Your furry, feline friend is an invaluable part of your family. As such, when it comes to your pet’s health and well-being, you can’t afford to take any chances. Here at Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Charles Town, WV, we understand how important your beloved pet is to you. To help cat owners maintain happy, healthy pets, we take care to educate our clients and help spread vital pet wellness information. By knowing about common cat illnesses, owners are best set up to combat and treat them quickly and effectively.

Prioritize Pet Wellness: 3 Common Cat Illnesses

1. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Also frequently called Urinary Tract Infections, many cats may suffer from Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD), which especially afflicts overweight or otherwise unhealthy cats. If you observe inappropriate urination, blood in your cat’s urine, reduced appetite, dehydration, or vomiting, FLUTD may be to blame, so head to the veterinary clinic as soon as possible. If your cat strains to urinate, the condition demands emergency intervention.  Remember, behavioral changes are a cry for help!

2. Parasites

Fleas are extremely common, but fortunately, very treatable. If your feline has irritated skin, constantly scratches, or is losing hair, fleas may the cause. If you look closely, you can often see the tiny, black fleas or their dark red flea dirt for yourself.  We are happy to help you find the flea control that is right for your cat!  With fleas come tapeworms, which are parasites that reside in many cats’ small intestines. Without treatment, they may grow as long as two feet. Most often, you may see segments of the tapeworm—which will look like small, white worms—in your cat’s feces. We treat tapeworms with a topical medication. We recommend deworming your cat every year, regardless of whether or not they are an indoor cat.

3. Infectious Disease

The Charles Town area has many feral cats, which means a high rate of disease.  If your cat is not feeling well, we recommend testing for “The Big Three:” Feline Leukemia, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, and Feline Infectious Peritonitis.  These are all viral diseases that can be spread through contact with other cats.  We strongly recommend you vaccinate your cat for Feline Leukemia to help keep them healthy, especially if they roam outdoors.

To keep your cat happy and healthy, or for more information about these issues, visit us at Countryside Veterinary Clinic today. Contact us by calling (304) 725-7663. For more information about our veterinary clinic services, check out our website!