Username (email) Password

Showing selected Question and Answer

Cat's neck swollen
Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 1 June 2010 05:27AM | viewed 3613 times
Q Helen asks:
There is a swollen area between my 13 week old kitten's shoulder blades. It is definitely uncomfortable when touched. It doesn't seem to be a defined lump like a lymph node etc, more a patch of swelling roughly 1 diameter. He hasn't had any injections recently, and hasn't been cutscratched in any way. The fur in the area is normal as is what skin I can see. He seems otherwise normal and happy. We have been scruffing him as a method of training, although never roughly, and I wondered whether this could have caused it, as if I gently feel his scruff it is that area that feels thicker and tender. Until this swelling problem, he has never showed any pain at being scruffed, just cross as is expected.
Q Our vet says: It is unlikely that scruffing your kitten has caused this mass to appear.

The position of the area of swelling in a kitten of this age would suggest that a reaction to a recent vacination may be a possibility. Most kittens have a vaccination at 12 weeks and this may have caused some skin reaction.

I certainly have seen some young pets which have had an area of swelling following vaccination which usually resolves on its own. However it would be wise to get your kitten checked by your own vet to ensure that there is nothing more serious going on, especially if your kitten starts to show any other signs such as going off his food or lethargy etc.

It may be wise not to scruff your kitten until this issue is resolved since the pain associated with this may cause him to develop a fearful reaction towards you.

Answers to Your Pet Healthcare Questions

Link to ask vetgb.com vet a question
Showing similar questions and answers in this category
Laser Surgery for Stenotic Nares (Persian Cats)
Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 02-Aug-10 01:45AM | viewed 1470 times
Q Si asks:
Our persian cat is 5 months old and although he was born with nice, open nostrils they seem to be becoming more narrow as he gets older. He has trouble breathing because of this during play and sleep and needs to also have his mouth open sometimes after playing. At night, his nostrils make a whistling sound, which is becoming more prominent over time. When we picked him up from the breeder, we also bought the mother, who is now 2 years old. She suffers from the same problem. She also makes snorting noises if you try to play with her, as if she has mucus in her throat, that kind of noise. We previously had a persian for 18 years without this issue and wasn't expecting it. I wish they weren't bred like this! The breeder had only commented on their runny eyes, telling us that it was a trend they were trying to move away from, for the health of the cat. She didn't mention the breathing though. I have read snippets of info on the net about laser surgery to widen the nostrils, but I can't find any decent information about it in the UK. My questions are How safe and effective is it? How much would I expect to pay, or would it be covered by PetPlan? (We have their topmost expensive policy for both cats). Do you have any recommendations for places in the South-East of England that perform this? I hate hearing them have breathing problems. They are still young enough to have a decent life without this problem, so if we can help then we'd love to. Thanks, Si
Q Our vet says: I am sorry to hear about your young Persian cat. Stenotic nares are a problem with this breed and it can be difficult to tell how badly a cat will be affected when you are choosing a young kitten.

Your best course of action would be to take your cat along to your local vet who, if necessary, will be able to refer your cat to a specialist for further treatment. Your local vet will be able to give you a better idea of the likely costs involved once they have assessed your cat and perhaps spoken to the referral centre if required.

Laser surgery is certainly becoming more widely available in the UK, but the choice of procedure, if any, should be made on the basis of what is right for your cat.

The safety and efectiveness of any surgery is something which the veterinary surgeon undertaking the procedure will be able to discuss with you, since they can see the severity of the problem and assess your cat's general state of health and make an informed decision with regard to the particular case. There is of course always some risk to any anaesthetic or surgery.

As regards the insurance cover available it is always wise to call your insurance provider to ask if a particular treatment will be covered before going ahead with any procedure. Only they can say whether your policy will cover the treatment costs or not.

