The skin is the largest organ in the body and serves many important functions. In spite of its usefulness, a horse’s skin can also develop redness, itchiness or hives in response to various substances in the environment. These kinds of allergic reactions can be caused by things eaten, inhaled or touched

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Hernias A hernia is a tear in the body wall of a horse that allows the internal organs to push through to a place where they don’t belong. There are several types of hernias. They can affect horses of any age or breed. Horses may have a defect at birth (congenital) that increases the risk of a hernia,

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Head shaking shows up in horses as uncontrollable shaking, jerking or flicking of the head, with no obvious physical irritation causing the condition. While some cases may be mild, head shaking can be severe enough to make a horse dangerous or unsuitable for riding. Other symptoms that may occur alongside

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Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is fairly common in cats. Although it can occur on its own, it is usually a sign of other serious health problems. High blood pressure can also cause problems with other parts of the body, including the eyes, kidneys and heart. Cats are more likely to develop high

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Hyperthyroidism is a condition that causes a cat’s thyroid gland to produce too much thyroid hormone. This disease most often shows up in middle-aged and older cats. The thyroid gland is located in the neck. Thyroid hormones affect most organs in the body, so hyperthyroidism can lead to other problems

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The kidneys have two important roles in a cat’s body. First, they filter wastes and toxins from the blood, which then exit the body in the urine. The kidneys also help regulate the volume of fluids in the body and important hormones and other chemicals. Cats can develop several kinds of kidney issues,

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The liver is a very important organ. It is involved in digestion and removing harmful toxins from the blood. Cats can develop several conditions that affect how well their liver works. Cholangiohepatitis One of the most common causes of liver disease in cats is cholangiohepatitis. In this condition,

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Cats can suffer from several conditions of nose, sinuses and other parts of the upper respiratory tract. These include nasopharyngeal polyps—a type of non-cancerous growth—and inflammation of the membranes of the nasal passages and sinuses. Nasopharyngeal Polyps A nasopharyngeal polyp is a mass of

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Did you know that your cat’s brain is the size of a golf ball? Despite its small size, a cat’s brain is complex and is an integral part of how a feline’s neurological system functions. If a cat has a defect or injury associated with the brain and the other organs, muscles, tissues and nerves that

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Pneumonia is a condition in which the lungs and airways are inflamed, making it hard for your cat to breathe or get enough oxygen in his or her blood. A viral infection in your cat’s lower respiratory tract is the most common cause of pneumonia. However, a cat can catch pneumonia several different

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As with people, cats’ lungs allow them to breathe and transfer oxygen from the breath into the blood. Unfortunately, many things go wrong with their little lungs, making feline respiratory issues common. Here are a few things to look out for that could signal that your cat is suffering from a respiratory

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A small number of cats develop various skin conditions, sometimes more than one condition at the same time. Skin conditions can affect a cat’s appearance, as well as increase its risk of more serious skin infections. Causes of Skin Conditions Several factors can affect a cat’s skin, along with related

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In order to understand how vestibular problems exist, one must first look at the vestibular system, which consists of the parts of the inner ear (vestibular apparatus) and brain (medulla) that help regulate balance and eye movements. The vestibular apparatus involves a number of fluid-filled chambers,

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Cats can suffer from a variety of different skin disorders, including feline acne, allergic dermatitis, mites and ringworm. If your cat is frequently itching, scratching, licking his skin beyond normal grooming, or suffering unexplained hair loss, a skin condition may be the cause. The first step to

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A cat’s apricot-sized heart is susceptible to several problems. Some develop in young kittens while others may strike at any age. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Cardiomyopathy results from a structural abnormality of the tissue around one or more of the heart’s chambers. It disrupts the heart’s normal

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Diabetes mellitus is a common disease in which a cat’s body does not make enough insulin or has difficulty using it. This hormone is produced in the pancreas. Its job is to help move glucose from the bloodstream into the body’s cells to provide them with a source of energy. Many cats with diabetes

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