Feline Hypertension Tips
from our Emergency Animal Hospital

Cats can develop hypertension, or high blood pressure, just as humans can, though the underlying causes may be different. The most common causes of feline hypertension are kidney failure and a hyperactive thyroid, though heart ailments can also cause the condition. Kidney failure is common in older cats, probably because the kidneys tend to shrink in size with age, making it more difficult for blood to circulate through them. A hyperactive thyroid, which also occurs in many older cats, boosts the body metabolism to an unnatural level, raising the blood pressure as a result.

Feline hypertension can cause serious damage to your cat, requiring the services of an emergency veterinarian. Left untreated, the disease can lead to burst blood vessels in the eyeball and a detached retina, leaving your cat partially or totally blind. Even more serious is the possibility of brain bleeding, which can produce strokes or seizures. If your cat displays dilated pupils, disorientation, a tilting of the head, difficulty walking or other behavioral problems, bring her to our emergency vet clinic immediately.

How Veterinary Hospitals Help

Emergency Animal Hospital of Northwest Austin can help your cat by diagnosing hypertension and performing immediate treatment to relieve the most urgent issues. If we can treat a cat blinded by hypertension quickly enough, at least some of her vision may eventually return, depending on the degree of eye damage.

By treating the underlying kidney or thyroid problem, an emergency veterinarian on our skilled team can often get the situation under control. But the best treatment, of course, is preventative. Have your cat’s blood pressure checked regularly by your family vet. It is a very similar procedure to checking human blood pressure, though nervous cats can exhibit “white coat syndrome” until they become calm enough to produce an accurate reading. If your cat needs blood pressure medication, it is a small price to pay to prevent serious complications.

Has your cat had an experience with high blood pressure? Did you notice any symptoms?

 

Our Emergency Animal Hospital Treats
Painful Bladder Stones

Bladder stones not only cause pain and irritation to your pet, they can become an emergency situation when a stone lodges at the opening to the urethra or in the duct that carries urine away from the bladder. Here at the Emergency Animal Hospital of Northwest Austin, an after-hours veterinarian examines your pet and recommends treatment methods if bladder stones are found.

Bladder stones are small accumulations of crystalline materials that precipitate out of the urine in the bladder. Although they usually take time to develop, in some cases bladder stones form within just a few weeks. These sand-grain to small-gravel sized stones irritate the walls of the bladder causing pain and bleeding and have the potential to block the flow of urine. Left untreated, they grow and become more numerous, presenting a serious danger to your beloved pet. Bladder stones may warrant surgical removal, especially if there is a blockage. Another option is a special diet to dissolve the stones, but this requires a longer period of treatment.

Dogs Symptoms of Bladder Stones

The most common dogs' symptoms of bladder stones are blood in the urine (hematuria) and straining while trying to urinate (dysuria). Although, these two symptoms may have other causes, a thorough examination of your pet by our emergency veterinarian using our state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment lets you know with certainty whether your pet has bladder stones. Cat symptoms are similar to dogs' symptoms, and you may additionally notice the cat urinating in unusual places. If you suspect your pet has bladder stones and is exhibiting signs of pain or cannot pass urine at all, this may constitute an emergency situation requiring immediate emergency veterinarian care. Do not wait for your regular vet to open, bring your treasured pet to the caring staff at our emergency animal hospital.

Do you need to know more about bladder stones in cats or dogs? Give our knowledgeable staff a call and get the answers you need.

Austin Vet Reminds Pet Owners of Chocolate Dangers

The winter holiday season is an enjoyable time for most humans. It's a time filled with friends and family, special foods and festive decorations. However, this time of year can be a dangerous time for pets if pet owners aren't careful. Some of the same things that make the holidays so special for humans can be harmful to cats and dogs. Avoid a trip to the 24 hour veterinarian by educating yourself about holiday pet hazards.

Holiday Pet Hazards

Many holiday foods, especially chocolate, can be perilous to pets. Chocolate contains theobromine, a substance similar to caffeine that is highly toxic to cats and dogs. The darker the chocolate, the greater the theobromine content and the greater the danger. Dog's symptoms of chocolate poisoning include vomiting and diarrhea as well as hyperactivity, pacing and even seizures if the chocolate is ingested in large quantities. Cat's symptoms are similar, although cats are less likely than dogs to grab a piece of chocolate off of the table.

