1. Check that Acute stress may cause tachycardia, shortness of breath, hyperthermia and pupillary dilation in healthy cats. Cats may have excessive ventilation and breathe quickly and deeply, making it difficult to distinguish between heart or respi...
1. Check that
Acute stress may cause tachycardia, shortness of breath, hyperthermia and pupillary dilation in healthy cats.
Cats may have excessive ventilation and breathe quickly and deeply, making it difficult to distinguish between heart or respiratory diseases. In cats, 50% of heart murmurs are considered "harmless murmurs" and must be distinguished from murmurs secondary to physical illness. Acute stress responses may lead to diarrhea or emptying of intestinal contents and/or anal glands during cats’ visits or examinations; some cats can also urinate. Blood and/or mucus on the surface of the feces suggest stress colitis or possible diarrhea. It is very nervous when a cat is palpated and it is difficult to distinguish whether it is caused by pain or other physical illnesses.
2. Diagnostic test
Acute stress can cause temporary hypertension. This is common in stray cats. It is also common in cats with poor physical condition, socializing, or having negative experiences in early years. Biochemical abnormalities secondary to acute stress include hyperglycemia and hypokalemia. Stressed hyperglycemia is often associated with the patient's struggle, with blood sugar levels up to 1088 mg/dl (60 mmol/l) and maintained elevated for up to 90-120 minutes, with or without diabetes. Repeating blood sugar tests or fructosamine tests when a cat is calm can prevent misdiagnosis of diabetes.
Pain-induced changes in total blood count (thrombocytopenia, neutrophilia, and lymphopenia) are also associated with adrenaline release. In conscious healthy cats, constraints and blood collection may increase circulating red blood cells. Increased urine pH may be due to respiratory alkalosis (hyperventilation).
Chronic distress
The causes of chronic distress are shown in the previous push (see the beginning of this push)
1. Behavioral signs
The behavioral signs of chronic distress may vary, but usually include long-term hidden behavior; living in one place; being highly vigilant; not participating in other activities with family members; spraying urine elsewhere without using a cat litter box; being fond of scratching; dietary changes, including anorexia, overeating and vomiting; overcooking; irritability.
2. Establish links with disease
Now, many species, including humans, have found stress-related diseases. For example, humans have inflammatory bowel disease, respiratory distress and interstitial cystitis, and bovine respiratory diseases. There is a lot of evidence and increasing awareness about the link between chronic distress in felines and behavioral and physical health abnormalities, and the organ systems of many felines are affected individually or simultaneously. The close link between emotional and physical health emphasizes the need for behavioral assessments of families and environments to identify stressors that may cause the disease. In many diseases, a lack of behavioral history can lead to incorrect or incomplete treatment options – as described below.
1. There is a close relationship between the troubles of Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) and chronic cat disease. FIC is the most common cause of lower urinary tract disease, and 55-73% of cats suffer from FIC when they have lower urinary tract symptoms. Symptoms of the disease include intermittent or chronic hematuria, urinary tract infections, and possible urethral blockage.
FIC may experience complications, and well-recognized concurrent health problems include gastrointestinal symptoms, immune system damage, and symptoms of skin disorders. FIC-related behavioral abnormalities include fear, tension, increased frightening response, clingy, withdrawal, aggressiveness, and intermittent or persistent urination outside the litter box. Potential stressors in social and physical settings need to be evaluated to develop treatment plans. Treatment includes analgesia, meeting cats’ environmental needs and relieving/eliminating major stressors.
2. Gastrointestinal disease
stressors exacerbate clinical symptoms associated with intestinal parasites, such as fetal Trichomonas, Giardia, and Isosporidium. In asymptomatic cats with fetal trichomonas infection, chronic distress can increase parasite burden and diarrhea. In addition, vomiting, diarrhea, stress colitis, and loss of appetite not associated with parasitic diseases may also be secondary to chronic distress in cats. A recent literature points out that competition for food in multi-cat families is a stressor, often leading to cat anomalies.
Overcombing hair due to stress usually causes hair mass to accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract. Although constipation is thought to be associated with chronic distress, such as for cats who cannot easily access the litter box, a recent study of shelter cats found no association between stressors and constipation.
Pressure changes the integrity of mucosal bacteria and intestinal barriers, increases permeability and triggers a local inflammatory response. Environmental and social stressors, such as other cats or pets at home, moving, boarding and being taken away, are more common in cats with inflammatory bowel disease.
3. Feline orofacial pain syndrome (FOPS)
FOPS is a neurological disease that causes severe oral pain. Toothaches associated with permanent teeth eruption and periodontal disease may cause this condition, and cats can scratch the mouth with their claws, especially their tongue. Environmental factors may exacerbate this situation (e.g., social conflicts between domestic cats), and cats with poor coping ability are more vulnerable to injury.
4. Immunosuppression and infection
Immunosuppression and subsequent infection are also associated with chronic distress in felines, leading to new infections or recurrence of previous infections. These infections can be viruses, bacteria or parasites.
5. Obesity
Obacteria is one of the most common diseases in cats and is an increasingly serious epidemic. In developed countries, up to 63% of pet cats are overweight or obese. Obesity is associated with metabolic and hormonal changes, making cats susceptible to other diseases, including diabetes, skin diseases, lower urinary tract diseases, hepatic lipid deposition (fatty liver), intestinal bacterial disorders, tumors, DJD (degenerated joint disease) and respiratory damage, as well as increased risk of anesthesia and surgery.
There is evidence that obesity in dogs is associated with a decrease in quality of life and lifespan; weight loss in overweight dogs increases vitality, reduces emotional distress and reduces osteoarthritis distress. It is generally believed that cats are the same.
While the behavior of overeating causes obesity may seem obvious, we can address other risk factors to prevent and manage obesity in felines and its consequences. sterilization of male and female cats is a trigger. Failure to reduce one-third of calories after sterilization can lead to obesity, which can affect all ages, even kittens. Another reason for obesity is that the owner does not find the cat overweight or does not think it is a health issue. Owners usually think that meowing means that the cat wants food, but it is not the case.
Cats like to eat by themselves. During the food preparation and feeding process, multiple cats may cause trouble (how to eat, how much to eat, how to eat safely). Pain and depression can easily lead to people overeating, and so do cats. Changing your daily rations can also be stressful when you lose weight. Food changes may cause cats to find it is not possible to reliably obtain food, thus quickly consuming food when it seems safe.
Indoor cats with moderate or inactive activity are prone to obesity. Unfortunately, there are many reasons for less activity than outdoor cats—insufficient environments, cat conflicts, or fear or anxiety caused by other causes. Feeding low-calorie foods, such as canned food, accounts for 50% or more of the total diet, and using foraging equipment, such as food mazes, can increase normal eating behaviors and help maintain and reduce weight.
