Eyes/Ears/Skin
Feline Eyes/ Ears/ Skin
Your pet’s eyes allow perception of colors, forms, and depth. What you see from the outside represents a fraction of what the eye beholds. A dog and cat’s eye is a complex organ that offers a window into the rest of the body. When looking inside the eye with specialized equipment, your veterinarian sees blood vessels, nerves, and lymphoid tissue that cannot be seen in other areas of the body from the outside.
The structures within the eye comprise 3 basic layers: 1) the protective, enveloping layer that you see from the outside-the white sclera and clear cornea; 2) the blood vessel layer, known as the uvea, and 3) the neurologic layer or retina. Inflammation in any of these layers of the eye results in a red eye. Careful examination of these three layers by your veterinarian determines if the cause of the red eye indicates a local problem, such as conjunctivitis or glaucoma; or a systemic problem, such as retinal bleeding caused by an elevated systemic blood pressure.
The skin is the largest organ in the body; it acts like a glove over your pet’s body providing warmth and protection. Secretions from the skin keep germs and water outside the body and bodily fluids inside the body. Breakdowns in this protective barrier lead to many conditions, such as, hair loss, infections, and fluid losses.
The appearance of your pet’s skin provides insight to the overall health of your pet. Common conditions affecting your pet’s skin include: allergies, bacterial and yeast infections, ringworm, and external parasites, such as fleas and mites. Systemic conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, hormonal imbalances, or nutritional deficiencies, display characteristic patterns in the skin.
Your pet’s ears are an extension of your pet’s skin. The ears are divided into 3 sections: 1) the external ear canal extends from the outside to the ear drum, 2) behind the ear drum lays the middle ear (tympanic cavity), and lastly, 3) the inner ear. In contrast to people, the majority of ear problems in dogs and cats occur in the external ear canal. Inflammation of the external ear canal often results in bacterial and/or yeast infections. Left untreated, these infections will extend into the middle and inner ear cavity, causing diminished hearing and loss of balance.
The eyes, ears, and skin of your pet can be a gateway to the inside of your pet’s body. While the eyes, ears, and skin display their own pathologies separately, they can also be indicators of a more systemic process.
Ears
Ears
Your cat’s ears are an extension of your pet’s skin. The cat’s ear canal is divided into 3 sections: 1) the L-shaped external ear canal extends from the outside to the ear drum, 2) behind the ear drum lays the middle ear (tympanic cavity), and lastly, 3) the inner ear. In contrast to people, the majority of ear problems in cats occur in the external ear canal. Inflammation of the external ear canal, commonly caused by allergies or mites, may result in bacterial and/or yeast infections. Left untreated, these infections may extend into the middle and inner ear cavities, causing diminished hearing and loss of balance.
Eyes
Eyes
Your cat’s eyes allow perception of colors, forms, and depth. Their eyes are specially adapted to see well in the dark due to the presence of a tapetum. You can see this yellow-green reflective layer of the tapetum when you shine a light in your cat’s eye in the dark. A cat’s eye is a complex organ that offers a window into the rest of the body. When looking inside the eye with specialized equipment, your veterinarian sees blood vessels, nerves, and lymphoid tissue that cannot be seen in other areas of the body from the outside. Inspection of the inner layers of your cat’s eye reveals whether the cause of the red eye indicates a local problem, (such as conjunctivitis and uveitis) or a systemic problem (such as retinal bleeding caused by an elevated systemic blood pressure).
Glaucoma
Glaucoma describes increased pressure within the eye caused by inadequate drainage of fluid within the eye. Glaucoma may be caused by inherited defects (primary glaucoma) in the drainage system of the eye or by secondary causes: trauma, infection, inflammation, lens luxation, and tumors. Glaucoma is a painful condition requiring emergency therapy to avoid blindness. Symptoms of glaucoma include: pain, obvious swelling of the eye, cloudy appearance to the surface of the eye, “red-eye”, and/or sudden blindness. Therapy for glaucoma is directed at improving drainage of the intraocular fluids to decrease the pressure within the eye. In cases non-responsive to medical therapy, surgery may be necessary to relieve the pressure within the eye. Primary glaucoma tends to affect both eyes; therefore, prophylactic therapy should be started in the other eye immediately. In cases of secondary glaucoma, the underlying cause must also be treated. Eyes severely affected by glaucoma may require enucleation (removal of the eye). Regular follow up appointments are necessary to measure eye pressures and monitor therapy.
Skin
Skin
The skin is the largest organ in the body; it acts like a glove over your cat’s body providing warmth and protection. Secretions from the skin form a barrier to keep germs and water outside the body and bodily fluids inside. Breakdowns in this protective barrier lead to conditions such as: hair loss, infections, and fluid losses. The appearance of your cat’s skin provides insight to the overall health of your pet. Common conditions affecting your cat’s skin include: allergies, bacterial and yeast infections, ringworm, and external parasites, such as fleas and mites.
