What Is Inappropriate Mentation in Cats? Signs, Causes, and Treatment

Cats, unlike dogs, are discerning and less eager to please their owners. A cat probably won't come when called and rarely will even respond to its name. And while a rare forgotten trip to the litter box or food bowl shouldn't be cause for concern, when a cat seems unusually confused, disoriented, or uncoordinated, a visit to the vet is warranted. It could be suffering from acute sickness, a seizure disorder, or could have been exposed to an environmental toxin, causing a temporary lapse of normal behavior. Any abnormal behavior that continues for more than 24 hours or several times per week could be the result of a serious health issue. Note that a neurologic anomaly can only be diagnosed by a vet.

What Is Inappropriate Mentation?

Inappropriate mentation in cats refers to a host of disorders that can lead to disrupted cognitive functioning. This type of brain misfiring can result in memory loss, incoordination, and basic malfunctioning in everyday cat life. Sometimes these issues are small and acute, caused by temporary injury or inflammation. And sometimes brain disorders can be major, resulting in a compromised quality of life. Assessing the signs and discussing your concerns with your vet are the initial steps in the diagnosis and treatment of mentation disorders in cats.

Signs of Inappropriate Mentation

Cats learn by remembering, but a kitten who suffered an head injury early in life may have damaged the portion of the brain that affects short-term memory. A traumatic brain injury could account for difficulty remembering the location of food bowls or litter boxes. It can also explain an unsteady gait, incoordination, and balance issues. Traumatic injuries can also cause stunted growth. A new pet that seems to be on the smaller side for its age and breed, or a kitten who fails to grow, may have previously succumbed an injury. Seizure disorders can also cause disorientation, pacing, and confusion just following an episode. And old age can result in senility, presenting as forgetfulness, anxiety, and uncoordinated behavior. When witnessed over and over again, this could be confused for a more serious brain injury. Some infections (e.g. feline infectious peritonitis) cause damage to the portion of the brain that controls balance and walking. Affected kittens show severe trouble walking, but can otherwise live a normal and happy life.

Causes of Inappropriate Mentation

There is much debate over whether or not a cat can have a mental illness. If your cat's behavior seems off, it could be ill or could have a more serious problem with its nervous system. "Slowness" can be the result of brain damage due to injury, infections, environmental toxins, seizure disorders, genetic mutations, and even cognitive dysfunction in older cats. In the case of brain injury or infection, a functioning cat is a happy cat. If its setback doesn't interfere with your cat's daily functions, there's little you need to do about it. Get a firm diagnosis so you can take appropriate measures to prevent further seizures and neurological damage.

Cognitive dysfunction (or feline dementia) occurs most frequently in cats greater than 9 years old. If you adopt an older cat and feel like its personality is "off," it could be suffering from senility. In addition to general uncoordinated behavior, cats with dementia can also show unnecessary aggression and may display incontinence.

Diagnosis

At the vet's office, any potential brain injury is treated as an emergency, especially if it was a result of head trauma. So in addition to stabilizing your pet, the vet will perform an exam specifically looking at your cat's neurological system. The vet may determine an MRI or CT scan is needed. In the case of environmental toxin exposure—most specifically lead ingestion (which can cause a slew of neurological issues)— your vet will perform a blood test. If you cat has a seizure disorder, bloodwork is also recommended to rule in/out metabolic causes of seizures. MRI scans are done to rule out inflammatory conditions or tumors. Severe seizure cases require an EEG to measure the electrical activity in your cat's brain. For feline dementia, a vet will discuss your cat's full health history and, if necessary, perform blood tests to rule out other health conditions such liver or kidney disease.

Treatment

Any cat that suffers a potential head injury needs to be examined by a veterinarian. A vet will first stabilize the injured kitty using IV fluids and oxygen. However, a full recovery is not always guaranteed. After the injury, your cat may act different, lose its laser-sharp coordination, or have a change in personality. If this happens, the best you can do is provide a loving and supporting environment, reduce stressors, and eliminate unpredictable events as much as possible. Observe your cat's limitations and provide a lifestyle that works within them. Your veterinarian is an excellent resource for options.

Cats exposed to environmental toxins also need to be inspected by a vet, as the extent of exposure could be fatal. Treatment by a vet may include inducing vomiting, feeding your cat charcoal to absorb the toxin, administering IV fluids and medication, and time to process the toxin. If your cat has a full recovery, any neurological signs should eventually subside.

