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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Sep 25 2007 at 10:31 AM |
Fits
A fit (also known as a seizure or convulsions) is a fairly dramatic event, but is usually more distressing for the owner than for the cat. It is best described as an ‘electrical storm in the brain’ - all the nerves in the brain fire off in a random and uncontrolled manner.
A fit comes on quite rapidly. The eyes will become vacant and the dog will fall over. They will start shaking violently and may salivate (even ‘frothing at the mouth’) and pass urine or faeces. During this time they are not conscious and will not respond to anything. There is very little that can be done for them at this stage. Do not attempt to restrain them or get anything in the mouth; there is no danger of them swallowing their tongue. Just move them into a clear area so they do not injure themselves.
Most fits will last 3-5 minutes, so by the time you call your vet, it will probably all be over. If a fit lasts more than 10 minutes, this is serious and the cat will need medication to stop the fit. A lengthy fit can result in brain damage.
True epilepsy – that is fits for no apparent reason – is rare in cats. If fits occur there is more likely to be some reason for it. It is more common for some poison to be the cause, particularly pesticides. Fits can also occur with kidney or liver disease or anything that affects the brain, including leukaemia or FIP. If your cat has fits, visit your vet for investigation as the earliest opportunity.
Fleas
Fleas are the commonest parasite of cats. They are small, only 1 or 2 mm long and are a brown/black colour. They live in the hair coat and are well known for their ability to jump - about 1 metre. They favour biting around the back, tail base and the neck.
If you see fleas, then you can be certain your cat has them, but if you do not, this does not necessarily mean none are present. They live deep in the coat and unless large numbers are present they will not be seen readily, especially against a dark coat colour.
Other useful clues to their presence is the presence of their droppings or eggs. The droppings are black specks which can be distinguished from dirt by putting a little water on them as they dissolve a reddish brown. This is best done on a piece of white tissue. The eggs are white, about 0.5mm long and fall off. A number may be found where the dog sleeps. The larvae are maggot like and 2-3 mm long, but these are usually deep in carpet pile, under sofa cushions, etc. and so are rarely seen.
Most fleas stick to their own species except for hopping on for a quick snack. Dogs and cats share their fleas, and although they may bite people (usually around the ankles), they will not infest them, so only the animals need treatment. Cats sometimes pick up rabbit fleas around the head, but these are usually brief visitors.
There are a great number of flea treatments available, both from pet shops and vets, including collars, neck drops, sprays, powders, house sprays, house powders and tablets. All of these will kill fleas, but there are differences in how many of the fleas they will kill and for how long. The most potent ones that kill all of the fleas for long periods of time are only available from vets as they are Prescription Only Medicines.
Contact your veterinary surgery for advice as to what is the best flea control for your pet. The nurses will readily be able to give advice on this subject.