transient and develop neutralizing antibodies which enables them to clear themselves of the virus within four to six weeks; the remainder of cats develop a latent infection where the virus can become hidden in the bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes, and small intestine. These cats will eventually develop symptoms of disease at a period in their life when they become stressed or when immunosuppressive drugs like glucocorticoids are administered. Feline leukemia is a misleading term in the fact that fewer than half of the cats infected with FeLV actually develop cancer. When they do, it is not the virus that is the cause of the cancer development, but it is because the virus causes immunosuppression and the cat’s own cancer-fighting mechanisms become weakened. Almost all cats that show active signs of infection do not usually live beyond two or three years after contracting the virus. (1, 2, 3, 5, …show more content…
Another drug that can be given is alpha-interferon, which helps to stimulate the immune system and can be given orally to cats without side effects to improve appetite, attitude, and some clinical signs. Cats that develop specific types of cancer associated with FeLV infection can receive chemotherapy, although these cats only have an average of six months to live even with aggressive chemotherapy treatments. To ensure the health of the infected cat, make sure to schedule routine wellness exams every 6 months and have them vaccinated for other feline diseases. Keep FeLV infected cats indoors to prevent secondary infections from infectious agents carried by other animals or living in the environment. Keeping them indoors will also prevent the spread of infection to other cats in the neighborhood. Spay or neuter FeLV cats to prevent them from passing the virus to their offspring. Make sure FeLV positive cats receive good nutrition and avoid feeding raw or undercooked food such as meat, eggs, and unpasteurized milk to avoid food bourne illnesses from bacterial or parasitic infection due to immunosuppression. Reduce stress, control parasites, and begin early and aggressive treatment of any signs of illness that appear for a better quality of life for the cat. Cats that test positive for
This extremely pathogenic zoonotic virus is now understood to travel from bat species, to equine intermediate hosts, to humans.[8, 10] The Hendra virus is listed as a Bio-Safety Level (BSL)-4, and can only be studied at a few adequately equipped laboratories worldwide due to its virulence.[1, 2] Case fatality rates
Del Puerto, H. L., Martins, A., Vasconcelos, A. C., Milsted, A., Souza-Fagundes, E. M., Braz, G. F., et al. (n.d.). Canine distemper virus induces apoptosis in cervical tumor derived cell lines. http://www.virologyj.com/content/8/1/334. Retrieved January 29, 2014, from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=c0b3ec67-82b8-411a-a30b-
Millie is at risk for the following safety risks: She is an 84 y.o. female that lives alone with her cat. Although Millie’s cat may be therapeutic for her hypertension and a companion now that her spouse has passed away, the cat can also be a tripping hazard. Her poor vision may cause her to mix up her medications, or she may not be able to read or setup her medications on her own. Millie’s urinary tract infection (UTI), may have been caused due to poor peri cares, in addition to poor fluid intake. Millie’s hypertension and hypercholesterolemia may be poorly controlled due to “quick meals” such as frozen, boxed, or can foods. She may not be able to safely prepare nutritional meals for herself. Thus resulting in an increased chance of her developing a stroke or heart attack. Millie’s osteoarthritis may also cause her knee to become weak and fall, and due to her osteoporosis her bones are brittle and may brake. Lastly, Millie’s fall risk assessment should have been completed on day of admission and interventions should have been put in place to prevent a near fall.
Herpesviruses are not only been present in humans, they are most often found in commonly studied animals which implicatively insinuates the amount of ...
All members of the cat family (Felidae) are susceptible to infection with feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), as are raccoons, and minks, in the family Procyoniclae. Three major body sytems are affected by FPV. FPV specifically depresses the white blood cells and thus the immune system of the host, it attacks the rapidly reproducing cells lining the gut, and FPV affects the reproducing cells of the cerebellum and the retina of the eye when they are in their developing stage. The system it chooses depends on the age of the cat at the time of infection.
The virus is primarily spherical shaped and roughly 200nm in size, surrounded by a host-cell derived membrane. Its genome is minus-sense single-stranded RNA 16-18 kb in length. It contains matrix protein inside the envelope, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, fusion protein, nucleocapsid protein, and L and P proteins to form the RNA polymerase. The host-cell receptors on the outside are hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. The virus is allowed to enter the cell when the hemagglutinin/ neuraminidase glycoproteins fuse with the sialic acid on the surface of the host cell, and the capsid enters the cytoplasm. The infected cells express the fusion protein from the virus, and this links the host cells together to create syncitia.
