PBIO 004 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Feline Panleukopenia, Clinical Urine Tests, Caliciviridae
29 Oct 2020
School
Department
Course
Professor
Feline Health
− General wellness care for cats consists of:
• Physical exams annually
• Regular vaccinations
• Parasite prevention and treatment, internal and external
• Blood work and urinalysis
Recommended yearly once cats are 7 to 10 years of old but establishing a baseline
can be useful
− Three main vaccines:
• FVRCP protects against three viruses:
Viral rhinotracheitis
Calicivirus
Feline distemper
• Felv protects against feline leukemia virus
• Rabies, which legally cats must have up-to-date
− Common health problems:
• FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease), which encompasses a range of bladder and
urethral problems, is most common reason that cats are brought to the vet
Can cause unwanted urination
Problems encompassed under FLUTD:
(1) FIC
(2) UTI
(3) Crystals and stones in urine
(4) Obstructed urethra
• Life threatening kidney disease is common, especially in elderly cats
When the kidney malfunctions it can be chronic or acute:
(1) Acute results in severe damage to kidneys and even complete shutdown followed
by the cat’s death
(2) Chronic occurs slowly and can be treated much easier if diagnosed early
It is diagnosed with physical evaluation of blood and a urinalysis
Can be prevented and treated by keeping cats hydrated above all else
By the time clinical symptoms are noticed, a lot of damage has already been done to
the kidneys
• Obesity is prevalent in 60 to 70% of cats in the United States
The better shape my cat is in the lower the risk it will develop osteoarthritis, diabetes,
urinary problems and heart disease, as well as an increased lifespan and quality of life
To gauge obesity use the Purina Body Condition Score, with an ideal weight for most
cats around 10 pounds
(1) Even a pound or two on a cat can represent a 20% increase in its weight
(2) Should be able to feel but not see the ribs and no belly should be present
Helping a cat lose weight:
(1) Reduce calorie intake slowly
(2) Feed the cat based on its ideal body weight, not its current body weight
Document Summary
General wellness care for cats consists of: physical exams annually, regular vaccinations, parasite prevention and treatment, internal and external, blood work and urinalysis. Recommended yearly once cats are 7 to 10 years of old but establishing a baseline can be useful. Three main vaccines: fvrcp protects against three viruses: Feline distemper: felv protects against feline leukemia virus, rabies, which legally cats must have up-to-date. Common health problems: flutd (feline lower urinary tract disease), which encompasses a range of bladder and urethral problems, is most common reason that cats are brought to the vet. Problems encompassed under flutd: (1) fic (2) uti (3) crystals and stones in urine (4) obstructed urethra: life threatening kidney disease is common, especially in elderly cats. It is diagnosed with physical evaluation of blood and a urinalysis. Can be prevented and treated by keeping cats hydrated above all else.