For seizure disorders (brought on by genetic conditions or other), a vet will prescribe medications to control the seizures. Most cats go on to live happy and healthy lives and any post-seizure temperament disorders should be alleviated.

There is currently no cure for feline dementia. Maintaining a good routine, providing options for exercise, and feeding your cat a high-quality food will help treat further decline. Supplements like omega-3 fatty acids, SAMe, and melatonin may improve brain function in older cats and aromatherapy with essential oils can ease anxiety.6 However some oils can be toxic to cats so you must seek your veterinarian's advice before exposing your cat to these products.

If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet.

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Cat Health

Heartworm in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Heartworm is a potentially lethal parasite that is transmitted only by mosquitos, which pick up larval heartworms, called microfilaria, circulating in the bloodstream of infected animals.

Dogs and other canids, such as foxes, wolves, and coyotes, are considered the primary heartworm hosts, but these parasites can also affect other mammals, including your cats and ferrets.

There are treatments available for dogs, but prevention is the wisest approach to dealing with heartworms.

What is Heartworm Disease?

The heartworm in dogs that’s prevalent in the U.S. goes by the scientific name Dirofilaria immitis or D. immitis. It does not spread from dog to dog, but requires an intermediary—the mosquito—to infect new hosts.

The worms enter their host through a mosquito bite when it is taking a blood meal. Residue on the mosquito’s mouthpiece carries immature worms called microfilaria (which are only about 1/100th of an inch long) from an infected animal to an uninfected one. The immature worms travel through the bloodstream and, after about two months, settle in the right side of the heart and begin to grow.

They mature after six months and can live in the dog’s body for seven years, each reaching up to one foot in length, and constantly producing offspring. After about a year, a dog may harbor hundreds of these worms, although 15 is the average burden. The worms cause inflammation and damage the heart, arteries, and lungs.

How widespread are heartworms?

The first canine heartworms in the U.S. were discovered in the southeast in 1856. While it was once more common in the Atlantic and Gulf coast states, the American Heartworm Society, in its first update since 2014, reports that heartworm is increasing throughout the country and worldwide. In the report, Cassan Pulaski, DVM, MPH states that, “…While southern regions of the country have historically been associated with heartworm, we now know pets all over the country are potentially at risk for heartworm disease throughout the year.” According to U.S. Food & Drug Administration, incidents of the disease have been reported in all fifty states. This is especially important to keep in mind if your dog travels.

Areas with large populations of wild or stray animals also pose an enhanced risk, but even dogs that stay inside most of the time are not totally safe from a mosquito’s bite. Also, pets being shipped from state to state may introduce heartworm into regions where it was historically not a problem. This is especially notable due to the bringing in of shelter dogs from heartworm endemic states and from disaster relief efforts. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, for example, about a quarter of a million pets traveled from the New Orleans area to new homes around the country. Some brought heartworm with them. AHS estimates that more than a million pets in the U.S. are infected. The AHS notes that climate and environmental change also contribute to the spread of the disease.

Should your dog be tested for heartworm?

• All dogs should be tested annually, even those on heartworm prevention medication year round.

• Puppies under seven months old may be started on heartworm prevention even though it can take six months or more for blood work to test positive. After that, they should be tested in six months and again, six months later.

• Adult dogs over seven years old that have not previously been on a heartworm prevention regimen should be tested.

• Dogs that have missed a treatment, or for whom treatment has lapsed, need to be tested. If you’ve missed even one dose, or been late to administer, your dog should be tested.

What are the symptoms of heartworms?

In the early stages, there may be no signs of disease. As the worms grow and multiply, symptoms will become evident, increasing in severity as the disease progresses. There are four classes of infection:

• Class one has no symptoms or just a mild cough.

• Class two is marked by mild exercise intolerance and persistent cough.

• Class three will result in greater exercise intolerance, abnormal lung sounds, weak pulse, syncope (fainting caused by impaired blood flow to the brain), decreased appetite, weight loss, and ascites (swollen belly due to heart failure).

• Class four is known as caval syndrome, a life-threatening cardiovascular collapse, which is marked by labored breathing, pale gums, and dark coffee-colored urine, leading to complete organ failure and death.

