Cat Care Clinic

Posted on: 5 June 2015

Your cat is like a member of your family. Much like people need emergency treatment from time to time, cats do as well. However, it can be difficult to tell when a cat needs emergency treatment right away and when it can wait until you make an appointment with your regular vet. Here are three signs that your cat needs to see an emergency vet now.

1. Changes in urinary habits - especially for male cats.

Any abnormality in urination can be serious for a cat. However, it is more common for male cats to get blockages in their urinary tracts. When this happens, the urine can't drain from the bladder into the urethra and out of the cat's body. This can quickly become an emergency situation because the build-up of urine can grow bacteria causing an infection, and can even cause the cat's kidneys to shut down when the bladder is filled to capacity. So, if you notice your male cat having difficulty with urination, get them to an emergency vet clinic immediately.

2. Seizures.

If your cat has a seizure, it could be a sign of several different illnesses. If your cat has a history of seizures, you may not need to take them for emergency treatment unless they hurt themselves while having one. However, if seizures are a new thing for your cat, you need to take them to the emergency vet to find out what caused it to happen. The vet will perform various tests in order to figure out the source that triggered the seizure. 

Once the source is found, if it is something like an infection that caused the seizure, your cat may not have anymore after the infection is gone. However, other illnesses, such as kidney disease, can lead to your cat developing feline epilepsy and recurring seizures.

3. Hind leg paralysis.

When cats have sudden paralysis in their hind legs, it is likely caused by a blood clot in the arteries that supply blood to them. A blood clot is dangerous no matter where it is located, but it is most common in the rear legs. If you notice that your cat can't use their hind legs and the legs are cold to touch, you need to contact an emergency vet for treatment as soon as possible. The vet will likely perform an ultrasound to diagnose the blood clot and then treat the cat with a medication that should dissolve it. To find out more about an animal hospital, speak with a business like Metzger Animal Hospital.