Ascites in cats: description, possible causes and treatment

Ascites in cats is inflammatory in nature and is caused by fluid accumulation in the body of the animal. The disease, also called abdominal dropsy, is not primary, since it – a result of prolonged diseases. It is often cause problems with the protein and water-salt metabolism, lack of exercise, various diseases of the liver and poor blood circulation. If you do not start treatment of ascites in time, the probability of occurrence of cardiovascular insufficiency. Lack of treatment leads to death.

Description of the disease

Ascites in cats – the disease is chronic. It is associated with poor resorption of peritoneal fluid in the circulatory system, as a result it accumulates in the peritoneum.

The Disease is quite dangerous, so the treatment should start as soon as possible. The development of the disease individually, sometimes the volume of the transudate may increase to 2 liters per day.

Most Often occurs in the ascites of the abdominal cavity in elderly cats, malnourished and emaciated.

Causes

Ascites in cats is a fairly large list of causes. Still more attention should be paid to animals, leading a sedentary lifestyle. Experts noticed that the cat walking on the street, less likely to suffer this disease. In addition, renal and heart failure leads to fluid accumulation in the animal body. A weak immune system and disorders in the endocrine system can lead to the same result.

It is Most likely that dropsy is the animal that has the following problems:

• The Violation of water-salt and protein metabolism.
• Increased concentration of sodium.
• Cancer.
• Weight.

It is Worth noting that high concentration of salts in the blood can occur when animals eat too salty food, and when feeding it cheap food, containing large amounts of sodium.

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Symptoms

Some diseases in animals occur almost asymptomatic, others have a clear clinical picture. The second category applies ascites in a cat. The symptoms of this disease are the following:

- Symmetric protrusion of the peritoneum at the sides.

- Shortness of breath.

- Dullness, vzjeroshenij wool.

- Shortness of breath.

- Anaemia, and yellowness of the mucous membranes.

- Swelling of the limbs, base of the ears, dewlap and crotch.

The Vet, not to confuse ascites with peritonitis, conduct analysis of liquid accumulated inside the abdominal cavity. In addition, unlike peritonitis, dropsy body temperature is not increased.

If the peritoneum accumulates a large volume of liquid, to mix ascites with other diseases difficult. To make sure that it is dropsy, it is necessary to put the animal in a vertical position, taking the front paws. If the stomach “stack” down, becoming similar to a pear, it's safe to say that it is ascites. In cats, the disease is developing, the stomach will not so great and overall condition is pretty stable. However, over the pathology of the condition becomes less satisfactory: lost appetite, there comes apathy. Later can experience vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, flatulence, breathing quickens. Sometimes temperature can increase.

Diagnostics

To find out is there a cure for ascites cats, you need to make sure that she is suffering from this disease. To do this, if you receive one or more of the symptoms described earlier, the animal must be delivered to the vet. For diagnosis, the specialist will conduct the following tests:

- find out what diseases are of animal, how long and how severely the symptoms of ascites;

- conduct a visual inspection required in this situation;

- make the analysis of urine and blood;

- will send the animal to the x-ray and/or abdominal ultrasound.

Treatment

Ascites in cats can be cured, but it should be remembered that the disease is – secondary. This means that you need to have relief or stabilization of the problem that caused it.

On early intervention in the course of the disease, it almost does not go. Resort to this procedure only in extreme, neglected cases. Conservative treatment, maintaining the state of an animal – this is a General rule in the treatment of this disease.

The Most frequent procedure in treatment – the removal of fluid. This is done through a puncture in the abdominal wall. In addition, you must monitor the amount of sodium consumed by the animal. At the same time with diuretics increases excretion of sodium in the urine, which reduces the volume retained in the peritoneal fluid.

Medication

At present, doctors do not have the use of drugs that would qualify for intensive and long-term treatment of ascites (this concerns not only animal diseases, but also people). Primarily this is because the use of any of them leads tosignificant loss of potassium. The appointment of high doses of diuretic may lead to encephalopathy, which is certainly dangerous.

Diuretics, which help to preserve potassium can cause hormonal disorder. Drugs, saving potassium, are ineffective with respect to those in which he spent greatly. Use of these preparations is possible only in the complex. At the same time you must limit the intake of salts. Human trials showed that "Losartan" - the perfect remedy for ascites, but this drug is difficult to apply in veterinary medicine.

Pumping liquids

Drugs not to stop the ascites in cats. How to treat the disease some other way? As has been said, perhaps removing fluid from the peritoneum through the puncture. The danger of this process is that the accumulating liquid is not useless. Its failure can lead to death as a result of hypoxia and venous return. In addition, when the mixture lost important nutrition: amino acids, immune complexes, electrolytes and proteins. This can cause a range of negative consequences.

Thus, the animal, which was bred astiticescoy liquid, it is necessary to compensate the loss of nutrients. This is done either by the introduction of albumin, or the reinfusion of ascitic transudate. This procedure is mostly done in a hospital. The returned fluid is added heparin at a ratio of 1:1. Within two or three days, it is administered intravenously. Storing liquid in the refrigerator at a temperature of 3-4 degrees Celsius. It is important to remember that the fluid that may be infected with bacteria and toxins. If such suspicions appear, it is necessary to conduct purification by separation and antibiotic use. However, this situation occurs not so often – about 5-10% of cases.

Fluid Excretion is justified and substantiated, the animals after this procedure increases the chances of not only prolonging life, but in some cases, remission.