How is heartworm diagnosed?

Early diagnosis important; the earlier heartworm is detected, the better the chances for recovery. In many cases, a blood test can determine the presence of the parasite. The blood is tested for the presence of antigens (proteins) even if there is no evidence of microfilariae. If your dog is diagnosed with heartworm through a blood test, your veterinarian will use additional tests for confirmation and make sure your dog can safely undergo treatment. These include:

• Radiographs to pinpoint abnormalities in the right side of the heart and pulmonary arteries.

• Ultrasounds to show abnormal organ shape as well as wriggling worms.

• Echocardiography to see inside heart chambers and visualize worms.
  

How to treat heartworms in dogs

Confirm diagnosis

Treatment is expensive and complex, so your vet may want to perform additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Restrict activity

Although it may be difficult to restrict normal activity, especially in active dogs, this is crucial. Exertion will increase the rate of damage to the heart and lungs. Crate confinement may be necessary.

Stabilize the disease

If your dog has advanced symptoms or other medical conditions, preliminary therapies may be required.

Kill worms

The drug that is FDA-approved for treatment in the U.S., is melarsomine dihydrochloride, which is sold under the brand names Immiticide and Diroban.

It is administered by deep intramuscular injection into the dog’s lumbar region of the lower back and is recommended for disease that has not progressed past class three. Another FDA-approved drug, Advantage Multi for Dogs (imidacloprid and moxidectin), rids the bloodstream of microfilariae. In addition, other drugs such as heartworm preventives, antibiotics, and steroids may be part of your veterinarian’s protocol.

Surgery

In extreme cases, veterinarians will resort to surgery, physically pulling the worms out.

Follow-up testing

The first test should take place six months after successful treatment.

Preventing heartworm

Treatment for heartworm is hard and sometimes dangerous for the dog and very expensive, which is why veterinarians are so adamant about yearly testing and administration of preventative compounds — what scientists call chemoprophylaxis. The current AHS guidelines include the following:

• Year-round administration of a heartworm prevention medication.

• Strict compliance to the schedule of dosing recommended by your vet.

• Application of FDA-approved mosquito repellants.

• Environmental control to reduce or eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, such as pools of standing water; the use of mosquito traps; and avoiding your dog’s exposure by limiting outdoor activities at dawn and dusk, mosquitos’ prime feeding time.

• These medications, used for prevention, are also effective against other parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, fleas, and tapeworms. Make sure to use a formulation specifically intended for dogs.

For more information on heartworm prevention relevant to your doggo, speak directly with your veterinarian.

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What is Kennel Cough? How can I tell if my dog has kennel cough?

What is Kennel Cough?

Kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis) is a contagious, upper-respiratory disease. It is transmitted by an airborne virus and often complicated by a secondary bacterial infection. Kennel cough occurs more commonly in puppies and young adult dogs. It is often caught at kennels or shelters where dogs are exposed to many other dogs, which gives it is name. Because the virus is airborne, normal cleaning and disinfecting of kennel surfaces cannot eliminate it.

How can I tell if my dog has Kennel Cough?

Dogs with kennel cough are usually bright and alert and usually eat well; however, they have a dry, hacking cough or bouts of deep, harsh coughing often followed by gagging motions. The gagging sometimes produces foamy mucus. Most dogs with kennel cough do not have a fever.

Treatment options for Kennel Cough

• If your dog has these symptoms, consult your veterinarian for treatment. Antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent or cure a secondary infection.

• Keep dogs in a relatively warm environment and make sure they are rested to help prevent the development of pneumonia.

• Prevent the spread of this disease by keeping your dog away from other dogs.

Prevention of Kennel Cough

In general, healthy adult dogs that come into contact with large groups of other dogs should have a Bordetella vaccine annually, and boarding facilities may require a booster within the last six months. Talk to your veterinarian about protecting your puppy from Bordetella with vaccination at the appropriate age.

When to take precaution and call your vet

It should be known that not every cough is “kennel cough.” Some dogs bark almost continuously while sheltered, which can lead to a sore throat or many other upper-respiratory diseases.

If your dog has a fever, is less active than normal, has a decreased appetite, has a discharge from the eyes or nose, has difficulty breathing, or is older than three years, a more serious problem may be present.

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What Can I Catch From My Dog?

