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Pet Care & Health Blog
Here at Middlesex Veterinary Center, we encourage pet owners to educate themselves on proper pet care and pet health problems by asking questions and finding answers from reliable, trusted sources of information. We are providing our clients access to LifeLearn Client Education library, a unique pet health education library, that strengthens the veterinary team’s role as animal health educators, and provides pet parents with easy-to-understand information.
Cat Ear Infection
By Middlesex Veterinary Center | April 16, 2025
How Common Are Ear Infections In Cats? Infections of the external ear canal, also called the outer ear, are common in dogs, but not very common in cats. We call this otitis externa. The Persian breed appears more prone to ear infections than other breeds of cats. What are the symptoms of an ear infection? A cat with an ear
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FeLV in Cats – Feline Leukemia Virus
By Middlesex Veterinary Center | April 16, 2025
What Is FeLV? Feline leukemia virus infection was, until recently, the most common fatal disease of cats. Because we can now protect cats with a leukemia virus vaccine, we are seeing fewer cases of the disease. However, it still remains a major cause of death in cats. “Leukemia” means cancer of the white blood cells. This was the first disease
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Cat Fight Wounds & Infections
By Middlesex Veterinary Center | April 16, 2025
What Are Fight Wound Infections? Cats are territorial animals and will fight with other cats to establish territory or to defend existing territory. As a result, fight wounds are common in cats. These wounds frequently result in an infection that can be quite debilitating, especially if left untreated. Which cats are most likely to fight? Fight wounds occur more commonly
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FIP in Cats – Feline Infectious Peritonitis
By Middlesex Veterinary Center | April 16, 2025
What Is Feline Infectious Peritonitis? Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a severe disease of domestic cats and some exotic cats. It does not affect non-feline species, such as dogs. It is caused by a coronavirus. The incubation period is controversial. In experiments with the virus, cats will develop the disease within two weeks of infection. However, in household situations, it
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FIV in Cats – Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
By Middlesex Veterinary Center | April 16, 2025
What Is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus? The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), sometimes called the Feline AIDS Virus, is an important disease agent of the cat. It is likened to the AIDS virus which affects humans because of the similarities in the two diseases which result. Fortunately, most viruses are species specific. This is the case with the human AIDS virus and
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Flea Allergy in Cats
By Middlesex Veterinary Center | April 16, 2025
What Are Allergies, And How Do They Affect Cats? One of the most common conditions affecting cats is allergy. In the allergic state, the cat’s immune system “overreacts” to foreign substances (allergens or antigens) to which it is exposed. These overreactions are manifested in several ways. The most common is itching of the skin, either localized (one area) or generalized
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Flea Control for Cats
By Middlesex Veterinary Center | April 16, 2025
What Should I Do To Kill Fleas On My Cat? This is a simple question with a rather complex answer. Successful flea control has two aspects. Fleas must be controlled on your cat, and fleas must be controlled in your cat’s environment. Since cats and dogs share the same fleas, the presence of a dog in your cat’s environment makes
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Feline Hyperthyroidism
By Middlesex Veterinary Center | April 16, 2025
What Is Feline Hyperthyroidism? The thyroid gland is located in the neck and plays a very important role in regulating the body’s rate of metabolism. Hyperthyroidism is a disorder characterized by the overproduction of thyroid hormone and a subsequent increase in the metabolic rate. This is a fairly common disease of older cats. Although the thyroid gland enlarges, it is
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How to Introduce a Cat to a New Home
By Middlesex Veterinary Center | April 16, 2025
How Do You Introduce A New Cat? So, you’re ready to welcome a cuddly new kitten into your home with hugs and kisses, but your resident housecat greets her instead with growls and hisses. Adding a cat to the household isn’t impossible, but doing it the right way does take time. It is better to proceed slowly than to go
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Megacolon in Cats
By Middlesex Veterinary Center | April 16, 2025
What Is Megacolon? The gastrointestinal tract terminates in a tubular organ called the colon. The colon serves as a site for absorption of water and storage of fecal material. It is continuous with the rectum. The walls of the colon contain muscles that are stimulated to contract by nerves from the spinal cord. When the colon contracts, fecal material is
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