Hi Ruth, I cannot give you any easy answers either but I can sympathise and say how sorry I am. It's rare but in my experience I too have sometimes seen cats of various ages, not just old aged, with serious kidney failure. Sadly its possible even in a much younger cat than yours was and when it happens it always comes as a massive shock to everyone. Your vet would have been pretty dismayeby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Unfortunately I dont have the expertise to help you in this field, or any contacts to direct you to, but if there is a specialist out there, or anyone who can ask one, who sees this post let's hope they might be able to lend a hand. Best wishes with getting some help with the veterinary care for all of these important species of animals and birds.by Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Annabelle Broadly speaking you need to aim for high grades in your GCSE's, especially the science subjects, followed by aiming for high grades in science A levels. For more information visit where its all detailed. I see you've got a few years to work on all this yet so good luck with your studies.by Cathy Wickenden - Veterinary Students
Hi I am concerned about your cat. His symptoms show he has problems with his balance which are making him unsteady on his legs and he is certainly disorientated because he feels giddy. The circling, probably always in the same direction if you check, is also a significant and serious symptom. Sounds like he's doing his best to cope using walls and furniture as a guide because he feels woby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Elaine I would say that yes it is not uncommon for me to see cats who vomit on dried diets. There can be a variety of causes and it sounds like your vet has checked him for problems. Generally, switching to a diet that your cat tolerates better is the thing to do, be it a wet diet or a different dry diet. One cause of vomiting can be a food allergy and the only way to know this is to trialby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Matt It is certainly the case that some small breed dogs and especially short nosed dogs are prone to this kind of symptom, often described as reverse sneezing. The loud noise from the nose and throat in small dogs is often because the soft palate or epiglottis is relatively long, takes up too much space and has got trapped in the wrong position. This flap of tissue back beyond the hard palby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi to you, I would not expect a strong or fishy odour from a bitch that was having a normal heat discharge. There is possibility that the heat discharge is unhealthy, maybe heavier and that it is giving off the fishy odour. Even if your dog is not showing any other signs of ill health I would still get her checked over by your vet, in case of a medical condition such as an infection. Another pby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Pam This is sounding very like a case of hyperthyroidism. Cats can be hyperactive and hyperexcitable when they have this condition as well as losing weight despite eating lots. Take her along to your vet for a check up and they can do some blood tests to diagnose the problem and provide treatment. Hyperthyroidism can be treated in a variety of ways which your vet will discuss with you.by Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Pam If any cat is eating loads but getting thinner there simply has to be a problem. I suspect your cat could be suffering from a hormonal imbalance which is caused by an overactive thyroid gland. The symptoms you describe are often what cats brought in to our clinic with this condition look like. Hyperthyroidism is very common in cats over 10 years old. Bowel upsets, vomiting or diahorreaby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hello On a work placement it is likely that at first you would only be allowed to observe rather than actually doing anything and you are right, cleaning up after pets and their treatments takes up lots of time in a veterinary clinic. My advice would be to watch what is happening closely and try to pick up how tasks are being done. Most work experience students feel a bit nervous at first, sby Cathy Wickenden - Veterinary Students
Hi Ian The bad smell and discharge sound like they are due to infection in her mouth. The fact that she is too uncomfortable to eat properly as well means that she is going to get quite ill unless you take her to a vet for treatment. Even if the tongue is healing she still needs antibiotics.by Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Alice Yes I do think you should, the skin sounds sore and uncomfortable so even though he is not showing other signs of illness you should get this checked by a vet to identify the problem. Mites or skin infection are equally possible and the other hamster may get the problem too if you wait.by Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi It is the sad case that some rabbits seem to be unfortunate and unhealthy from a very early age and that keeping them happy and comfortable with their various problems is difficult. It sounds like you and your vets have tried really hard over all this time to keep your rabbit going. Discuss your concerns with your vet, if your rabbit needs so much care that this constant battle is getting tby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Joanna You need to discuss your concerns with your vet. A cardiogram is another way of checking heart beat regularity, function and size. I can't be certain about the reasons they have made that particular suggestion now to you as a follow up but they should be able to explain that to you. This should help you to make any decisions about the spend.by Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Mariam What you describe here are all significant signs of illness but there's a variety of possible causes. He may have a high fever which is why he is not eating and is so sleepy. I can't tell you the exact cause but you do need to take him to see your vet because it sounds like he needs treatment which might include antibiotics. I hope you have taken him along there by now, iby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Erica, I