Supports lean muscle and beautiful coat for adult dogs
Supports lean muscle, for dogs who prefer smaller kibble
Supports healthy joints, lean muscle, and beautiful coat for large breed dogs
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
Grain free, easy-to-digest food that is gentle on the stomach. Nourishes skin & promotes lustrous fur.
Learn why nutrients like antioxidants & amino acids can help improve your pet's immune system, as well as top antioxidants to look for in pet food.
Learn what a pet's microbiome is, how it contributes to your pet's gut & overall health, and why nutrition is important in maintaining healthy microbiomes.
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Your cat may not look sick — but is she? Feline bartonella is a flea- and tick-borne illness that cats can pick up from grooming or staying at a shelter or boarder. Cats often show no symptoms in the early stages of the illness, so it's important to ask your veterinarian for a test. If your cat is strictly an indoor cat, her chances of developing bartonella or "cat scratch fever" (as it is often nicknamed) are low, but you should still be aware of the risks.
Is cat scratch fever real? Yes, but it's only a nickname for one variety of bartonella, a condition caused by a bacterium found in flea and tick feces. Up to 20 percent of cats with no risk factors still have the disease, according to the National Veterinary Laboratory. If you live in a hot, humid climate, your pet is more at risk. Cats contract bartonella primarily when flea feces are present on their fur or skin and they lick up the debris and bacteria while grooming.
The bacteria can also be transmitted through ticks. It's easy to bring these tiny bloodsuckers into your house if you live near a wooded area or have a dog that loves barging through bushes and tall grass. If humans or other animals unknowingly bring ticks in the house, even an indoor cat could be at risk for bartonella. Pet parents should be checking their pets for signs of fleas, flea bites, and ticks on a regular basis. Even with constant checks, you may not find tiny fleas, so also watch for excessive scratching or red marks. Since many cats that get this disease will show no symptoms for weeks or even months, it's important to ask your vet for a blood test to find out if your pet needs to be treated if you find fleas or ticks in your home.
If your cat has recently been boarded or outside the home, it may be a good idea to have your vet perform the blood test as a precaution, even if your cat seems perfectly healthy. Many vets recommend the blood test as part of adopting a stray or a new kitty from a shelter.
Cats can carry the bacteria in their systems for months without any symptoms, so if your pet starts to show signs of swollen glands, lethargy, or sore muscles, you definitely want to get her to the vet. Most cats are treated with a round of antibiotics, go back for a follow-up test a few months later, and exhibit no further problems. Fortunately, bartonella is not a deadly disease, but it is still one that pet parents should be aware of and know how to prevent.
The name of feline bartonella may lead you to believe that only cats can get it, but the rest of the family is also vulnerable. Unfortunately, bartonella is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from cats to humans by scratching, biting or petting. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that immunocompromised people, such as young children or the elderly, avoid playing with young cats, because these humans are more likely to contract the disease. However, all cats can carry feline bartonella, so if someone who lives in your home has a sensitive immune system, they should be cautious around possibly infected cats. Dogs don't groom themselves like cats do and are at less of a risk, but they can still contract this illness from their furry sibling or pick up diseased ticks independently.
If anyone in your home is scratched or bitten by a cat, make sure they wash the area immediately and keep it clean. The name "cat scratch fever" or "cat scratch disease" can help you remember that the disease can be transferred from any broken skin. If a scratch turns red and swollen, seek medical attention.
This disease can still be transmitted without a bite or scratch. If you or someone in your house has any of these symptoms, they should talk to their physician and consider being tested for feline bartonella or any other strand of bartonella that may be common to your area:
You don't have to have all these symptoms to consider being tested for a tick-borne illness. If your test does return a positive result, the good news is that this disease is not typically dangerous to humans, but it may require antibiotic treatment.
One other thing to remember is that if your cat has tested positive for feline bartonella (and doesn't bite or scratch you), it's important to wash your hands and be cautious about petting your cat until they are completely CSD-free!
If your cat tests positive for feline bartonella and has to go on antibiotics, you may find that administering medication and dealing with a cranky kitty can be a bit overwhelming. Here are some tips to help the treatment process go as smoothly as possible:
Feline bartonella may cause some trouble for you and your pet, but it is a disease that can be quickly identified with a blood test, and most treatments only take about two to three weeks. If someone asks you "Is cat scratch fever real?" you now know what to tell them now.
One of our staff authors prepared this article for you
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
Natural fiber comfortably reduces hairballs
Grain free, easy-to-digest food that is gentle on the stomach. Nourishes skin & promotes lustrous fur.
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Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.