Examining The Skin Coat And Weight

Unfortunately, when your cat is sick, it can’t tell you – so it’s up to you as a pet owner to train yourself to be observant. A good way to keep tabs on your pet’s health is to make an informal, physical exam part of your weekly cat-care routine.

Coat and Skin
Your cat’s coat should be unbroken, smooth and soft to the touch. Its skin should be clean and free of sores, rashes and eczema. A healthy cat grooms itself regularly and rarely has matted hair.

To examine your cat’s skin and coat, part the fur in several places all over the body including the legs, neck, chin and head. Signs to look for are a dull coat or dry skin, excessive shedding (except in spring), lumps or masses, swelling, bald patches, open sores, excessive parasite infestation and intense biting or scratching at the skin.

“In states like California, Florida and Texas, fleas have the warmth to live year-round and the biggest skin problems by far is flea allergy dermatitis,” says Thomas Elston, a veterinarian in private practice in Irvine, California. “It usually starts as tiny scabs around the neck and at the base of the tail. Patches of hair loss or brittle, broken hairs can accompany it. If the condition goes untreated, it can eventually involve the entire body.”

You should also check the spaces between the digits on your cat’s paws. If your cat spends time outdoors, briars, stones, foxtail, sand and the salt that is used for melting snow can easily irritate the inter-digital area.

Weight
Veterinarians estimate that 30 percent or more of pet cats in the United States are overweight. Obese cats have a greater incidence of liver problems, heart disease, diabetes, pancreatitis and arthritis.

One way to determine if your cat needs to lose weight is by doing a “body condition score” on it.

“If your cat is in good body condition you should be able to rub your hands over the rib cage and with gentle pressure you should be able to count each of the ribs,” says Dottie Laflamme, a veterinary nutritionist the Ralston Purina Company in St. Louis, Missouri. “If you’re looking down at the cat, behind the ribs there should be an indentation at the waist. When you look at it from the side, they belly should be tucked up somewhat and should not be dragging on the ground.”

_{Excerpts taken from the article titled "How to Give Your Cat an In-Home Physical Exam" in a recent edition of Pet Life Magazine}