I hope all goes well for your cat.
Major worries with Midnight.
Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 17-Jul-09 02:02PM | viewed 69324 times
Q Alan asks about Midnight (cat - Common shorthair, M) :
My kitten (unfortunately I have forgotten its DOB) has had major issues. It started yesterday evening when he was in his bed. I went over to fuss it and I noticed a horrible, frothy drool. Just a few minutes after it started growling and meowing (as if in pain) and running in circles. He then proceeded to have a fit and started rolling on the floor twitching. He has vomited once and seems to be partially blind. His hearing has increased immensely and he heard me sneeze upstairs, making him go into another fit. It has not eaten anything and his mother also attempted to kill him (which is unlike her). His eyes are completely dilated and even picking him up and putting him near the light the pupil stays the same size. I linked up these symptoms to find poisoning. He may have gotten into the kitchen cupboard. I already know he will not survive for long and putting him to sleep seems my only option (I hate to see animals in pain), but is there anyway to make him feel better?
Q Our vet says: Your kitten needs urgent attention, call your vet and ask for an appointment. While you are waiting to see your vet keep your kitten quiet and warm.
Treatment of facial bone cancer in cats
Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 02-Jul-09 11:02AM | viewed 79431 times
Q astir78 asks about tatum (cat - GingerTabby, F) :
Hi, my cat has just been diagnosed with bone cancer, this has affected the bones on the left side of her face. The cancer may have started in the upper palette or upper jaw. I would like to know if there are any curative treatments for this. Is radiotherapy an option in this area of the cat? What is the prognosis for this treatment if it is possible? Thanks
Q Our vet says: I am sorry to hear about your cat. Unfortunately I am not a veterinary oncologist and I am not sure what the best treatment options would be in this situation. Treatment such as radiotherapy is usually carried out at specialist veterinary hospitals. The questions you are asking would be best answered by your own vet who will be able to access more specific information for you. This is obviously a serious condition and you will need to keep in close contact with your vet throughout any treatment. Speak to your vet who will be much better placed to answer all the questions you may have since he or she knows your cat and the individual circumstances of the case. Sorry I cannot help further.

Your comments

On Thursday 6th August 2009 at 14:22 Jane added the following:
Hi, There is a vet who specialises in treatments for cancer. I have seen him a few years ago with one of my cats. His name is Ron Lowe and he is in Knaresborough, near Harrogate West Yorkshire. You can have a look at his website which is Petcancervet. I hope this helps. Jane.
Loss of strength in back legs
Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 31-May-09 01:15PM | viewed 106103 times
Q Donna asks about george (cat - none, M) :
My cat has just been out all night which is not usual. When he returned he was dragging himself by his front legs only. He is still doing this 1 hour later and seems in pain. He has normal colouring in his mouth and has eaten. His back legs seem hot.
Q Our vet says: George needs to be seen by a vet. It sounds as though he might have been hit by a car or he could have other serious problems such as a blood clot preventing blood reaching his legs. Please get him to your vet as soon as you can.
Skin, eye and lip problems in my cat
Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 20-May-09 07:35PM | viewed 118989 times
Q Clare asks about Piglet (cat) :
My cat Piglet is 3 years old. Since we got him 2 years ago he has suffered intermittently from a skin irritation whereby he chews and sucks his fur until he is left with raw weeping skin, and rodent ulcers on his upper lips, sometimes both at the same time. He has had a number of courses of steroids over the 2 years (injection and tablets) as well as antibiotics, and after an allergy test 3 months ago (which didn't pick up a food allergy but said he was allergic to house dust mites) he was put on a vet prescribed hypoallergenic diet. His ulcers have now come back with a vengeance, and he has started to chew his fur again. Now, his eyes have partially turned brown (whereas normally they are a vivid green), and I'm wondering if this is a sign of another problem. I actually recall his eyes changing colour last year too, but at the time I didn't think too much of it and it eventually disappeared (which could have been the result of one of his courses of medicine). I'm at my wits end, as I don't want to continue to give him steroids if I can avoid it, but I don't want him to suffer either. Can you suggest any alternative treatments that I could try for the skin and lip problems. Can you shed any light on what's causing the eye issue please?
Q Our vet says: Without actually being able to see your cat's eyes it is impossible to tell you exactly what could be wrong, but it does sound as though you should get your cat checked by your vet again. There is a condition called uveitis which could be causing the signs you have seen. This is basically an inflammation of the internal parts of the eye such as the iris (coloured part of the eye). This condition can potentially lead to further complications and is likely to be causing your cat discomfort even if he is not showing any signs of pain.
The skin problem may benefit from alternative or complementary therapies but exactly what to choose would be best advised by an holistic vet who is able to examine your cat. You could try Skoosh household spray to help with the house-dust mite problem.
Showing 1 to 5 of 5 found
checkout using paypalask a vet online at vetgb.com questions and answers from our vet