Other holiday foods to watch out for include onions and garlic, raisins and grapes, alcoholic beverages and yeast bread doughs.

Keeping Pets Safe During the Holidays

At Emergency Animal Hospital of Northwest Austin, our veterinarians recommend covering holiday treats, even during a party. It only takes a second for your pet to run off with a piece of chocolate or other hazardous food. We also advise pet owners to clear the holiday dinner table immediately after the meal and to carefully discard of any turkey or ham bones. Not only is this better for humans, but it eliminates any temptation for your pets.

Should you suspect that your dog or cat has ingested chocolate or other toxic substance, put a call in immediately to our after-hours veterinarian. Our veterinarian will be able to tell you what steps you need to take and whether you should bring the animal into the clinic.

Do you take special precautions around the holidays to keep your dog or cat safe and avoid a trip to the emergency animal hospital? Share your tips with our readers by leaving a comment below.

When Should You Take Your Sneezing Cat
to the Emergency Animal Hospital?

Cat symptoms, such as sneezing that lasts more than two days, signal an upper respiratory infection, or URI, that affects a cat’s nose, throat, trachea and eyes. Caused by a variety of viruses or bacteria, most of the time a URI is no more worrisome than a common cold. But, three viruses can cause serious illness— feline rhinotracheitis virus (also called feline herpesvirus), feline calicivirus and Bordetella (which causes “kennel cough” in dogs).

If your cat suddenly stops eating, has a high fever or develops ulcers on the tongue and eye surface, don’t delay. At Emergency Animal Hospital of Northwest Austin, we recommend that you bring your pet into our emergency vet clinic immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.

How Will Our After Hours Veterinarian Treat Your Cat’s URI?

Our 24 hour veterinarian will carefully assess the situation to determine the best approach. If your cat is still eating, the preferred option may be an in-home treatment plan that includes antibiotics and specific foods in addition to treatments administered at the clinic. However, if your other cats have not yet developed a URI, keeping your cat in the emergency animal hospital may be best for all, since these viruses spread rapidly through sneezing. Our after hours veterinarian  may also advise a hospital stay if your cat has stopped eating, so that proper antibiotics and nutrition can be administered.

If you are treating your cat at home, keep an eye out for secondary bacterial infections in the throat, nose or eyes. They may cause your cat to stop eating, which can lead to dehydration and even death. If this happens, return to our emergency animal hospital as soon as possible.

Can URIs be prevented? Yes, if your cat has not been infected with rhinotracheitis virus, the calicivirus or Bordetella. We recommend annual vaccinations as a generally successful way to prevent URIs. Even if your cat does develop an infection, it will be much less severe.

Do you have more questions about URIs in cats? Please contact us so we can help!

 

Here at Emergency Animal Hospital of Northwest Austin, your local emergency vet clinic, we see cat owners who have concerns about injured and sick cats. A common condition affecting cats is Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes mellitus, often called simply "diabetes" or "sugar diabetes," is seen in cats whose pancreas does not make sufficient insulin. This is a fairly common problem in cats, and our after-hours veterinarian has the resources to help you navigate through this condition and get your cat on the road to recovery.

How Does Insulin Affect Cats?

Insulin adheres to the surface of a cat's body cells and regulates the glucose as it enters from the bloodstream. When there is too little insulin, glucose levels will begin to rise and will cause several different damaging effects on the cat's health. High glucose levels often cause cats to exhibit the specific signs of diabetes.

Cat Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus

Cat symptoms will generally start because the cat is trying to make up for the lack of energy is is feeling. Our after-hours veterinarian cautions pet owners to look out for symptoms like sudden weight loss, markedly increased appetite, dramatically increased thirst, and more frequent urination.

Generally speaking, cat owners who visit our Austin emergency vet clinic with a cat who may have diabetes mellitus will have observed at least two of the above symptoms, and possibly will have observed all four of these symptoms. While these symptoms are helpful indicators of the possible presence of diabetes mellitus, a blood glucose test and a urinalysis are necessary to determine if diabetes is present in a cat.

If your cat has shown symptoms that could be diabetes mellitus, it is important that you pursue testing. Cats at any stage of life can get diabetes mellitus, but it does not have to be any impediment to a long and healthy life if properly treated!

Do you have questions about diabetes in cats? Please let us know so we can help!