Feline Care Guides
Urinary Tract Disease in Cats
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The urinary tract consists of four parts:
- Two kidneys, which produce urine
- The ureters, tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder
- The urinary bladder, where urine is stored
- The urethra, which carries urine from the bladder to the outside
Any part of the urinary tract can be affected by disease.
Read More Urine Culture Test
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Urinary tract infections are common in dogs and, to a lesser degree, in cats. Signs of a urinary tract infection include increased drinking, increased or more frequent urination, urinary accidents, bloody urine, or urinating small amounts at a time.
Read More Urine Specific Gravity Test
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The kidneys have several important functions in the body, including eliminating waste products through the urine and regulating the body’s fluid balance. The urine specific gravity (SG) test tells your veterinarian how concentrated your pet’s urine is (how much water it contains). If the SG is too high, it can mean inadequate amounts of water are being eliminated through the urine. If the SG is too low, it can mean the body is losing too much water through the urine. There is a relatively wide range of normal readings for a urine SG test, but there are also several medical conditions that can affect the result.
Read More Vaccine-Associated Sarcomas in Cats
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Cats can develop cancerous tumors called fibrosarcomas, or sarcomas, at the locations where they have been vaccinated. These aggressive tumors can appear just months after vaccination, or many years after the fact.
Read More Valvular Heart Disease
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In dogs and cats, the heart contains four valves. Opening of a heart valve allows blood to flow freely from one heart chamber into the next chamber or vessel. Closing of the valve prevents blood from “backflowing” (flowing into the previous chamber).