Library
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The most common cause of lameness is trauma or injury to joints, ligaments, tendons, muscle or bone.
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Low blood sugar is a very serious situation, and can have a lot of different causes. Testing blood sugar levels is fairly straightforward, but additional tests may be needed to determine the cause.
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Seizures typically occur for three main reasons, but finding the cause can be difficult.
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One of most common and obvious causes of bleeding (hemorrhage) is trauma. In most instances the bleeding will be self-limiting (stop on its own) unless the wound is severe. Occasionally bleeding may occur from sites such as the nose, mucous membranes, or urinary tract, but no incidence of trauma has occurred.
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By definition, pallor means paleness or absence of skin coloration. Because our pets are covered with a thick hair coat, we usually cannot appreciate pale skin, but pallor may be seen on mucous membranes such as the gums or inner eyelids, or on the skin of the ears.
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Although these two clinical signs may not always appear together, both are associated with disorders affecting the nasal cavity and/or nasal sinuses.
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Vomiting is a non-specific symptom of many different diseases and conditions. The frequency and type of material that is vomited along with a history and other clinical signs that your pet is exhibiting may give us clues as to its cause.
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Weakness is a non-specific symptom that can be caused by many different diseases or conditions. Problems with the cardiovascular system are an important cause of weakness or fainting spells (called syncope) because of poor circulation or irregular heart rate or rhythm.
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The most common disorder of the thyroid gland in cats is hyperthyroidism. Diagnosis of hyperthyroidism includes screening the hormone output of the thyroid as well as screening for other systemic diseases. This is achieved by running a complete blood count, biochemistry panel, urinalysis, and total T4 (tT4). Additional tests may be required. Cats undergoing treatment for hyperthyroidism will have regular blood monitoring to ensure the disease is under control.
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Damage to the tympanic membrane and middle ear infections can be very painful for cats and cause a variety of clinical signs affecting the skin and nervous system. Diagnosis often requires a thorough ear examination with testing while your cat is under sedation or anesthesia. The treatment methods and prognosis depend on the nature of your cat's condition.