When owners take their pets to the clinic, they are understandably anxious about the results and outcome of the visit. While it’s the veterinarian's job to provide care for the animal, it’s also their job to put the owners at ease, reassuring them that their pet will indeed be fine. This communication is vital for building trust, as it lets the owner know what is happening to their animal and gives them confidence in believing that everything will be okay. What’s more, veterinarians that take the time to thoroughly explain procedures and instructions regarding petcare, are teaching pet owners how to better tend to their
Feline Leukemia is a highly contagious retrovirus, and a disease with many causes. It is certainly life-threatening to cats infected with the virus. It is a disease that sadly has no cure. While it is incurable, it is important to focus on the fact that it is a preventable disease. There are many important steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of exposure to the Feline Leukemia Virus. Preventative measures are the best solution to dealing with the threat of Feline Leukemia, and is the only thing guaranteed to increase the safety of cats and prevent the spread of the virus.
The sad part is, it can be prevented. I am in hope that I have touched your heart in a special way today to make you more aware of the seriousness of this disease so your pet can live a long and healthy life. Works Cited Administration, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Animal and Veterinary Medicine. 02 February 2014.
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the obligate intracellular parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii.1 It is estimated to be the leading cause of food-related deaths in the United States and it infects up to a third of the worldwide population. Incidence is highest in areas that are hot, humid and at a low elevation, all of which are characteristic of the southwestern US where the case patient, S.C., is from. 2,3 Cats are the common culprit as they become definitive hosts of the parasite after they eat infected prey such as birds, rodents, and various small animals. The life of Toxoplasma persists as it is passed on through cat feces carrying as much as 100 million parasites every day and for as long as 21 days after infection.1,2 It undergoes several life cycles beginning with shedding of the oocysts in cat feces which carries the infective sporozoites that are ultimately converted into tachyzoites capable of disseminating from the small intestine to other organs, most notably in the CNS where it is difficult to find.1,3 There are several routes of transmission: consumption of contaminated water and food (especially undercooked or unfrozen meats), ingestion of cat feces through daily activities such as emptying a litter box, working with contaminated soil, congenital (especially during the third trimester), blood transfusions, or organ transplantation.1 This is of particular concern since S.C. reports having three cats at home which are known hosts to Toxoplasma. Furthermore, he has recently consumed a cougar that was killed on his property adding to his exposure to feline animals. The patient also insists that he only eats fully cooked meats such as the ungulates he hunts for food. However, presence of a cougar in his area could possibly indicate that surrounding animals, including the ungulates that he hunts, may have been exposed to Toxoplasma through feline feces. Thus, it is difficult to dismiss infection of the animals as almost all edible parts of an animal can harbor viable parasites.1
Viruses can be transmitted in many ways. Being in contact with an infected person will most likely transfer the virus. One can also obtain the virus through swallowing, inhaling, and unsafe sex. Poor hygiene and eating habits usually increase the risk of catching a viral infection. Contracting a viral infection is followed by adverse s...
Feline oral resorptive lesions (FORL), also known as feline stomatitis or more commonly feline tooth resorption, is a relatively common oral disease often seen in veterinary practice. The general nature of the disease is to eat away at the tooth structures similarly to cavaties or carries in humans, though the disease is not initiated in the same manner as humans as felines do not consume an overabundance of simple carbohydrates. In fact, it is not truly known what the cause of this disease is, though there are several potential factors that may initiate, worsen, or are general signs of FORL.
When I bought Katie to my apartment, she was so frightened. She meowed all night. I called Judy to say that I didn't think I could care for her, but Judy encouraged me to give the cat time to adjust, because she was in a new surrounding. I started feeding my new cat fresh Purina One Special Care dry food and Friskies moist food along with a fresh bowl of water each morning and evening. I also bougth a cat brush to stroke her long luxurious black and white hair, plus I took her to the Vet for an annual booster and rabie shot so I could give the records of the shots to my Manager.
You play a key role in keeping your pet safe. If you start to notice any ongoing behaviors that seem odd for your cat or dog then it is time to call your veterinarian. Noticing and reporting changes in behavior is the first step to finding and fixing a health problem. And, the sooner you locate the cause of your pet’s pain, the sooner they can start to feel
There are the many differences and similarities between the most popular household pets, dogs and cats. These pets really do make a wonderful addition to the family; but, before you decide on which pet to bring home think about the different attention, grooming care, and bathroom usage for each of these pets, to make sure you are able to provide proper care for your pet. Having a pet is a lot of hard work, but in the long run it’s very