Could cat fat be a bigger worry?

QMy 18-year-old cat has developed a swollen abdomen. I am not sure if he is just fat or if it’s something more serious. I don’t want to put him through the stress of a vet visit if it’s nothing to worry about.

A

It could just be an accumulation of fat in the abdomen. If this is so, he will look overweight elsewhere, particularly between the legs, which often wobble as the cat walks. He would also be well in himself, eating well, not losing weight anywhere else, and urinating normally.

I recommend a trip to the vet because an accurate diagnosis is very important so you can decide on a treatment plan.

A physical examination by your vet is the first important step, as it should suggest some likely diagnoses and any further investigations that might be required. If your cat is overweight all that will be required is a diet.

From a disease point of view, an enlargement of one of the abdominal organs – commonly, for example, the liver – can cause abdominal swelling, as well as some abdominal tumours.

The other main cause of swelling is fluid in the abdomen, and there are a number of possible reasons for this.

Your vet would want to identify the nature of any fluid by sampling it which is a straightforward procedure.

To diagnose possible causes, blood samples and urine analysis are necessary, and ideally an abdominal ultrasound examination.

Knowing what you’re dealing with is far better than being unsure and the resulting worry that this causes.

Q

My vet has been qualified for a few years but she is yet to see a case of canine distemper or feline panleukopenia.

ABoth of these diseases are routinely included in vaccines and I wonder if they are needed any more? If ever we needed reminding, vaccines are incredibly effective in controlling disease outbreaks.

I am old enough to have seen epidemics of feline panleukopenia and canine distemper in my early career.

The highly contagious virus canine distemper was subsequently brought under control by a massive vaccination campaign. All dog rescue services joined in, having previously advised vaccination after rehoming. Vaccinating dogs before rehoming made a huge difference.

I also saw what happens if the number of vaccinated animals drops below herd immunity levels. There was a major outbreak in the 70s of feline panleukopenia, an incredibly infectious disease that’s almost 100 per cent lethal. I remember long queues of anxious owners getting their cats a booster. A new virus (parvovirus) caused havoc around then too, racing through UK dogs that had never encountered the virus before.

Affected dogs often required intensive intravenous treatment and in spite of this, many died. Vaccination has greatly reduced this risk.

Vaccines against canine distemper and feline panleukopenia are important core vaccines. Although your vet has not seen cases, that could quickly change if vaccine numbers drop. Isolated distemper cases have been reported in the UK recently, and illegal importation of puppies is another risk. Vaccination is still very important for our pets.

● David Grant MBE was a vet at the RSPCA Harmsworth Animal Hospital. Email questions to him at pamperedpets@people.co.uk