20 11, 2019

Feline Spay

2020-02-24T15:57:20-08:00November 20th, 2019|Cats|

One of the most common surgical procedures we perform at the Long Beach Animal Hospital in southern California is a cat spay, known medically as an ovariohysterectomy (removal of the ovaries and uterus). It is performed for several medical reasons: It prevents cats from going into heat. It prevents cats from getting pregnant. It significantly helps prevent cats from getting breast cancer later in life. It prevents cats from getting uterine infections later in life. We have pictures at the end of this page of complications like cystic ovaries and an infected uterus that can occur in unspayed female cats.

11 11, 2019

Fractured Jaw in a Cat

2020-02-13T16:13:29-08:00November 11th, 2019|Cats|

It is not uncommon for a cat to break its jaw due to a traumatic incident; usually falling from a height or being hit by a car. The lower jaw (the mandible) usually fractures right in the middle of the chin which is very painful and renders the pet unable to use its jaw to eat. Fortunately for most cats, they heal very well when the jaw is wired back together. Now if only they can remember not to run across the street again..... This area contains graphic pictures of an actual jaw repair performed at the hospital. It may

11 11, 2019

Feeding Tubes

2020-02-10T12:24:23-08:00November 11th, 2019|Cats|

In comparison to people, feeding tubes in animals are not routinely used in terminal cases to prolong life. They are used to help an animal get over a temporary problem and return to good health. Most species of animal can go many days without eating. This is not true for cats, especially when they are sick. Several days of not eating (anorexia) can have serious consequences in cats and lead to failure of important organs like the liver. In addition to cats we use feeding tubes in our practice for turtles and tortoises that are not eating. Causes of Lack of

11 11, 2019

Abdominal Hernia

2020-02-10T12:12:12-08:00November 11th, 2019|Cats|

Pets that roam outdoors are prone to numerous traumatic injuries. Fighting with other animals, and getting hit by a car, are some of the more common ones. This page shows a surgical procedure to correct an abdominal hernia in a cat named Sundance that was hit by a car. In this case the hernia was caused by a blow to the abdomen by the car. The blow was strong enough to tear a large hole in the abdominal muscles that surround the abdomen. The small intestine went through this hole and was trapped between the muscle and the underside of the

11 11, 2019

Stomatitis (Lymphocytic/plasmacytic)

2020-02-10T12:10:41-08:00November 11th, 2019|Cats|

This disease goes by several names. Some of them are faucitis and infectious stomatits. The primary symptom noticed by most people is a cat that is no longer eating well (anorexia). In some cases, there will be weight loss, drooling, a poor haircoat, halitosis (bad breath), bloody oral discharge, or a pet that seems ill in general. Some cats are also painful around the mouth, and resist being petted there, and might even cry out in pain. We have even seen cats with severely inflamed mouths that have no symptoms at all. The problem was discovered during a routine exam.

Go to Top