Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
In a geriatric cat, the liver can become inflamed, infected or can-
cerous and stop functioning normally. Signs of liver disease include
jaundice (yellowing that is especially visible in the eyes), vomiting,
weight loss and anemia.
Blood tests and palpation of the liver provide clues, but most liver
disease can only be diagnosed by a liver biopsy. Biopsies can be obtained
through exploratory surgery or with a needle guided by ultrasound.
Chapter 14 contains more information about liver disease in cats.
Heart Disease
Cats do not develop arteriosclerosis—clogged arteries that impair blood
flow to the heart and lead to heart attacks in humans. Instead, most
feline heart disease occurs in young and middle-aged cats.When a geri-
atric cat experiences heart failure, it is usually in connection with
another illness.
As mentioned earlier, a common disease in older cats is hyperthy-
roidism, and when this condition is not controlled, heart failure can
occur.The heart muscle simply wears out after being overstimulated for
a period of time. When the heart fails, the rhythm of the heartbeat is
affected, fluid can pool in the chest and circulation can be impaired.
Signs of heart disease include weakness, panting, open-mouth breath-
ing and coughing. Diagnostic tools available to evaluate heart disease
include X rays, ECG (electrocardiography) and ultrasound (echocardiog-
raphy). Chapter 16 contains more information about heart disease in cats.
Neurological Disease
Seizures are periods of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. If an
older cat has a seizure, possible causes may be hypertension, metabolic
imbalances or cancer. When routine diagnostic testing does not pin-
point a cause, other tests are available.
To evaluate the neurological system of a cat, tests may include a
cerebral spinal fluid tap (CSF), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and
computer-assisted tomography (CAT scan). Chapter 19 contains more
information about neurological disease in cats.
Cognitive dysfunction is another neurological disorder occasionally
seen in senior cats. It is characterized by disorientation and confusion,
disturbances of the sleep-wake cycle, reduced social interaction and loss
of housetraining. These signs must be present in the absence of hor-
monal or metabolic imbalances, medical diseases and other neuro-
logical problems to make the diagnosis. The diagnosis is tentative
