Common emergencies in adult cats

It is always hard to see your adult cat frightened and in pain. If you are new to pet parenting then it will be very difficult for you to analyze if the situation is a cause for emergency or not. The best thing that you can do is to take your pet to the vet when you are in doubt. But here are a few emergency situations that are very common in adult cats that will make you better prepared to handle your pet if they fall prey to either one of them.

• Choking, coughing or breathing difficulty – Choking is indeed a dangerous situation even if its symptoms subside in a few minutes. Lack of enough oxygen in the body and an accumulation of fluid in their lungs can indeed lead to the dangerous consequences of choking.If your feline friend has difficulty breathing then you must get them checked by the vet as it can be a serious problem. Cough can be a symptom of various health issues like virus or bacterial infection, fungal pneumonia, allergic bronchitis or congenital heart disease. Any changes in their respiratory functioning must be thoroughly checked by the vet.

• Vomiting and diarrhea – Vomiting and diarrhea can be caused by various things such as a change in diet parasites, infectious disease or toxins. In some cases, vomiting and diarrhea can be very mild and they will recover quickly. But you need to be careful if the severity and frequency of vomiting and diarrhea increases as your pet can get dehydrated. So, take them to the vet immediately for quicker medical attention.

• Trauma – Trauma is very common in cats that love being outdoors and are prone to accidents, fights with other cats or fall from a great height. Trauma is a serious issue and if not given proper care will lead to blood loss, broken bones, shock, internal or external bleeding and pain. The situation can be life threatening if you do not take your pet to the vet immediately for quicker treatment.

• Foreign body ingestion – Cats are curious creatures who will love to get their paws and mouth on anything they find interesting. The problem is when they ingest the foreign body as it will cause gastrointestinal problems such as internal obstruction or it may get stuck in their throat which may lead to choking. Ingestion of string like materials like rope, ribbon or a thin piece of wire commonly causes problems in cats.

• Allergic reactions – Cats can also develop allergic reactions which can vary from vaccine sensitivity to insect bites.  In cats, anaphylactic reaction is the most serious from of allergic reaction and its symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, difficulty breathing and collapse. Cats that develop an allergic reaction will have facial swelling, hives and itchiness. So, rush them to the vet immediately.

• Seizures – Any abnormal electrical activity in the brain leads to episodes of seizure. They can be caused by intra cranial issues like epilepsy, brain tumors or brain swelling or extra – cranial problems such as low blood sugar and electrolyte disturbances. Seizures can be life threatening so you must promptly take your pet to the vet for faster medical intervention.

• Difficulty urinating – If you notice that your pet is straining to urinate that it can be a urinary tract infection. Crystals or bladder stones are commonly found issues in pets that have difficulty urinating. Apart from this inflammation, cancer, blood clots and even stress can cause urinary problems in your pet. So, take your pet to the vet for a thorough medical evaluation and treatment.

• Wounds from fights or abscesses – A puncture or an open wound needs prompt medical attention. An abscess is a result of an infection in a wound. Abscesses usually break open and drain and will continue to recur unless the infection is treated. Your cat will require antibiotic medication and your vet may need to clean the wound and remove the dead tissues.