Your Questions Answered

soft stools in one kitten yet other kitten fine

KT asks: Bluebell's brother, Marcel, seems to be healthy and eats dry kitten food provided, Bluebell on the other hand ... view

roger the cat refuses to eat

Mary asks: Please help. Roger, our 12 year old and much-loved cat, has simply stopped eating. We have tried ... view

further question about Hepatitis C

Louise asks: Hello, I just asked a question about my dog but I left out something. My dog picked up a heroin ... view

Can dogs get hepatitis C?

Louise asks: Hello, Three days ago while on his walk my dog picked up a heroin user's spoon wrapped in tin foil. ... view

Laser Surgery for Stenotic Nares (Persian Cats)

Si asks: Our persian cat is 5 months old and although he was born with nice, open nostrils they seem to ... view

MALE CAT LACK OF LIBIDO

Tina asks: Hello - I breed and shown persian cats. I imported an unproven, entire, male well over a year ... view

Anaesthetic

Jackie Taylor asks: My horse has chronic founder laminitis. X-rays have shown a small amount of rotation of the pedal bones in ... view

Cat's neck swollen

Helen asks: There is a swollen area between my 13 week old kitten's shoulder blades. It is definitely uncomfortable when touched. ... view

cat limping

Deborah asks: My cat has come home limping and he hisses when he is touched. His paw is swollen . ... view

Heart problems

Paula asks: Hi, I recently took my dog to the vets for her yearly checkup. I have a 7 ... view

how many years?

Kathryn asks: Hi I'm Kathryn and I'm really interested in becoming a vet. I would like to know how many years ... view

I think my dog has an ulcerated esophagus

Joanna asks: Hi my dog is 13- 14 yrs. old and has been developing a cough-gag symptom over the last 2 ... view

Kidney failure

Beverley asks: Could I have caused kidney failure in my greyhound by giving her too much salt in her food as ... view

Red testicles

Julie asks: I have a four year old staffordshire bull terrier who has not been neutered. His testicles are extremely red ... view

Felix makes crunching noises when eating pheasant

Richard asks: Crunching noises might be damaging his teeth? Is this a concern. ... view

Blue film on cat's eye

Karen asks: My cat has a blue film over one of her eyes. She is almost closing her eye. ... view

Bloated Stomach

Rose asks: Hi, My dog lucky is a jack russel and is 13 years old. Her stomach in the last few ... view

Urinating

Sharon asks: We have a 3 year old cat we got from Cat's Protection last year. The past few days she's ... view

Major worries with Midnight.

Alan asks: My kitten (unfortunately I have forgotten its DOB) has had major issues. It started yesterday evening when he was ... view

Tremors in chihuahua

Craig asks: In the last couple of hours our 16 month old chihuahua has developed a kind of mini electric shock ... view

Veterinary prescription medication

Vetgb supplies guaranteed UK licensed medication, dispensed to prescription by a UK veterinary surgeon. We also offer a range of non-prescription products including pet accessories, pet care and grooming products, specialist veterinary diets and supplements, herbal remedies, homeopathic and nutraceutical therapies, training and behavioural products, bedding and toys for your pet.

Our commitment to you

  • Discounted prices
  • Fast delivery
  • Genuine UK approved products
  • Easy to use ordering system
  • Veterinary information
  • Vetgb.com is owned and managed by a UK vet