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Cats + Treatment

  • Famciclovir is given by mouth and is used off-label to control feline herpesvirus. Give as directed. Side effects may include vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and increased drinking and urination. Do not use it in pets that are allergic to it or penciclovir. If a negative reaction occurs, call your veterinary office.

  • There is no drug approved for treating heartworms in cats and surgical removal is generally the best option. Veterinarians now strongly recommend that all cats receive heartworm preventative.

  • Your veterinarian may prescribe rectal medication if your pet is unable to swallow oral medications or if a specific required medication cannot be effectively absorbed with oral delivery. The rectal tissues contain large numbers of blood vessels very close to their surface, which means that medications delivered to this area are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. Rectal medication is most commonly used to treat seizures.

  • Baths should be performed in a comfortably warm area, using lukewarm water. Medicated shampoo should be applied to a clean, wet coat, so start by thoroughly rinsing your cat with lukewarm water. Shampoo should be worked into the coat thoroughly and allowed to sit for 10 minutes before rinsing unless directed otherwise by your veterinarian.

  • Imidocarb dipropionate is an injectable medication that is administered by a veterinarian to treat babesiosis in dogs. It is also used off-label to treat other protozoal infections in dogs, cats, and horses. Most common side effects include mild drooling, tearing, vomiting, or nasal drip. Do not use in pets with exposure to cholinesterase-inhibiting drugs, pesticides, or chemicals. If a negative reaction occurs, please call your veterinary office.

  • Infertility in a queen (an intact female cat) is defined as the inability to give birth to live kittens, despite appropriate breeding with a fertile male. This handout provides an outline of common causes of infertility along with how they are diagnosed and, when possible, treated.

  • The lacrimal duct is part of the nasolacrimal system, a series of narrow tubes that allow tears to drain from the eye into the nose and mouth. This duct can sometimes become blocked or fail to develop properly, resulting in tears overflowing and potentially staining the face below the eye. The clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment options for the condition are explained in this handout.

  • Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is the use of a generated electromagnetic field to affect changes in tissues of the body. PEMF is believed to have beneficial pain-relieving and healing effects but definitive clinical evidence or a positive benefit is currently lacking. Potential benefits and contraindications are discussed.

  • Radiation is a type of energy produced naturally by the sun, earth, and rocks and artificially by machines. Although several types of tumors can be treated with radiation therapy alone (e.g., nasal tumors, brain tumors, and certain types of lymphoma), radiation therapy is most commonly used to destroy or limit the growth of cancer cells left behind (i.e., microscopic disease) after a tumor has been surgically removed. Side effects depend on the type and location of the tumor and its surrounding tissues.

  • This handout provides a brief overview of the most common evidence-based modalities used in veterinary medicine. Pet owners need to discuss the risk of recommended modalities for their specific pet with a trained and certified rehabilitation therapist before starting a rehabilitation program.