Currently, the cause of this syndrome is unknown. Some veterinarians feel these patients may have a calcium imbalance.

Most cats are completely normal and show no clinical signs to their owners. Others will show pain during eating, excessive salivation, or blood in the mouth. Clinical signs will depend on how severe the resorption is-the deeper the lesion, the more painful it is.

Unless the lesion is very mild, extraction of the tooth is usually recommended. This appears to be a progressive disease meaning the tooth will continue to dissolve if not extracted. In severe cases, the root of the tooth has fused to the bone of the jaw, so extraction is limited to the crown of the tooth. Your veterinarian may refer your pet to a veterinary dentist for complete treatment.

For either syndrome, there is a substance within the food that is causing the problem. For skin reactions, it is generally a specific protein or carbohydrate in the diet that is causing a hypersensitivity. Beef, chicken, lamb, corn, rice, and wheat along with eggs and dairy products are very commonly associated with this syndrome and can be found virtually in any commercial diet. These diets may not be "bad diets", but are bad for the particular pet.For gastrointestinal reactions, it can be associated with the ingredients above, but can also be due to additives, toxins within the food, or from spoiled diets.

Patients can show only one or both syndromes. They will scratch and chew excessively all over their body and routine antihistamines or steroids are not very effective at controlling the pruritus. The signs are year round as long as the pet stays on the same diet. This syndrome can be very difficult to differentiate from atopy as the signs can look the same.Pets can also have gas, diarrhea, anorexia, or vomiting. These signs can abate rapidly when the patient is not eating or when the diet has been changed inadvertently.  

Fortunately, treatment is relatively easy and involves a dietary change. Unfortunately, it may take many dietary trials, especially with the skin reactions, to find an appropriate diet. For gastrointestinal signs only, sometimes just changing dietary brands with a different protein or carbohydrate from the current diet is all that is needed. With the skin reactions, a very restrictive prescription diet is usually needed. It is very imperative that the pet not receive ANYTHING orally for at least 8-12 weeks during the dietary trial to determine if the pet has a food allergy. Even some heartworm preventions have beef flavoring added. No treats, rawhides, or people food are allowed. These things can be added eventually after the trial is successful, but must be avoided during the initial period. After the pet is doing well, one ingredient at a time can be added to assess the patient’s reaction. Most animal will react within 3 days if that particular ingredient is the allergen. Once all the ingredients are identified, some commercial diets may be available that do not contain those allergens. If not, the patient will need to be on the prescription diet for life.

As noted before, it is very difficult to determine the exact cause of this syndrome. Some doctors feel specific viruses such as the calicivirus play a part. Others feel this is the same disease as interstitial cystitis in humans where the bladder wall absorbs more urine than normal due to decreased glycosaminoglycans. Almost all veterinarians believe that stress is a major factor in this disease. What is definitely known is that bacteria (a urinary tract infection) is not related to this disease.  

All cats show extreme discomfort when they urinate. All signs are similar to urinary tract infection signs: blood in urine, straining to urinate, urinating small amounts many times, and crying in the litter box. Most cats will also urinate in inappropriate places, for example the sinks, bathtub, carpet, bed, etc. Some male cats will become blocked and be unable to urinate at all-these pets need to go to the veterinarian immediately!

After it has been determined that the patient does not have a urinary tract infection or urinary stones, a diagnosis of feline lower urinary tract disease may be made. Several therapies may be attempted, but is should be noted that if a patient truly has this disease, most clinical signs will abate within a week. However, the signs will return at unpredictable times. The prescribed therapies will hopefully greatly decrease the number of instances the cat has to suffer through the episodes.Diet change: Changing the diet is a very common mode of treatment and has proven to decrease the clinical signs associated with this disease. The type of diet will depend on the presence of crystals in the urine. These pets need to be on this diet ONLY for life. It is also advisable that the pet is on canned food rather than dry.Reduction of stress: As most veterinarians feel that stress plays a major role, counseling on ways to reduce stress is common. Pinpointing the stressor may be more difficult, but if possible, should be avoided. Feliway plug-ins, cat nip, maintaining a consistent diet, following strict litter box hygiene, and providing a safe place to hide or play are imperative. If the stressor is another cat or person in the household or can not be avoided, there are behavior modifying drugs that may be attempted.  Oral medications: There have been miscellaneous drugs attempted to alleviate cat’s discomfort and they may be prescribed. An arthritis medication with glycosaminoglycans, pain medication, and antiinflammatories may all be tried. Some cats respond well and others do not respond at all.Please be aware if your male cat is urinating. They can develop "plugs" in their urinary system that will cause them to be unable to urinate. This is a true medical emergency and will require anesthesia and a urinary catheter. It is always best to visit the veterinary hospital at the first signs of urinary distress.

These pets are allergic to antigens in flea saliva.

Dogs tend to have hair loss and intense itching on the back end, down the back of the thighs, and on the front legs. Cats will itch around the neck and head and will also have hair loss on the back end. Fleas and flea dirt are not always seen, especially on cats due to aggressive grooming and chewing. In some areas, the signs are seasonal (spring and summer), but in warmer areas, the signs can be year-round.

Flea control is absolutely imperative. It is best to treat the environment multiple times a year to assure the pet will not have a flea burden. It is important to remember that shaded and/or hidden areas are the most common places that flea eggs will hatch. For example, under trees and along shrubbery need to be aggressively sprayed. Couches and other furniture should be moved if fogs are used indoors. Vacuuming the couch and under tables can be done in between treatments.Topical flea prevention is very effective at killing fleas before they bite a pet. They should be applied a minimum of every 30 days. Oral flea prevention is not effective for flea allergy patients because it requires a flea bite which is to be avoided. Flea collars are not effective at all.  

