Today at Big Cat Rescue May 29 2013

Rambo went to the vet yesterday.  He has been disinterested in food, reported as having a hard time sitting down, and also looked and acted as if he did not feel well.  His teeth looked good, other than some plaque.  He has mild deterioration in his eyes due to age. His xrays showed that he has spondylosis in his back, some areas moderate, other areas more severe. He also has kidney disease, which may be the culprit for his urinary tract infection.  His urine was sent away for additional testing. He was given a long acting antibiotic shot and will be kept in the Cat Hospital for a few days to receive fluids and will go back outside once he is eating better.Spondylosis is a term referring to degenerative osteoarthritis of the joints between the centre of the spinal vertebrae and/or neural foraminae. If this condition occurs in the zygapophysial joints, it can be considered facet syndrome. If severe, it may cause pressure on nerve roots with subsequent sensory and/or motor disturbances, such as pain, paresthesia, or muscle weakness in the limbs.

Chronic Renal Failure, sometimes referred to as kidney disease, is one of the most common conditions affecting older cats. In most cases, chronic renal failure is progressive over time so that there is a gradual advancement and worsening of the disease. The rate of progression of the disease varies considerably between individuals. There is no cure for kidney disease, only management, which would include giving fluids on a daily basis.  This sort of management is not possible in these wild cats as it would require netting them and restraining them daily to receive fluids.  With most of our cats that are over the age of 15 we have started providing multiple water bowl sites so getting a drink is more convenient for these older cats.