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Cats + Treatment

  • Laser surgery is a procedure in which a beam of light energy is generated at a specific wavelength, resulting in the cutting of tissues. Laser surgery has major advantages when compared to traditional surgery, including decreased pain, decreased inflammation, and improved tissue healing.

  • Silymarin is an over-the-counter nutritional supplement that is used off-label and is given by mouth to treat liver and cancer conditions. Give as directed. Side effects are uncommon but may include vomiting or diarrhea. Do not use it in pets that are allergic to it. If a negative reaction occurs, please call the veterinary office.

  • Mothballs are solid pesticides that slowly release a vapor to kill and repel moths, their larvae, and other insects from stored clothing and fabric. Mothballs are sometimes also used to repel snakes, mice, and other animals, although this use is not recommended and can be harmful to pets, children, and the environment.

  • Many cats instinctively hide their pain, as a survival mechanism; however, cats have a nervous system that is very similar to that in humans. This handout outlines how to know if your cat is in pain and how you can help.

  • When your cat comes home after an operation, you must take special care to ensure she remains indoors with restricted activity and cannot lick or chew at the incision site. Monitor your cat for abnormal signs and contact your veterinarian if you see any.

  • Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is the use of a generated electromagnetic field to affect changes in tissues of the body. PEMF is believed to have beneficial pain-relieving and healing effects but definitive clinical evidence or a positive benefit is currently lacking. Potential benefits and contraindications are discussed.

  • Radiation is a type of energy produced naturally by the sun, earth, and rocks and artificially by machines. Although several types of tumors can be treated with radiation therapy alone (e.g., nasal tumors, brain tumors, and certain types of lymphoma), radiation therapy is most commonly used to destroy or limit the growth of cancer cells left behind (i.e., microscopic disease) after a tumor has been surgically removed. Side effects depend on the type and location of the tumor and its surrounding tissues.

  • This handout provides a brief overview of the most common evidence-based modalities used in veterinary medicine. Pet owners need to discuss the risk of recommended modalities for their specific pet with a trained and certified rehabilitation therapist before starting a rehabilitation program.

  • Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can renew themselves though cell division. Under certain conditions, they can become a specific tissue or organ cell. Stem cell therapy is the process of placing stem cells from the body into diseased or damaged tissues. This process is often referred to as regenerative medicine.

  • This handout discusses the use of corticosteroid (such as prednisone or dexamethasone) in the cat. Reasons for their use as well as the common short-term and long-term side effects of these drugs are outlined, along with strategies to avoid these effects.