Hope Pets Clinic & Pet Store Islamabad

14/12/2025

09/12/2025

Feline Panleukopenia is a highly contagious and life-threatening viral disease caused by the feline parvovirus. It mainly affects kittens and unvaccinated cats. The virus attacks the immune system and intestinal lining, leading to severe illness.

Common signs include:
• High fever
• Severe vomiting
• Profuse diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
• Extreme weakness and dehydration
• Loss of appetite
• Sudden collapse

The virus spreads through direct contact, contaminated surfaces, food bowls, litter trays, and clothing. It can survive in the environment for months, making outbreaks difficult to control.

Treatment:
There is no specific antiviral cure. Treatment is supportive and includes IV fluids, antibiotics to prevent secondary infections, anti-vomiting medication, and intensive nursing care. Early hospitalization greatly improves survival.

Prevention:
Routine vaccination is the most effective protection. Isolation of infected cats and strict hygiene are essential.

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07/12/2025

Cats often show coughing or vomiting-like movements, and owners commonly confuse asthma with hairball vomiting. Understanding the difference is very important.

Feline Asthma:
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease where the airways become inflamed and narrowed. Affected cats may show dry coughing, wheezing, labored breathing, open-mouth breathing, or chest heaving. It can look like vomiting, but no hairball comes out. Asthma attacks can be life-threatening and need long-term medical management with inhalers or medication.

Hairball Vomiting:
Hairballs occur when cats ingest hair during grooming. Symptoms include retching followed by vomiting with a tubular hairball. Occasional hairballs are normal, but frequent vomiting may indicate digestive issues, excessive grooming, or underlying disease.

Key Difference:
Asthma = breathing problem
Hairball vomiting = digestive issue

If coughing or vomiting is frequent, always consult a veterinarian for proper diagnosis (X-ray, exams).

06/12/2025

A backbone (spinal) fracture is one of the most serious injuries in pets. It usually occurs due to road accidents, falls from height, or severe trauma. The spinal cord runs inside the backbone, and any fracture can damage it, leading to paralysis, loss of pain sensation, and inability to urinate or walk.

Common signs include:
• Sudden paralysis of hind or all four legs
• Severe pain or complete loss of pain response
• Inability to stand or move
• Loss of bladder and bowel control

Treatment depends on severity:
• Mild fractures may be managed with strict rest and medication
• Severe fractures with spinal cord damage often require complex surgery, long-term care, and physiotherapy

Euthanasia option:
In cases where there is complete spinal cord damage, no pain sensation, and no realistic chance of recovery, humane euthanasia may be the kindest option. This decision is made to prevent prolonged pain, suffering, and poor quality of life. It is done peacefully and ethically, with the pet feeling no pain or distress.

Every case should be evaluated carefully by a veterinarian, keeping the pet’s comfort, dignity, and quality of life as the top priority.

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02/12/2025

A femur comminuted fracture is a severe type of bone injury in which the femur (thigh bone) breaks into three or more fragments. This usually results from high-impact trauma such as road traffic accidents, falls from height, or strong blunt force injuries.

Because the femur is a major weight-bearing bone, this fracture causes severe pain, swelling, and inability to bear weight. These fractures are often unstable and cannot heal properly with casting or simple splinting alone.

Diagnosis:
• X-rays are essential to assess the number of fragments and alignment
• In complex cases, multiple X-ray views are required

Treatment:
• Surgical stabilization is usually required
• Options include bone plates, screws, intramedullary pins, or external fixation
• Pain management and strict rest are crucial

Post-operative care:
• Cage rest for 4–6 weeks
• Antibiotics and pain relief medications
• Regular follow-up X-rays
• Controlled physiotherapy after initial healing

Prognosis:
With proper surgical repair and aftercare, most pets recover good limb function. Delayed treatment can lead to malunion, non-union, or permanent lameness.

01/12/2025

Urinary blockage occurs when a cat is unable to pass urine due to an obstruction in the urethra. This condition is most common in male cats because their urethra is narrow, making blockages easier to develop.

Common causes:
• Urinary crystals or stones
• Mucus plugs
• Inflammation of the bladder (FLUTD)
• Urinary tract infection (less common in males)
• Stress-related bladder disease

Warning signs owners may notice:
• Frequent trips to the litter box
• Straining to urinate with little or no urine
• Crying or signs of pain while trying to urinate
• Blood in urine
• Licking the ge***al area
• Lethargy or hiding
• Vomiting and loss of appetite (advanced cases)

Why this condition is dangerous:
A blocked cat cannot eliminate toxins. Within 24–48 hours, this can lead to kidney failure, dangerous electrolyte imbalance, bladder rupture, and death if not treated immediately.

Treatment:
🚨 This is an absolute emergency.
• Urinary catheterization to relieve the blockage
• IV fluids to flush toxins
• Pain relief and anti-spasm medication
• Blood tests to monitor kidney values and potassium
• Hospitalization may be required

Prevention tips:
• Encourage water intake
• Feed a balanced urinary diet if recommended
• Reduce household stress
• Keep litter boxes clean and accessible
• Regular veterinary checkups

If your cat strains and produces little or no urine, seek veterinary help immediately — waiting can be fatal.

30/11/2025

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) in Cats – Cat Flu

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI), commonly called cat flu, is one of the most frequent illnesses seen in cats. It mainly affects the nose, eyes, throat, and sinuses and is especially common in kittens, unvaccinated cats, and stressed or crowded environments.

