Cat health conditions

Acetaminophen toxicity is caused by the ingestion of a toxic dose of acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol.

Gastric, or acid, reflux is when stomach contents leak backwards into the esophagus. This leaking of stomach acid causes inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis).

Feline acne occurs when the follicles on the chin become clogged with oils from the skin and dirt from the environment. The causes are not fully understood but have been linked to poor grooming, infection, stress, allergies, or abnormal sebum production.

Acromegaly in cats is a disease caused by a growth hormone-secreting tumor of the pituitary gland. Excessive growth hormone affects the entire body, causing abnormal growth of the internal organs (organomegaly), and sometimes the bones of the face and feet.

Addison’s disease (hypoadrenocorticism) is a condition which occurs as a result of a shortage of stress hormones produced by the adrenal cortex.

Adenocarcinomas in cats are a large group of malignant tumors, caused by unregulated cell growth within glandular tissue.

Adrenal Gland Cancer is a rare condition in cats, identified when tumors (pheochromocytomas) grow as a result of uncontrolled chromaffin cell growth.

Alcohol poisoning occurs when a cat ingests, inhales, or absorbs a sufficient quantity of alcohol. Symptoms include sleepiness, incoordination, vomiting, disorientation, and increased urination.

Allergies are common in cats, similar to other species. Harmless proteins in the environment (allergens) stimulate the immune system, which overreacts and produces a strong inflammatory response.

The anal glands (AGs) are two small pouches located on either side of the anus. The glands produce secretions that are stored, then deposited on the feces during the passage of a stool.

Feline toxicosis occurs as a result of accidental ingestion or overdose of antidepressant medication by a cat.

Ethylene glycol, commonly found in antifreeze, is found in a wide variety of household products and is toxic to cats and dogs.

Anxiety disorders in cats describe symptoms where cats experience a negative behavioral response to environmental stress which is disproportionate to the risk.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease where the joint cartilage is destroyed over time.

Aspiration pneumonia in cats is a lung infection caused by inhalation of foreign material, such as vomit, liquid, or dust.

Feline asthma is an inflammatory response to respiratory irritants and stress that narrows the airways, making it difficult to breathe. In cats, the cause appears to be an allergic reaction to environmental irritants that causes hypersensitivity of the airways.

Atlantoaxial instability (AAI) in cats is a rare condition affecting the first two vertebrae in the neck, known as the atlas and axis bones. These bones are responsible for head movement; instability in the joint between these two bones results in pain and damage to the spinal cord.

Atopic dermatitis in cats is a chronic inflammatory skin condition caused by an allergic reaction to substances in the environment.

An aural hematoma is an accumulation of blood between the cartilage and skin of the ear. Aural hematomas in cats present with a visible thickening of the ear flap.

Pemphigus refers to a group of autoimmune skin diseases in cats that differ in severity and location on the body. The most common forms are pemphigus foliaceus, pemphigus vulgaris, and pemphigus erythematosus, although the condition is rare overall.

Eosinophilic granuloma complex is a condition characterized by the appearance of lesions on the skin in response to an allergen. Eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) target the allergen in the blood, leading to a grouping of inflammatory cells (granuloma) that creates a large mass or lesion on the skin.