dont know why your cat is showing this unusual behaviour. You should get him checked over by a vet in case there is a medical problem. Some of it could just possibly be stress related to your recent house move as a change of house does certainly create stress for cats. If that is the case there are products which can be used to help alleviate the stress caused to him by his new envby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Erica, I dont know why your cat is showing this unusual behaviour. You should get him checked over by a vet in case there is a medical problem. Some of it could just possibly be stress related to your recent house move as a change of house does certainly create stress for cats. If that is the case there are products which can be used to help alleviate the stress caused to him by his new enby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Caroline That's certainly reasonable and many people would adopt your wait and see approach to his condition I am guessing that the murmur is low grade but I would advise you to monitor him, especially over the next few months whilst he finishes his growth to adult size. If he grows to be a big healthy looking cat and is lively and active then it is most unlikely that the murmur is aby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi I think your cat is seriously ill, any symptoms of paralysis are a bad sign. There are many causes. The dilated pupils could be because she's stressed or because her sight is affected. Just becasue she's purring doesnt mean she's not distressed. You should not hesitate but get her to a vets. I hope you have done that by now.by Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Racer I am truly sorry to hear this. His symptoms were very worrying and difficult to work out right from the start of the first collapse. Sadly, tumours had to be one possible cause and pinpointing where they were located isn't always easy. I couldn't have worked that out for you from his symptoms as they were so varied. The fact that the tumours had already spread means that yoby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi I agree its unusual for a guinea pig to be this grumpy, they are usually very placid and friendly pets. Has she always been like this or is it a new development in her behaviour? They can be grumpy sometimes though, and I have known a few like that. You could take her for a vet check up just in case something is wrong and causing her to behave like this. Otherwise if she's eating welby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Thalia It seems to me that you are doing all the right things and that he's gradually getting better, even if its going to take a while. Your great camera work really demonstrates the problem and your description of the tiny cage he was kept in at the pet shop is certainly the cause of the STB. Chipmunks are active(hyperactive) little guys so no wonder he's got problems now from hby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi LizL Compounding her medication might not work either because, however you mix medication into food, if the cat doesnt like the taste and wont eat the food you are back to the same problem of being unable to medicate her. Some of my clients seem to manage to hide thyroid medication pills in their cat's food. Certainly initially that might work because with hyperthyroidsm the cat usuallby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Emily Broadly speaking your science and maths A level plans sound fine to me as main subjects. Whilst your core subjects all sound very interesting, I am not in a position to know which one contributes best academically towards your application. I think you do need to be guided by the opinion of universities you are interested in. If they say they don't accept a subject then I guess iby Cathy Wickenden - Veterinary Students
Hi Yes there is certainly an issue that needs addressing here. Have you taken him to a vet yet? Your cat needs a diagnosis on the problem because there's a whole range of possible causes for your cat's problem ranging between infection and just plain stress related symptoms. Some cats are particularly prone to certain types of cystitis. For any cat passing bloody urine it is inevitby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Kaz All sounds good to me but do take him to your vet if you feel you need to. Its always easier to do a good examination when our patients like us!by Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Kaz Yes I think its possible for him to have damaged the cartilage in the ear, can't tell you how exactly he's done it and you are right to check that it's not swollen or painful because damage from a cat fight is one way for this to happen. If it is truly not bothering him or you then I guess wait and see what happens next. Unfortunately cartilage doesnt always heal and strby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Shannon, No I dont believe you need Maths A level but science subjects help a lot. Your choices sound pretty good. Do check out www.bvna.org.uk to see exactly which course you might want to follow to beome a veterinary nurse. There's a number of different options available, studying at degree level or diploma level in veterinary nursing.by Cathy Wickenden - Veterinary Students
Hi Klio When you say he's having a breathing problem do you mean he's making a noise every so often? Dogs can sometimes get an upper airway irritation and suffer from snorting and wheezing that sounds really dramatic but they are actually still moving air OK and breathing normally, just noisily. Occasionally a piece of foreign matter e.g. a grass seed can get trapped in the upper airby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
Hi Alyssa You are making the right decision to take Mikhail to your vet. His pussy lump is probably an abscess and unlikely to clear on its own. Cat's can often get infection in a wound from a cat fight. Some wounds heal without treatment if the cat is lucky. But for other cats they seem to heal at first but then because the infection hasn't quite cleared up it lingers on and flaresby Cathy Wickenden - Ask The Vet
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