Tag Archives: pus

Caring for your Cat, Cats, Diseases of cats, Internal Diseases of Cats, Skin Diseases of Cats, Today's News

Cat fights

Cats typically have a hate-hate relationship with any strange cat in their presence, yard, or environment. When new cats meet, they fluff up, spit, hiss – more like scream! – and the fur soon goes flying. While the brawl may only last a few seconds, that’s enough time for a few diseases to jump bodies.

Feline leukemia (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus or cat AIDS (FIV), infectious peritonitis (FIP), or nasty bacterial infections are transmitted from cat to cat in saliva.

Outside cats, particularly unneutered males, love to fight. Most times they will end up with a nasty abscess.

What exactly is an abscess? It’s basically a pocket of pus under the skin. It makes a cat very ill because of the bacteria and toxins it releases into the bloodstream. He is feverish, goes off his food, hides and sleeps a lot.

Treatment for abscesses involves a general anaesthesia, clipping and cleaning the skin, lancing the abscess and flushing all the pus out, placing a drain to allow any new pus to empty, antibiotics and pain relief. Some cats are so sick they need hospitalisation and intravenous fluids for a night or two.

How do we avoid all this??

Desex your cat if he is still entire. Keep him indoors, particularly in the evenings and at night when the brawling usually happens.

Keep other cats off your property. A dog on patrol will soon despatch an intruder. Otherwise keep an eye out for a few evenings and frighten strays off with a loud noise.

Catch the infection as soon as possible. If your cat has been in a fight bring him immediately for an antibiotic shot to discourage the abscess from forming.

Vaccinate your cat against FIV, Feline AIDS. There are three shots in the initial course. A booster at the annual checkup and vaccine review prevents the virus gaining a toe hold.

 

Diseases of dogs, Dogs, general, Internal diseases of Dogs

Pyometra or infections of the uterus

What is pyometra?

Pyometra is an accumulation of pus in the uterus. Toxic products form and make the bitch very sick.

How do I know if my dog has pyometra?

If the cervix is open pus drains from the vagina and can be seen on the skin or hair under the tail or on bedding and furniture.

If the cervix is closed, the trapped pus distends the uterus and abdomen. The bacteria in the pus release toxins into the circulation.  The dog goes off her food, vomits or passes diarrhoea, drinks a lot of water and becomes very depressed.

How is it treated?

Pyometra is an emergency. Surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries ensures complete recovery. If not treated toxins cause organ damage. If the cervix is closed the uterus may rupture and spill into the abdominal cavity. Either of these is rapidly fatal.  Intravenous fluids and antibiotics before and after surgery reverse the toxicity and control residual infection.

When does it occur?

Pyometra is most common in older bitches after many years of oestrus cycles without pregnancy.  Occasionally younger bitches are affected.

Pyometra occurs about 1-2 months after oestrus.

How is it diagnosed?

A non-desexed female dog that is very ill , drinking a lot of water, and has a vaginal discharge or an enlarged abdomen could have pyometra. They also have a high white blood cell count and serum globulin level. Toxins reduce the ability of the kidneys to concentrate the urine.

An ultrasound examination identifies an enlarged uterus and differentiates pyometra from pregnancy.

Why does my dog have pyometra?

Hormonal changes cause pyometra. After a bitch is on heat or in season (oestrus), progesterone levels stay high for 8-10 weeks, thickening the lining of the uterus in preparation for pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur for several oestrus cycles, the lining continues to thicken and cysts form in it. The thickened, cystic lining secretes fluid creating an ideal environment for bacterial growth. High progesterone levels also inhibit contraction of uterine muscles preventing expulsion of the fluid.

Drugs containing progesterone and/or oestrogen also predispose bitches to pyometra.

How do bacteria get into the uterus?

The cervix is the gateway to the uterus. It remains tightly closed except during oestrus. When the cervix is open during oestrus vaginal bacteria can enter the uterus easily. If the uterus is normal, bacteria won’t survive.  However, when the uterine wall is thickened and weak, conditions are perfect for bacterial growth.

Cats, Diseases of cats, general

Fight wound infections

Bites from another cat during a fight cause abscesses and infection. Dog, rat and other rodent bites are rare.

Consequences:

Cat bites on the head, forelimbs or at the base of the tail leave lumps that swell and burst. Your cat is lethargic and goes off his food.

When a cat bites its teeth go through the skin leaving small puncture wounds which seal over, trapping bacteria under the skin of the victim.

A pocket of pus forms an abscess. In areas where the skin is tighter, such as on the foot or the tail, the infection spreads through the tissues causing cellulitis.

Rarely more serious consequences such as a septic arthritis (infection of a joi

nt space) or osteomyelitis (infection of bone) result.

Treatment:

  • Antibiotics by injection or mouth stop the spread of infection and development of an abscess.
  • Surgery to drain the pus.