While we endeavor to take the very best care of our pets, sometimes it is confusing to know if they are sick or not, if is it an emergency, or if we can wait and watch to see if they will improve. Always call your vet if you have any question about your pet's health ESCC cannot be held resposible for the total acuracy of any information within this document, Its is for guidance only.

Being alert to these indicators can help treat your cat quickly and efficiently.

• Bad breath
  Don't panic if your cat has a bad breath. Check first if he had fish or other food with strong odours. If not, consult your veterinary as bad breath may the the sign of a tooth decay, urinary problems or the presence of round worms.
• Abundant saliva
  This sign of cat disease may be the cause of poisoning or viral infection such as pneumonia. However it may simply be due to a foreign object lodged in the cat's mouth. In that case take the object out before the cat swallows it.
• Decolorated gums
  This might indicate aneamia, the presence of parisites or other affection. If this symptom follows an accident it may be due to internal bleeding.
• Running nose
  This sign of cat disease is, most of the time, caused by pneumonia. not all of the time so get your feline checked by the vet.
• Sneezing
  Your cat caught a cold or something is stuck in his nose !!
• Red and burning eyes
  Sometimes, this sign of cat disease indicates respiratory problems. It can also be caused by dust.
• Running eyes
  This maybe due to a cold.
• Eyes turning opaque
  This sign of cat disease indicates a major ocular problem. Consult your veterinary immediately. Eye conditions are almost always considered urgent, With eyes, things can happen very quickly, and a quick treatment can be sight-saving in some cases.

  Signs to watch for: squinting, blinking more than normal rubbing or pawing at the eyes, redness, discharge, etc. please don't delay in calling your vet to be seen asap. Time can make all of the difference in some cases.      

• Your cat is constantly scratching his ears
  Parasites may be present. If the ear contains brownish and smelling crusts there might be an ulceration.

• Frequent coughing
  This sign of cat disease is the result of a pneumonia.
• Quick and heavy respiration
  This is the symptom of pneumonia or heart problems.
• Your cat does not eat anymore
  This is a classic cat disease symptom resulting from a variety of health problems. However, bear in mind that a cat in healthy condition can skip 2 to 3 meals.
• Your cat is losing weight quickly
  This is a classic cat disease symptom resulting from a variety of health problems.
• Your cat is weak and apathetic
  This may be due to aneamia or the presence of parasites. This sign of cat disease may also result from heart problems.
• Your cat does not drink water anymore
  If your cat peaks over the water bowl but does'nt drink anything he may have a kidney infection.
• He drinks too much!
  You would not suspect this is a sign of cat disease. Unfortunately, this may the symptom of a variety of sicknesses: diabetes, liver problem, or uterus infection.
• Vomitting
  If your cat vomits frequently it may not mean he is sick. But if he vomits a yellow liquid, often times the typhus is the culprit. You also have to watch intoxications and kidney or liver infections. In any event, consult your veterinary immediately. Vomiting is fairly common, especially for cats (hairballs). A change in diet can produce soft stools that usually resolve quickly. Attitude is of key importance -- an animal that is vomiting or has diarrhea and is weak, depressed, and does not have an appetite is a more serious and possibly emergency situation.

  Signs to watch for: Seeing blood in vomit or diarrhea is also indication of a potential emergency.

• Difficulty Urinating, Cannot Pass Urine                                                                                                                                                             This would seem obvious that this would be an emergency situation from the pain aspect alone, but sometimes people assume that the animal has voided elsewhere or somehow has bladder control when in fact it may be a physical blockage. This is a condition most commonly associated with cats. Male animals are at the most risk, since they have a long narrow urethra. The most common cause of obstruction is a stone or silt. Other causes include cancer or inflammation.

  Signs to watch for: straining to urinate, licking genital area, bloody urine, painful abdomen, painful when picked up, not eating, vomiting or diarrhea. Time is of the essence; urinary obstruction/bladder rupture can be fatal in a matter of hours.

• Constipation
  Here we have several possibilities but it is likely that your cat is not physically active and that his nutrition is not well balanced. Constipation may be caused by tiny hair balls .....
• Diarrhea
  A real diarrhoea is totally liquid. Your cat may have been excited or his nutrition is unbalanced. Add rice or pasta to his meals for a day or two. If you find traces of blood in the diarrhoea, this may indicate the presence of parasites.
• High fever
  A body temperature exceeding 38.8 celsius is a sign that something is wrong. Don't guess, check with your veterinary.
• Physical trauma can be anything from being attacked by another animal to being hit by a vehicle. This is another one that would seem obvious as an emergency, but many times the animal will run away (or to their owner), without noticeable wounds. Hopefully your pet is fine, but the effects of adrenaline can be powerful, and initially they may seem more fine than they actually are. It is always important to make sure that there isn't a concussion, deep bite wound, internal bleeding, or broken bones. Signs may take a few hours to 48 hours appear.

  Signs to watch for: pain, difficulty moving, pale gums, difficulty urinating (or unable to produce urine), coughing

• . A Note About Very Young or Very Old Animals Everything is magnified for very young or geriatric animals, so age is an important factor to consider when evaluating if a situation is an emergency. Missing a meal or vomiting a few times may be OK to watch in a healthy animal with no other signs, but for a very young or old pet, this may be a critical first sign of illness. This vulnerable population needs all of the nutrition and support they can get, every day. Speak to your vet sooner rather than later for questions or problems with pets.