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  • Doxycycline is a semi-synthetic tetracycline antibiotic used to treat infections. This medication has been prescribed for your pet to treat a bacterial infection.

  • This article reviews the advantages and disadvantages of the different food forms available for cats, including dry, canned, and semi-moist foods. Dry food, or kibble, is easy to portion control and can be fed in puzzle toys. Canned food is a good option but more expensive than kibble and does not last as long once opened. Semi-moist foods are generally not recommended as the main diet due to their high sugar and sodium content, as well as difficulty with portioning. Feeding a combination of canned and dry is recommended for young, healthy cats so that they are exposed to a variety of textures.

  • Even though e-cigarettes may be safer for humans than using traditional tobacco products, they are certainly not safe for pets. The nicotine associated with e-cigarettes, even without the tobacco, poses a serious health threat for cats.

  • Ear cleansing/drying products are used over-the-counter to treat and prevent ear infections in many species of pets. They come as a liquid solution that is used topically within the ear canal and are typically used in the ears after debris and wax have been removed using a cerumenolytic cleanser.

  • Antibiotic ear drops are generally used to treat a bacterial ear infection, also known as bacterial otitis externa. Topical preparations are available as single medications or as combinations; common antibiotic preparations include neomycin, gentamicin, polymyxin B, enrofloxacin and silver sulfadiazine. These medications may also be combined with antifungal agents and/or corticosteroids.

  • Antifungal ear drops are generally used to treat a yeast infection that is known as Malassezia pachydermatis. Topical antifungal medications include miconazole, clotrimazole, nystatin and thiabendazole. These medications may be combined with corticosteroids, which are used to decrease inflammation.

  • Ear infections are less common in cats than dogs, and it is essential to determine the underlying cause. Ear mites are the most common cause, but tumors or foreign bodies may also be present. Your veterinarian will need to examine your cat and likely perform tests to determine the best course of treatment. The prognosis is good if the underlying cause is diagnosed and treated.

  • Echinococcosis refers to being infected with a tapeworm of the genus Echinococcus and is primarily a parasite of coyotes and foxes. Infected cats are usually asymptomatic, but in both cats and humans the parasite can cause large cysts to form within the lungs and liver. E.multilocularis is treated with praziquantel and in most cases the prognosis is good.

  • Eclampsia, also referred to as hypocalcemia or puerperal tetany, is an emergency medical condition associated with a life-threatening drop in blood calcium levels that occurs in nursing mothers. Mothers that are especially attentive to their kittens seem to be more likely to develop eclampsia. Signs and treatment are discussed.

  • An electrocardiogram, or ECG, is a test that is used to assess the heart. More specifically, an ECG records the transmission of an electrical impulse through the heart. This test is not painful and is typically performed as an outpatient procedure. Analyzing the electrical impulses produced as the heart beats can help identify a number of different abnormalities within the heart.