Anyone who’s watched their dog go through a bout of diarrhea or the sniffles & sneezes has probably wondered if they, too, were at risk of getting sick.

Can you get sick from your dog?

The answer is yes. There are a number of diseases you can contract from your pet, and they are known broadly as zoonotic diseases. The word “zoonotic” is used to designate any disease that is transmitted from animals to humans. The best known and most feared example of a zoonotic disease is rabies.

Other common zoonotic diseases in dogs include:

• Ringworm

• Salmonellosis

• Leptospirosis

• Campylobacter infection

• Giardia

• Cryptosporidium infection

• Roundworms

• Hookworms

• Scabies

• Harvest mites

Is my dog or myself really that at risk?

Now for the good news: although it’s possible to catch a zoonotic disease that’s been bothering your pup, it’s not likely. That being said, your chance of contracting a zoonotic illness does increase if you have a compromised immune system due to a pre-existing disease or medical condition.

Examples include:

• Persons infected with HIV or suffering from AIDS

• Pregnant women

• Patients being treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy

• Elderly people

• People with chronic diseases or congenital immune system deficiency

• People who have received organ/bone marrow transplants

If I’m at a higher risk, should I give my dog away?

No! It just means that you need to be extra cautious around your pet. Besides, there are a lot of studies out there that have proven that the benefits of having a pet, especially if suffering from chronic illness, are immeasurable. In fact, sometimes doctors actually recommend pets for their sick patients.

Several measures can be taken to ensure that you remain safe, including regularly monitoring your dog for signs of illness, basic hygienic practices such as washing your hands after handling your pet, and most importantly, avoiding direct contact with your dog’s urine or feces. Make sure you use that pooper-scooper!

Prevention

The best way to reduce or eliminate your risk of contracting zoonotic diseases from your dog is simple and boils down to hygiene and common sense. Here are some more specific suggestions:

• Make sure the illness in your pet is addressed. Don’t put off visits to the vet if your dog is showing signs of illness. If your dog IS sick, wash your hands after handling him or her.

• Keep your dog clean! Bathe him or her regularly; doing so will allow you to more closely examine your pooch for signs of illness, especially skin lesions and rashes.

• De-worm your pup. Getting your dog on a heartworm preventative isn’t only to prevent heartworm alone. Broad-spectrum de-wormers can also prevent roundworms and other parasites!

• Take care of your dog’s poop while out on a walk and dispose of it all promptly.

• Give your pets separate water dishes and bowls.

• Wash pet bedding often.

• Use flea and tick preventatives regularly.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

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Gastrointestinal Tract Infection in Reptiles

Cryptosporidiosis

Protozoa cause many infectious diseases in reptiles, one of which is a very serious parasitic infection called Cryptosporidiosis. This protozoan infection increases the thickness of the intestinal and stomach inner linings, thereby reducing their ability to function properly. Lizards are generally infected in the intestines, while in snakes the infection is found in the gastrointestinal tract. Unfortunately, cryptosporidiosis is untreatable in reptiles.

SYMPTOMS AND TYPES

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Lack of appetite

• Weight loss

• Weakness

• Lethargy

• Thickening of the ridges along the lining of the gastrointestinal tract

CAUSES

An infection with the protozoa Cryptosporidium is due to your reptile’s contact with the following:

• Infected feces

• Infected regurgitated food

• Other infected reptiles

DIAGNOSIS

If your reptile has Cryptosporidiosis, the veterinarian should locate a mass along its gastrointestinal tract during a physical examination. X-rays and endoscopic examinations, including gastric biopsies, are also valuable in confirming the diagnosis. It is advisable to bring any of your reptile's regurgitated food to the veterinarian, as well as stool samples from the animal.

TREATMENT

Although there is no medication to treat Cryptosporidiosis, the veterinarian may recommend supportive therapy to reduce your reptile’s symptoms and prolong its life, however, it will ultimately depend on the animal’s condition and symptoms.

LIVING AND MANAGEMENT

It was once suspected that Cryptosporidiosis could be spread from reptiles to humans or other animals; this theory has since been disproven. The protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium does, however, cause similar infectious diseases in humans and animals.

PREVENTION

Keeping your reptile separate from any new (or infected) reptile may help prevent the spread of Cryptosporidiosis.

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