Educational Articles
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An umbilical hernia is a protrusion of the abdominal lining, abdominal fat, or a portion of abdominal organ(s) through the area around the umbilicus. An umbilical hernia can vary in size from less than a ¼” (1cm) to more than 1” (2.5cm) in diameter. Small (less than ¼” or 1cm) hernias may close spontaneously (without treatment) by age 3 to 4 months. If the hernia has not closed by the time of spaying or neutering, surgical repair of the hernia is recommended and prognosis is excellent.
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Cats exhibit a wide range of behaviors that are quite normal yet may be considered undesirable by the people with whom they share their homes. Most of these behaviors develop to satisfy an innate need. Rather than trying to stop your cat from engaging in instinctual and naturally rewarding behaviors, it is essential to provide your cat with substitute behaviors and outlets that satisfy your cat’s needs.
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Tumors of the urinary tract may present anywhere from the kidneys to the tip of the urethra. Tumors of the bladder are most common in the dog whereas tumors involving the kidneys are more prevalent in cats. Unfortunately, many tumors of the urinary tract are malignant and treatment options may be limited. Surgery is possible in select cases. Medical treatment may be beneficial in cases where surgery is not possible.
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Uterine tumors are quite rare in North American pets, mainly due to routine spaying practices. Several types of tumors can arise from the tissues of the uterus. This handout discusses uterine tumors in dogs and cats. The various types of these tumors, along with the clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of this condition are outlined.
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There are five primary reasons for vaccination failure. Vaccine inactivation is one reason and is most commonly caused by warming during shipping and handling. In addition, vaccines are not always 100% effective. Cats may also be unhealthy or too young, leading to vaccine failure. Interference by maternal antibodies can lead to the vaccine being blocked. Lastly, cats receiving overwhelming exposure to a virus may have a failure in the effectiveness of the vaccine.
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Vascular tumors of the skin develop from the blood vessels of the skin. These tumors may arise anywhere on the body and appear as a firm and raised lump on or under the skin. Hemangiomas may ulcerate and bleed; hemangiosarcomas may bleed into the surrounding tissues. This type of tumor is typically diagnosed via a tissue biopsy or surgical removal of the entire tumor. Surgery is the recommended treatment for vascular tumors of the skin.
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Vestibular disease is when a cat suddenly develops incoordination, falling or circling to one side, involuntary darting of the eyes back and forth, a head tilt, and often nausea or vomiting. Most cases are idiopathic, meaning the exact cause is unknown. Idiopathic vestibular disease is a short-term, self-resolving condition with a good prognosis.
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Feline viral testing typically encompasses testing for feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and coronavirus which causes feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Testing for FeLV and FIV is recommended to detect underlying causes to illness, to screen apparently healthy cats who may have been exposed to the viruses, and to identify carriers of the viruses prior to introducing cats into a household of other cats. FIP testing is somewhat more problematic.
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Testing for FeLV is recommended to detect underlying causes to illness, to screen apparently healthy cats who may have been exposed to the viruses, and to identify carriers of the viruses prior to introducing cats into a household of other cats. Testing protocols are discussed. Vaccination against FeLV will not affect the outcome of a cat already infected with the virus nor will it affect testing.
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Visceral vascular tumors are tumors which arise from blood vessels. The main tumor types are hemangiosarcomas (cancerous) and hemangiomas (benign). The clinical signs vary depending on the location of the tumor. Surgery is the recommended treatment option. Given the highly metastatic nature of hemangiosarcoma, chemotherapy is also recommended.
