When is a second opinion warranted and how does a client go about getting one? Who should be seen for a second opinion? These are all important questions and the answers to them depend on each individual case.
Just like their human counterparts, veterinary emergency clinics typically charge higher fees than “day” practices. Never compromise your cat’s care by foregoing a trip to the emergency hospital for a life-threatening situation, but realize that payment will need to be made, either through a credit service (like Care Credit, where a client’s good credit history is mandatory) or credit card, cash or checks when the animal is released or as a deposit if you cat is hospitalized (the bill will need to be paid in fill on the release or death of the kitty). If times are truly tough, have a heart-to-heart with family and friends and see if they will be able to loan you the money necessary for veterinary care.
It’s often easy to think about what we do for our cats because we love them. However, stories such as this one show us that the human-cat bond often goes both ways, with the kitties sometimes providing the necessary nudge for many to get up each day and engage fully with life’s challenges.
Today, I’d like to honor the memory of Dusty, by telling you the story of this 14-year-old grey and white kitty and best buddy of my friend, Nancy, who left her sight – but not her heart -- yesterday. He fought the good fight against pancreatitis and intestinal disease for years and passed away in her arms at a local specialty hospital.
Not all dental care for cats is the same. Choose to have your kitty’s dental work done professionally under anesthesia and know what questions to ask of the practice before you sign the authorization for your kitty’s COHAT or other surgery.
Remember that you play an important role in your kitty’s health care. Ask questions (politely, please) if you are unfamiliar with a medication that is being prescribed for your cat, having problems administering certain types of formulations or just want to know why a particular drug is being used.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common finding in our older cats and chances are that if your kitty lives a reasonably long life, you will need to manage kidney disease in him or her at some point. It is important to know that “kidney disease” is not the same thing as “kidney failure” and that most cats with kidney disease can live normal, happy and healthy lives with appropriate care. What I hope to do in this column is provide you with the information you need to recognize the earliest signs of kidney disease in cats (when the disease is easiest to manage) so that you can become an advocate for your kitty. We will also discuss a range of treatments.
Cats and humans have quite a bit in common regarding diabetes: In both species, the incidence of the disease has sky-rocketed.
Years ago, the wisdom was that diabetic cats “didn’t do well” and many cats did indeed have shortened lives of poor quality. Today, however, with a new understanding regarding the importance of diet, insulin selection and the proper use of at-home management, most diabetic cats not only do well, but many even achieve remission and are no longer diabetic.
To many cat guardians, cats are independent creatures who only need food, water and affection. It’s not uncommon for cats to never set a paw into a veterinary hospital after they have been spayed or neutered and received their first vaccines as kittens. Years pass and one day the kitty needs to be seen by a veterinarian. Most times, that exam finds a number of problems that could have been addressed simply (and inexpensively) years earlier.
Unlike dogs, who are typically brought to the veterinarian at least annually for heartworm testing and some vaccines, many cats don’t receive the same type of care. However, the annual exam for cats is really the cornerstone of a sound, preventative health program and can add years to your cat’s life and improve his or her well-being.
This month, Feline Pine will sponsor the first National “Take Your Cat To The Vet Day,” on August 22nd, with the goal of getting the word out that our cats need to be seen by a veterinarian at least once a year. The annual event is part of Feline Pine’s overall commitment to cat health.
Maybe one of your older cats has seemed to have a “new lease of life.” He or she may be more active – even acting like a kitten – eating well, “chattier” than normal and perhaps losing some of that extra weight. Chances are that your kitty hasn’t found the feline “Fountain of Youth.” You may be living with a cat who has hyperthyroidism, the most common endocrine (glandular) disease of cats over seven years of age in the United States. The thyroid gland is shaped like a bow tie and lies on the trachea (windpipe). Thyroid hormone (thyroxine) helps to regulate many bodily functions, including, the metabolic rate, fat metabolism, the excitability of the heart, gastrointestinal tract motility and muscle function. When thyroxine is in excess, several things can occur: Fat stores decline (and the patient becomes thin), the heart rate increases, the appetite increases and the motility of the gastrointestinal tract speeds up. Without treatment, the typical hyperthyroid cat is a very active, thin kitty with an excellent appetite, a very fast heart rate and often diarrhea or vomiting. Many cat guardians mistakenly think that cats with these signs aren’t ill (in fact, many are thrilled that their once-sedate older friend is now acting like a youngster) and don’t take them to the veterinarian for an examination and labwork. That’s a mistake, as uncontrolled hyperthyroidism can have serious consequences, including high blood pressure, stroke and heart failure.
