Chylothorax is a condition where a characteristic type of lymph fluid called chyle accumulates in the chest cavity and causes difficulty breathing. Lymph is the fluid that is drained from tissues and functions to carry protein and cells from the tissues to the bloodstream via small vessels, known ... more >>

Colitis is an inflammation of the colon, or large intestine. It may be acute, with sudden onset and short duration, or chronic, that is present for at least two to three weeks or exhibiting a pattern of episodic recurrence. In cats, there is no age or gender association with colitis. There are ... more >>

Coma is the absence of alertness or consciousness. Comatose animals are unresponsive to noxious or painful stimuli. Decreased consciousness or stupor is diminished awareness or alertness. Coma and stupor are serious medical conditions that should be addressed immediately by a veterinarian. ... more >>

A comminuted fracture is a splintered or fragmented break in the continuity of bone or cartilage. The fracture site consists of multiple pieces of bone, which can be small or large, grouped together or displaced within the traumatized tissue.Comminuted fractures are associated with high-energy ... more >>

Heart failure is a condition, caused by an abnormality in the structure or the function of the heart, in which it is unable to pump normal quantities of blood to the tissues of the body. The heart is a pump, and when it fails, it often leads to fluid retention in the lung and the body cavities ... more >>

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the tissue coating the eye and lining the eyelids. Normally, the conjunctiva is moist and glistening with tiny blood vessels coursing through the semilucent tissue. It serves as a protective barrier for the eye by trapping debris and ... more >>

Contact dermatitis is an uncommon skin disease of dogs and cats caused by contact with plants (especially plants of the wandering Jew family), medications, and various chemicals. Contact dermatitis is not as common in animals as in people because the skin is protected by their hair coat. Contact ... more >>

Corneal degeneration is the deposit of fatty material within the cornea. It is usually secondary to other ocular or systemic disorders and may be unilateral (one-sided) or bilateral (both sides). Clinical appearance may be highly variable; lipid infiltrates are often dense white, grayish-white, or ... more >>

Lacerations or scratches of the cornea occur from trauma to the eye. The cornea is the thin clear covering of the eye. A common cause of cornea lacerations is a cat scratch. Corneal lacerations or scratches are quite painful and require medical attention. The prognosis depends on the depth and ... more >>

A corneal sequestrum is a darkly pigmented area in the cornea of the cat often associated with chronic ulcerative or inflammatory diseases of the cornea. This dark brown spot is an area of dead corneal tissue, and it may be surrounded by inflammation, blood vessels, and edema of the cornea.A ... more >>

Corneal ulceration is loss of the corneal epithelium (the outermost cells of the cornea) with exposure and possibly loss of the underlying corneal collagen. Corneal epithelium is constantly being lost and replaced, and its health and thickness depend on a delicate balance between cell loss and ... more >>

Coxofemoral (hip dislocation) luxation is dislocation of the head of the femur, which is the ball of the thigh bone, out of the socket of the pelvis (acetabulum). Hip dislocations can develop under a number of circumstances. Prominent reasons are trauma and pre-existing hip problems such as hip ... more >>

Cryptococcosis is an infectious disease caused by the fungus Cryptococcosis neoformans. The disease affects human beings and animals and is contracted by inhaling infectious spores. The excrement of birds, especially pigeons, is the main environmental reservoir for the spores, although birds ... more >>

Cryptorchidism is a condition present at birth in which one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum from where they develop in the abdomen. If the testicle has not descended into the scrotum by approximately two months of age, there usually is little chance that further descent will ... more >>

Cryptosporidiosis is an important cause of gastroenteritis and diarrhea in a variety of animal species, including humans. It is caused by a ubiquitous protozoan of the genus Cryptosporidium. The most common species of Cryptosporidium affecting domestic mammals is Cryptosporidium ... more >>

Recurrent cystitis is defined as repeated bouts of inflammation of the urinary bladder. Generally in small animal veterinary medicine, cystitis is usually synonymous with "bladder infection."General Causes Inappropriately treated urinary tract infections Inflammation in the urogenital ... more >>

Cuterebra are large flies whose larvae (small worms) infest the skin of rodents, squirrels, rabbits, dogs and cats. The adult fly is seldom seen. The female deposits eggs near the nests of rabbits or rodents. The larva, which look like small worms, hatch from the eggs when exposed to the heat of ... more >>

Acute cystitis is inflammation of the urinary bladder. In cats acute cystitis is not usually infectious in nature, and the most common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms in cats is feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), which means it has no known cause.In addition to FIC, there are other causes of ... more >>

Facial nerve paresis (weakness) or paralysis (total dysfunction) is an abnormality of the facial nerve (7th cranial nerve), resulting in improper function or paralysis of the muscles associated with facial expression. These include the muscles of the ears, lips, eyelids and nose.In many cases the ... more >>

Cytauxzoon felis is a protozoal type parasite that affects cats and is most often diagnosed in the southeastern United States. The parasite is transmitted by ixodid ticks. After being bitten by an infected tick, the parasite will affect white blood cells and red blood cells. Over time, profound ... more >>

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a viral infection that attacks the immune system of cats. It is also known as Feline acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (Feline AIDS) and commonly referred to by the letters "F-I-V". The immunodeficiency caused by the virus can promote a variety of ... more >>

To a cat that finds himself outdoors in cold weather, there may be nothing more inviting than the coziness of an automobile that has just returned home. The engine provides plenty of warmth and seems like the perfect place to curl up and take a nap. Unfortunately, you can't see the cat snoozing on ... more >>

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a progressive and ultimately fatal disease of cats caused by a mutated coronavirus. Many cats are infected with a relatively benign form of the coronavirus but only in certain cats will the virus mutate to become pathologic (FIP). So this means that the ... more >>

Feline infectious anemia, also known as hemobartonellosis or feline hemotropic mycoplasmosis, is a parasitic disease of worldwide significance. Affected cats experience some degree of anemia, although it also causes a wide range of other clinical signs that can vary from simple depression and ... more >>

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a viral disease of domestic cats that impairs immune system function and causes some types of cancer. FeLV is transmitted by bite wounds, shared dishes or litter pans, or close contact (grooming). Kittens can be born with FeLV or acquire the virus through their ... more >>