Pets
Is my cat healthy? This fast check-up tells you
Everything is okay, miezi? What’s wrong with my cat? Every animal lover should have these short studies for laypersons – says veterinarian Johanna Rieder.
Miezi withdraws. Murmel keeps watering the eye. And Micky’s ears smell strange. Anyone who lives with one of around 15.7 million German domestic cats knows that: something is always. The cat is by far the most popular pet. More than 11,400 resident veterinarians recently took care of the health of the house tigers. The market for veterinary medicinal products was 965 million euros in 2023 – about 62 percent of which were on medicine for small animals and horses.
Those who think about the health of their beloved animal do not have to go to a practice immediately. “Cat owners should look regularly on the right with just a few simple steps,” says veterinarian Johanna Rieder, expert in internal medicine for cats and dogs at the Hanover veterinary university. Every animal behaves differently, so that not certain behaviors automatically indicate an illness. “But there are definitely signs that you should pay attention to. Cats can hide pain or discomfort for a long time. A few small steps can tell you a lot about how the cat is doing.”
Expert Johanna Rieder recommends the following procedure for a check-up in her own four walls-which, of course, cannot replace a visit to the veterinarian.
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Observe behavior
Has behavior changed in the past? Is the animal lively and curious in terms of age and curious? Does it move all legs evenly? Or does it seem tired and withdraws? Does the cat eat and drink regularly? “For example, increased drinking could indicate kidney disease,” said Rieder. She advises to also watch the cat’s breathing frequency, for example when the animal rests. “The chest should not lift and lower more than 30 to 40 times per minute.”
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fur
If the fur looks well -groomed, is it free of vermin and shines? Or does it seem dull and brittle? For example, this could suggest a systemic disease, such as the kidneys. “If I examine the fur, I also get a good impression of the weight of the cat. Overweight can result in complications, the cat is emaciated, for example, this can indicate a thyroid overactive, from which older cats are often suffering,” said the expert. If the fur is thinned out on the stomach because the cat licks a lot there, there could be a disease of the bladder.
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Paws
Are claws sharp, but not too long? Are the bales soft and supple? Or rough and cracked? Veterinarians Rieder advises against a cream at cracked bale. “They lick cats again immediately.”
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Eyes and nose
Are the eyes clear and clean? Or are you tears and are crusted? This could indicate inflammation. “The nose mirror should be slightly moist – without discharge.”
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Ears
Are the ears clean? Is the skin bright and normal supplied with blood? Or are there any injuries, redness or increased ear wax? If the ears smell slightly cheese, this could be an indication of an ear infection. “Healthy ears smell normal,” says Rieder. “Frequent shaking head can indicate a problem.”
Does the cat smell out of the mouth?
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Mouth and teeth
“A healthy mouth mucosa is pale pink. If you easily press the gums, if this color adjusts again after about two seconds. If the pressure point remains white, this can indicate a circulatory disorder. If the gum is even bluish, you have to think of lung or heart problems. The cat tongue should be slightly pink, at least without strong redness.” It is also important to look at the transition from teeth to gums. Roots could speak for paradontitis.
Cats can also get tartar. “In general, dental problems often interpret through teeth grinding or by the fact that the cat chops dry food very cumbersome. If the cat has clear bad breath, which is reminiscent of Azeton or smells sweet or sour, should be clarified how stomach and kidneys work – or whether there is diabetes.”
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Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
