A heart murmur means that in addition to normal ‘lub-dub’ heart sounds, the vet can also hear extra sounds when listening to the heart with a stethoscope.
They are usually graded from 1 to 6 with 1 being very quiet and 6 being loud, but the grade can also change.
Cat flu is a term used to describe a group of respiratory viruses that most commonly affect cats and kittens. These viruses are Feline Herpes virus, Calici virus and less commonly, Feline chlamydia virus. A cat that has been treated for cat flue may display signs of flue or become a cat flu carrier.
Hyperthyroidism mostly affects older cats (10 years+) but can still sometimes affect cats younger than this.
Hyperthyroidism is when the glands, located in the neck, produce too much of a hormone called thyroxine.
Arthritis is when joints become damaged and painful to move. Arthritis is very common in cats, especially over the age of 10 years, but can happen to younger cats too.
Pancreatitis, is a condition where the pancreas and sometimes the surrounding organs become inflamed.
Diabetes Insipidus (DI) is a rare disorder, which causes cats to drink excessively, as they are always thirsty. This is due to them lacking the Anti Diuretic Hormone (ADH), which controls the thirst drive.
Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is a virus carried in the faeces of many healthy cats, and most owners will be unaware of it. FCoV is very contagious and nearly every cat that encounters the virus will become infected.
The most common heart problem in cats is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This is seen more in older cats and is when the heart muscle, and sometimes valves, become thickened and the heart struggles to work as well.
Giardia is a single celled organism that is treated with an antiparasitic medication. Isospora is a tiny type of intestinal parasite, called coccidia, that can cause diarrhoea, in kittens and immune-compromised cats, such as breeding female cats.
There are two types of kidney disease, there is chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney failure.
Mitral valve dysplasia (MVD) is a common, hereditary heart defect in cats that affects the mitral valve. The mitral valve controls the flow of blood from the left atrium to the left ventricle. In MVD, the valve is malformed and leaky.
Rodent ulcers are an immune system disorder, also called Eosinophilic granuloma complex. It causes lesions around the mouth and occasionally on the skin.
Spondylosis can be a common finding, especially in older cats, and can be linked to spinal arthritis, pain and inflammation of the spinal area. Nerves can sometimes become trapped, or inflamed, from the “bridges” of bone.
Tritrichomonas Foetus (T. foetus) is a type of intestinal parasite (protozoa) that can cause diarrhoea, mostly seen in young cats and kittens, the majority being under 12 months of age.
Dental treatment may be given while in CRRC’s care or an adopter may be advised to seek follow up treatment at a later date.