Cheyletiella
Cheyletielliosis, a mite infection also known as walking dandruff, causes an acute onset of intense itching. Pets acquire this mite infection when exposed to another infected animal. Puppies, kittens and immunosuppressed pets are more commonly affected than adult pets. Cheyletiella mites spend their entire life cycle on your pet. Female mites, however, may drop into the environment and survive for up to 10 days. To diagnosis Cheyletiella, a scale sample (taken with a flea comb or by pressing tape to the skin) is examined under the microscope. Finding eggs and/or mites confirms the diagnosis. Absence of eggs and/or mites does not necessarily rule out the infection; definitive diagnosis may be delayed until a response to therapy is seen. Repeated treatment with topical miticidal therapies eliminates the mite infection. All pets in the household need to be treated concurrently. Some pets may develop secondary infections that require oral antibiotic therapy. Pet sleeping areas need to be washed thoroughly to prevent recurrence.
Deer Ticks
Small deer ticks easily hide within the coat of your pet. Deer ticks hitch a ride from your pet as your pet walks through grassy, woody areas. Deer ticks attach to your pet for a blood meal. During that blood meal, infected ticks may transmit disease (e.g.: Lyme’s Disease) to your pet. The best treatment for ticks is prevention: regular use of topical therapies that prevent tick attachment to your pet’s skin. If you find a tick on your pet, call your veterinarian for direction on removal: do not use remedies such as a touching the tick with a match or gasoline. Pets bit by a tick should be watched closely for signs of tick borne illness: lethargy, joint pain, fever, or loss of appetite. If any of these signs occur, you should have your pet evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Demodex
Demodicosis is a non-contagious parasitic skin disease caused by a mite (Demodex sp.) that normally inhabits your pet’s hair follicles. A healthy immune system ensures that the mite population remains under control. Demodex mites may over-populate in the skin of young animals with developing immune systems and in immunocompromised pets. Symptoms of demodicosis may be as mild as patchy hair loss and may progress to generalized hair loss and itchiness. Diagnosis of demodicosis is based on history, physical examination findings, and identification of numerous microscopic Demodex mites from a skin scraping. Older patients diagnosed with demodicosis require more extensive testing (blood tests, imaging) to look for a cause of the compromised immune system (e.g.: Cushing’s disease, cancer, chronic illness). Treatment for demodicosis includes: 1) topical and/or oral medications to reduce the numbers of Demodex mites, 2) antibiotics and/or antifungals to resolve secondary infections, and 3) therapy for the underlying primary disease in immunocompromised patients.
Flea Allergy Dermatitis
Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is the leading cause of itching in dogs and cats. A bite from a single flea is enough to cause tremendous itching. Pets with FAD have a characteristic pattern of itchiness, hair loss, and secondary infections. Lesions develop along their backs extending to the tail and down the backs of the legs. Diagnosis of FAD is based on demonstrating the characteristic pattern of inflammation. Your veterinarian will check your pet for fleas and “flea dirt”, which appears as small black specks on your pet’s skin. The lack of fleas or flea dirt does not rule out FAD. All pets with FAD must be on topical therapy to prevent the fleas from biting. Oral flea preventives are helpful to break the flea cycle, however, they are not helpful as sole therapy in patients with FAD as the flea must bite the pet first to ingest the preventive. The home needs to be treated by an experienced professional exterminator, paying particular attention to your pet’s bedding and under furniture. The best treatment for fleas is prevention: year round monthly preventive topical applications.
Fleas
Control of the flea population in your pet’s world is important, not only from a comfort perspective, but also from a health perspective. Fleas carry diseases that can infect your pet and family members (e.g.: blood parasites and the plague).When a single flea is found, this represents a mere 1 % of the entire problem: the other 99% includes their eggs and larvae that are developing in your carpets and bedding. Homes with fleas must be treated aggressively to prevent infestations. Hiring a professional exterminator is essential for rapid eradication. Protect your pets from flea bites and associated diseases, with year-round application of monthly topical preparations. Year round application ensures that fleas do not enter your warm home and set up house during the winter months.
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October Special!
Victoria Park Animal Hospital now offers non-anesthetic dentals Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. For the month of October, enjoy a courtesy oral exam (valued at $70) for your pet with their non-anesthetic dental!
Included in a non-anesthetic dental:
- The mouth may be wiped down or rinsed with a non-anesthetic to decrease bacteria.
- Plaque and tarter will be removed from the visible parts of the teeth with a hand scaler.
- The provider may try to clean under the gums and use a dental probe to measure pockets, if possible.
- Fluoride treatment will also be provided.