Many of us make resolutions for the New Year hoping to become healthier and happier.
For those of us who are “owned by cats,” the New Year also may be the right time to assess your cat’s lifestyle and make 2009 his or her best year yet. As with any lifestyle change, slow and steady progress is the goal. Making even a few healthier changes may result in significant, positive impacts on your kitty’s overall wellness. I recommend taking the following to heart in order to make sure that the New Year is purr-fect for your feline friend:
Summertime finds many cat companions suffering from various allergies but our cats can also have allergies to many substances, including foods, pollens, molds and fleas.
Clinical signs of allergies in cats can be different than those in other species (including dogs and humans), so it’s important to learn to recognize these symptoms in order to keep your kitty comfortable year-round.
It is important to note that allergies develop over time. Typically it’s repeated exposure to a substance that triggers an allergic response from the immune system. We’ll talk about allergy testing and treatments a bit later in this column.
In the last VetChat, we learned briefly about heartworms and heartworm disease. In this column, we’ll spend more time on this parasite that is increasingly coming to the attention of veterinarians and cat guardians. In fact, concern regarding heartworm disease and the life-threatening diseases that it can cause is becoming so significant that the American Association of Feline Practitioners has joined in a “Know Heartworms” campaign. Heartworm disease often kills young cats in the prime of their lives.
While most cat guardians know that parasites such as fleas, ticks and heartworms are hazards for cats with outdoors lifestyles, it’s also possible for indoors-only cats to suffer from some of these pests. Familiarizing yourself with the life cycles of these parasites, the clinical signs that an affected cat may have, preventive measures and safe and effective treatments will help you keep your kitties healthy and happy.
Feline asthmatic bronchitis is caused by inflammation of the small airways of the lungs. Environmental pollution (including cigarette smoking, candle and incense burning), pollens, molds and grasses all can trigger asthma in a susceptible cat. Some cats have problems with asthma during the Winter, in climates where forced-air heating is used. Others begin to cough in the Spring, when the windows are opened. Still others are affected year-round.
Coughing is typically the foremost clinical sign of asthma in cats. Unlike dogs and humans, cats rarely cough from heart disease. The astute human guardian may detect wheezing from their asthmatic cat and these kitties tend to have a pronounced breath on expiration. They may be lethargic and either stop eating or drastically reduce their food intake.
Walk the cat food aisle of any grocery or pet superstore and there are literally hundreds of options for feeding cats.
Do we feed a dry kibble that is shaped like fish? Canned foods in a variety of flavors? What about new “holistic” diets that contain medicinal herbs and other nutraceuticals? Can you cook a balanced diet for your cat? What about raw diets?
With all the choices and few answers, it’s easy to see how the concerned guardian can be confused regarding proper nutritional choices for their cats.
There’s no doubt that an indoors-only lifestyle is the safest one for our companion cats. Automobiles, wild animals, malicious humans and infectious diseases are just a few of the dangers that outdoor cats dodge on a daily basis. And, those same outdoor cats cause the deaths of hundreds of thousands of songbirds and baby animals annually as they do “what comes naturally.”
Responsible cat guardians know that for the safety of the cat and the environment, indoors is where it’s at. However, throughout thousands of years, our domestic cats have developed keen visual hunting skills, rich social relationships and basic feline needs. Placing our cats in even the most luxurious condo or home can be detrimental to their health if we don’t take it upon ourselves to make their environment enriching and cat-friendly. The following tips will help keep your kitty happy, healthy and stress-free:
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