Common causes:
• Feline Herpes Virus (FHV-1)
• Feline Calicivirus
• Secondary bacterial infections

Typical symptoms include:
• Sneezing and nasal discharge
• Watery or sticky eye discharge
• Red, swollen eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Mouth ulcers (more common with calicivirus)
• Breathing through the mouth in severe cases

How it spreads:
URTI spreads through direct contact, shared food bowls, grooming, sneezed droplets, and contaminated surfaces. It spreads quickly in multi-cat homes, shelters, and boarding facilities.

Why early treatment matters:
If left untreated, URTI can lead to pneumonia, chronic eye issues, sinus infections, and long-term respiratory problems. Early veterinary care helps reduce complications and speeds up recovery.

Treatment approach:
• Antibiotics for secondary bacterial infection
• Eye and nasal medications
• Steam therapy to help breathing
• Immune support and hydration
• Soft, smelly food to encourage eating

Prevention:
• Regular vaccination
• Keeping sick cats isolated
• Reducing stress
• Maintaining good hygiene

Most cats recover well with proper care, but chronic or recurring cases need close veterinary supervision.

29/11/2025

The Schirmer Tear Test (STT) is a simple and important diagnostic eye test used in dogs to measure tear production. It helps diagnose dry eye disease, also known as Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS).

Why this test is needed:
Tears are essential to keep the eye moist, protect the surface, and prevent infections. When tear production is low, the eye becomes dry, painful, and prone to ulcers.

When is Schirmer test recommended?
• Red or dry eyes
• Thick or sticky eye discharge
• Excessive blinking or squinting
• Frequent eye infections
• Corneal ulcers
• Dull or cloudy eyes

How the test is done:
• A special sterile paper strip is gently placed inside the lower eyelid
• The strip stays in place for 60 seconds
• Moisture on the strip is measured in millimeters

Normal values:
• 15–25 mm/min → Normal tear production
• 10–14 mm/min → Borderline / mild dry eye
• Below 10 mm/min → Dry eye (KCS)

Is it painful?
The test is quick, safe, and minimally uncomfortable, and no anesthesia is required.

Why early testing matters:
Untreated dry eye can lead to chronic pain, corneal damage, vision loss, and permanent eye problems. Early diagnosis allows effective long-term treatment with eye drops and lubricants.

28/11/2025

Iris melanoma is a serious, progressive eye condition that starts as dark pigmented spots on the iris and can slowly spread deep into the eye. Early signs may look harmless, but timely evaluation is crucial—delays can lead to glaucoma, pain, and even loss of the eye.

27/11/2025

Maggots in a Cat’s Mouth – A Severe and Painful Emergency

Maggots in a cat’s mouth, medically known as oral myiasis, is a serious and extremely painful condition. It occurs when flies lay eggs on open wounds, infected gums, or food-soiled areas inside or around the mouth. These eggs hatch into maggots that begin feeding on living tissue.

Common causes:
• Severe dental disease
• Mouth wounds or ulcers
• Gum infections
• Trauma to the face or mouth
• Poor hygiene or neglected illness
• Weak or immunocompromised cats

Signs pet owners may notice:
• Foul, rotting smell from the mouth
• Visible white worms (maggots)
• Excessive drooling
• Swollen face or gums
• Difficulty eating or refusal to eat
• Bleeding from the mouth
• Extreme pain and weakness

Why this condition is dangerous:
Maggots destroy healthy tissue very quickly and can spread deep into the mouth, jaw, and sinuses. If left untreated, it can lead to severe infection, septicemia, and death.

Treatment:
🚨 This is an absolute emergency.
Treatment includes:
• Manual removal of maggots under sedation
• Thorough wound cleaning and flushing
• Antibiotics and pain control
• Supportive therapy (fluids, nutrition)
• Treating the underlying cause (dental disease, wounds)

Prevention:
• Maintain good oral hygiene
• Treat wounds immediately
• Keep weak or sick cats clean and indoors
• Routine veterinary checkups

Early treatment can save the cat’s life and greatly reduce suffering.

25/11/2025

Permethrin Toxicity in Cats – A Deadly Mistake

Permethrin toxicity is one of the most common and dangerous poisonings in cats. Permethrin is a chemical found in many dog flea sprays, spot-on treatments, mosquito repellents, and household insect killers — but cats cannot metabolize it safely. Even a small amount can be life-threatening.

Common sources of permethrin:
• Dog flea & tick spot-on products
• Anti-lice shampoos
• Mosquito repellents
• Insect killer sprays
• Bed bug or cockroach sprays
• Treated dog fur (when cats groom them)

How cats get exposed:
• Owner mistakenly applies a dog-only flea product on a cat
• Cat grooms a dog who recently had permethrin treatment
• Cat walks or sleeps on sprayed surfaces
• Inhalation of aerosol sprays

Symptoms of permethrin toxicity:
• Tremors and shaking
• Severe muscle twitching
• Drooling
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Difficulty breathing
• High body temperature
• Sensitivity to touch or sound
• Collapse (in severe cases)

Why it’s deadly:
Cats lack the liver enzymes needed to break down permethrin. The toxin rapidly affects the nervous system and can become fatal without immediate treatment.

What to do immediately:
🚨 This is a medical emergency.
• Rush to a veterinarian right away
• Do NOT wait for symptoms to improve
• Wash the affected area with mild dish soap if exposure was topical (only if advised by a vet)
• Provide warmth and keep the cat calm

Treatment:
• IV fluids
• Muscle relaxants
• Anti-seizure medication
• Temperature control
• Activated charcoal (if ingested)
• Intensive supportive care

Prevention:
• Never use dog-only products on cats
• Separate cats and dogs after applying flea treatments
• Avoid household insect sprays around pets
• Always check labels for “NOT SAFE FOR CATS”