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Cats have compound hair follicles. In general, there is a cluster of two to five primary hairs surrounded by groups of smaller secondary hairs. One primary hair is the largest (central) surrounded by groups of small primary hairs (lateral primary hairs).

Analysis of urolith composition in cats at veterinary urolith centers in North America has demonstrated a progressive decline in the percentage of struvite uroliths since 1970, while at the same time recording a progressive increase in percentage of calcium oxalate uroliths recovered from the urinary tract of cats.

Acute onset of sneezing and nasal discharge are common with upper respiratory infections (particularly in young cats or those in multi-cat environments), nasal foreign bodies, nasal trauma, and rarely coagulopathies. Nasal foreign body is discussed later in the article.

The importance of a thorough history is common knowledge. It is difficult to argue the usefulness of pre-printed history questionnaires when the diagnosis is obvious (e.g. fleas in your face) at the time of first presentation.

The veterinary clinic and exposure to fungal spores

As cats age, they are predisposed to skin diseases and changes in the hair coat as a result of age and development of other medical problems. This seminar will discuss the most common and noteworthy skin diseases of older cats.

A recent multi-center study investigating the causes of hypersensitivity dermatitis (HD) in cats has revealed some interesting findings that are clinically useful.

Most chronic vomiting and chronic diarrhea in cats originate in the small bowel.

Look for an underlying disease before diagnosing primary hypertension.

The diabetic cat usually has other needs that must be addressed before diabetic regulation can be achieved.

The Urgency Principle is the basis for our ability to do a one month drug trial with hypoglycemic agents and the basis for my approach to gradual regulation.

Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder in the cat. Since being first recognized in 1977, the incidence has increased steadily.

It is the rare adult who does not have an emotional response to thoughts of dying. We are all inherently aware of our mortality and to that of those around us.

Constipation is defined as the infrequent or difficult evacuation of stool. It is a common problem in cats that may be acute or chronic and does not inherently imply a loss of colonic function.

Cats are obligate carnivores. This statement is news to no one, and yet we often dont recognize the importance of that statement or feed them accordingly.

Diarrhea is one of the most common concerns of owners with young kittens or teen-aged cats. Often times, diarrhea in kittens can be attributed to dietary changes, parasites or infectious diseases, and these should be the initial focus of any investigation in these young cats.

Like the disease in humans, diabetes in cats is a multi-factorial process combining genetic factors with environmental ones. However, there are two factors that likely have a crucial role in determining whether or not diabetes develops, and if diabetes does occur, whether or not it is insulin dependent.

Lower urinary tract diseases of cats are a common, and sometimes frustrating, group of clinical problems that practitioners must deal with.

Feline pancreatitis is a very difficult disease to definitively diagnose (especially chronic cases or in cats that do not have persistent signs) and treatment remains symptomatic and supportive.

Feline inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the term applied to a collection of feline enteropathies that are characterized by the infiltration of the gastrointestinal mucosa by inflammatory cells.

Molecular studies have determined that the intestines of dogs and cats harbor a complex population of commensal bacteria, referred to as the microbiota. Depending on its composition, the microbiota can be beneficial or harmful to the host.

The mammalian intestinal tract contains a complex, dynamic, and diverse society of pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria.

Vomiting is a common and frequently complex problem in cats. Adult cats often have different and more chronic causes of vomiting than kittens, but the condition remains a common reason for cats to be presented to veterinarians for care.

Giardia duodenalis (also known as G. intestinalis, G. lamblia) is a pear-shaped, binucleated, flagellated protozoan parasite that infects the small intestine, impairs mucosal absorption, and causes diarrhea.

Chronic hepatitis associated with abnormal accumulation of copper in liver cells is emerging as an important form of chronic liver disease in dogs.

Esophagitis is characterized by acute or chronic inflammation of the esophagus resulting from mechanical, corrosive, or acid-peptic injury to the mucosa. Mild esophagitis may be self-limiting or resolve with medical treatment.

Clinical signs suggestive of esophageal disease include regurgitation, dysphagia, odynophagia, salivation, retching, gagging, and repeated swallowing. Other less specific signs can include weight loss, anorexia or ravenous appetite, and depression.

Idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic gastrointestinal signs associated with diffuse accumulation of lymphocytes and plasma cells in the lamina propria and morphologic abnormalities of the intestinal mucosa and epithelium.

While there is no doubt that administration of immunosuppressive drugs to dogs, and sometimes cats, is critical for control of immune-mediated disease, administration of these drugs can cause adverse effects.

Immune-mediated neutropenia is an uncommon disease in small animal practice, although some have argued that it may be more prevalent than believed.