Library

Home » Pet Health » Cat Health Library » Library

• Testing for Increased Thirst and Urination

  These clinical signs are non-specific and can be caused by many different diseases or conditions. Usually increased production of dilute urine results in a compensatory increase in water consumption, but occasionally the condition is one of increased water intake resulting in the production of large volumes of dilute urine.

• Testing for Jaundice

  Jaundice (also called icterus) is a condition characterized by the accumulation of the bile pigment ‘bilirubin’ in the skin, mucous membranes, and sclera (the whites of the eyes), causing these tissues to become yellow in color.

• Testing for Lameness

  The most common cause of lameness is trauma or injury to joints, ligaments, tendons, muscle or bone.

• Testing for Low Blood Sugar

  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.

• Testing for Seizures

  Seizures typically occur for three main reasons, but finding the cause can be difficult.

• Testing for Signs of Bleeding

  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.

• Testing for Signs of Pallor

  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.

• Testing for Sneezing

  Although these two clinical signs may not always appear together, both are associated with disorders affecting the nasal cavity and/or nasal sinuses.

• Testing for Vomiting

  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.

• Testing for Weakness

  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.