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Outdoor Cats at Greater Risk of Parasititc Infections

News
04/24/19 By
Merck Veterinary Manual

A recently published meta-analysis of parasitic infections in cats found that world-wide, cats that spend at least some time outside are more likely to be infected by parasites than cats that remain indoors. This often leads to transmission of parasites to owners, other domestic animals, and wildlife. Cats spending time outdoors were 2.77 times more likely to carry parasites.

More information on the study of parasites in indoor and outdoor cats is available from the New York Times. The original study can be read in Biology Letters.

Read more about parasitic infections in cats in the Merck Veterinary Manual.

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A 7-year-old gelding undergoes sedation for a standing surgery to clean and close a wound on the left forelimb. He is returned to his stall afterward, and several hours later he is observed to have nasal discharge containing feed material. He is also drooling, grinding his teeth, and intermittently coughing or retching. Which of the following conditions is most likely causing these clinical signs?