The virus is transmitted through cat saliva, namely cat bites. This is more common in outdoor male cats that fight often.

Most cats will show signs of upper respiratory infections or persistent diarrhea. Up to half the patients will have significant dental disease that can not be explained by normal tartar accumulation. Recurrent skin and ear infections are common and some cats even show behavioral changes.

It is strictly imperative these patients are kept indoors to prevent the spread of the disease and to avoid exposure to pathogens. These cats can live healthy lives for many years if their infections are minimized.There are several immune stimulants available and can be very helpful in boosting the pet’s disease fighting capabilities. Antibiotics will need to be prescribed periodically for intermittent infections. Dental cleanings may need to be performed frequently.Life expectancy can be up to 6 years. Many cats with FIV do not show signs for many years. Keeping your cat indoors is the best way to avoid the virus.

FIP is caused by viral transmission from cat to cat, usually through saliva. Many cats carry antibodies to the virus, but only very few show clinical signs of the disease.

There are two forms of FIP: wet and dry. The wet form will cause fluid to accumulate in either the abdomen or around the lungs. The dry form will affect many organs just like the wet form, but will not have the fluid accumulation. Most cats have a persistent fever that is unresponsive to antibiotics. They will also have vague signs in the dry form: decreased appetite, weight loss, depression, dry hair coat. In the wet form, their abdomen will become bloated or they will begin to have respiratory difficulty.

The hardest part about this virus is obtaining a definitive diagnosis. The current test available can only detect exposure to the virus and does not differentiate cats that do not have the actual disease. In other words, totally healthy cats can have positive FIP tests and not be sick and patients with FIP can be negative. If the patient has the wet form and a positive test, it can be assumed at that point that the patient is probably harboring the virus.Treatment is strictly palliative. Unfortunately, this disease is 100% fatal. The current vaccine available is not greatly protective and usually is not recommended.  The best prevention is to keep your pet inside and test any new cats before introducing them into the household.

Usually the rabies or leukemia vaccine is the cause of the tumor. Cats that receive multiple vaccines in the same area of the body are at higher risk of developing a sarcoma.

The first sign is a bump under the skin at the vaccination site. While this is common for several days after an injection, sarcomas will persist and grow. Any bump or mass present for a month after a vaccine has been given should be shown to a veterinarian immediately.

Surgical excision is the only treatment after it is determined that the tumor has not metastasized. It is highly recommended that a board-certified surgeon performs the surgery. The survival rate tends to be much longer if the surgery is done at a referral center. Radiation is also an option and extends the life of the pet.Vaccination is an extremely vital aspect to assure your pet’s health. However, vaccines should only be given on an "as needed" basis for each pet. Talk to your veterinarian to assess your cat’s need for rabies and leukemia vaccines.

Cats: feline leukemia, FIP, FIV, herpesvirus, abscesses, kidney infection, cancer, pneumonia, pancreatitis, cholangiohepatitis, fever of unknown originDogs: bacterial or fungal infections of any organ, Ehrlichia, Lyme disease, prostate disease, immune-mediated disease, or cancerThis list is not complete but reflects the most common causes of fever. Sometimes the cause of a fever may not be identified-this is quite common in cats.

Symptoms of a fever is general malaise, anorexia and depression. Other clinical signs are usually present and depend on the underlying cause of the fever.

More attention is usually directed at finding the cause of the fever rather than trying to treat the fever, unless the fever is very high or the patient is very ill. As noted before, sometimes a diagnosis is not reached. This is called Fever of Unknown Origin and is frustrating for both veterinarian and owner. Most pets are treated with fluids if necessary and antibiotics. If an actual cause can be found, that disease will be treated accordingly if possible.

As noted before, this virus is very stable, so transmission does not require cat to cat contact. A pet can contract the disease just by passing by an area where the virus had been shed in the past. Also, there are cases of canine parvovirus causing feline parvovirus.

These pets have a very sudden onset of vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia. This is extremely common in young kittens that have recently been adopted from a shelter, especially if there is not a vaccination history. Cats become dehydrated and hypothermic very quickly.

Supportive care is usually very successful if initiated early in the disease. Intravenous fluids and antibiotics are key.This disease is completely preventable in a vaccine. It is part of the FVRCP vaccination given to kittens.The virus is extremely hard to eradicate in the environment. It is necessary to use diluted bleach in order to kill the virus. All cats must be vaccinated before introducing them to an environment that has had a positive parvovirus patient residing.

The virus is very stable in the environment. The most common mode of infection is cat bites, but close contact such as grooming or sharing food bowls can also transmit the disease. Mothers with the disease also pass this virus along to her litter.

This virus affects many organ systems, so the clinical signs vary. Some cats are infected for months or years before they show clinical signs. They can exhibit fever, persistent diarrhea, oral lesions, upper respiratory signs, conjunctivitis, or chronic/recurrent infections of the skin or ears. Outside cats that develop recurrent abscesses should be screened for Leukemia. Cats that develop lymphoma show signs of immune suppression.

The best prevention is to vaccinate your outdoor cat yearly for Leukemia. They should also be screened yearly for the virus as the vaccine is not 100% effective. If you have indoor cats, they should be tested for the virus as kittens and kept inside. Vaccination will depend on if there will be another cat added to the household or whether the cat will ever be let outside. Even if your cat only goes into their own yard or on the porch, it is advisable to vaccinate them.If the pet has tested positive, palliative care is the only treatment. There are immune modulators that can boost the pet’s immune system and alleviate some of the discomforts. Antibiotics may be indicated intermittently for respiratory or eye infections and diarrhea will need to be addressed with probiotics or diet changes. Cats diagnosed with lymphoma have chemotherapy as an option. Cats with Leukemia should never be let outdoors or allowed to mingle with other cats.Every kitten should be screened for Leukemia on their first vet visit.