Cat Immune System Diseases

The immune system in cats with autoimmune disorders produces antibodies against the cat s own tissues autoantibodies which leads to their destruction.

Cat immune system diseases.

In rare cases cats are born with a weak immune system but more often they acquire problems at an older age. A weak immune system in cats as well as other species is caused by a deficiency in a type of white blood cell called phagocytes. The immune system in a cat s body has a committed task. You might also find that your cat is thirsty all the time.

These phagocyte cells are an essential part of the immune system as they engulf foreign invaders contaminating the blood a process known in the veterinary world as phagocytosis. Cats who are infected with feline immunodeficiency virus fiv may not show symptoms until years after the initial infection occurred. Autoimmune disease in cats is one where antibodies or white blood cells are created and work against the body. Basically the cat s immune system attacks itself.

A disease is immune mediated when your cat s immune system responds in a unregulated way for example mistakenly identifies harmless materials as foreign invaders. Pemphigus genetic predisposition exposure to sunlight certain drugs such as cimetidine and ampicillin and a history of chronic inflammatory disease are all possible causes. The symptoms depend on which organs the disorder affects. Young kittens and cats less than one year of age are most susceptible to the virus.

Felv weakens an animal s immune system and predisposes cats to a variety of infections and diseases including anemia kidney disease and lymphosarcoma a highly malignant and fatal cancer of the lymph system. On recognition of a foreign invasion the system releases antibodies which chemically bind. The damage done and resulting symptoms depend on which tissue is targeted. General signs of ill health such as fever fatigue muscle weakness diarrhea and vomiting can occur.

This happens as a result of an imbalanced immune system. For example if red blood cells are attacked the cat becomes weak due to anemia from lack of blood cells. Although the virus is slow acting a cat s immune system is severely weakened once the disease takes hold. Autoimmune diseases are the result of an immune system that has become hyper defensive.

About autoimmune disease in cats. Type iii immune disorders commonly cause inflammation in vital organs your cat s kidneys brain lungs or skin. It is a complex interconnected system of white blood cells antibodies and other substances that are released to combat infections and eliminate foreign proteins. Systemic autoimmune disease sad also known as systemic lupus erythematosus sle affects the cat rsquo s immune system such that it attacks its own cells.

And who is in control of our kitties immune system health.