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March 9, 2010

Permethrin Is Toxic to Cats

Filed under: General — catdocto @ 10:21 am

Permethrin/Pyrethrin Toxicity in Cats

The return of warm spring weather is welcome after the cold of winter.  Unfortunately, people and animals are not the only ones who feel revived and invigorated by the changing seasons.  Soon, insects like fleas, ticks and mosquitoes will be out to pester us again!

It is important to protect outdoor animals against insect pests, and in some cases it is a good idea to protect indoor cats against heartworm disease, or against fleas if you have a dog that goes outside.  Please don’t hesitate to contact the office if you would like a suggestion about an appropriate product for your cat.

The point of this blog entry, however, is not what product you should be using, but what you should avoid.  A recent editorial and article in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery highlighted the dangers of using inappropriate flea control products on cats.

For many years, the most effective and widely available products against fleas contained chemicals called pyrethrins, which are derived from chrysanthemums, and their synthetic relatives, called permethrins.  Many over-the-counter flea control products still contain these chemicals.  Although they can be relatively safe and effective when used properly, some cats are extra-sensitive to these chemicals and can get sick even when they are given a “normal” dose.  More cats are in danger if they are exposed to high concentrations of these chemicals.  This most frequently happens when an owner purchases a dog product and puts it on a cat, even if only a small portion of the dose is applies.  This can happen accidentally, when an owner doesn’t realize they have bought a dog flea product, or can happen when an owner is trying to save money by splitting a dog dose between several cats.

Symptoms of permethrin toxicity include drooling, vomiting or diarrhea, and tremors.  Tremors can progress to full-blown seizures and this is the symptom that can rapidly become fatal if not promptly treated.

It is also worrisome that cat poisoning can even occur when an owner puts a dog product on the family dog and the cat snuggles up to or grooms the dog.

The best way to avoid toxicity is to purchase cat flea and tick preventatives directly from the veterinarian so that you know you are getting the correct, permethrin-free product.  If you must purchase a product in the petstore or grocery store, we strongly recommend buying Frontline, which does not contain permethrins.  It is more expensive than other over-the-counter products, but the lower risk of toxicity is well worth the money.  Read labels carefully to make sure you are not buying a dog product by mistake.  Finally, if you put a flea control product on your dog, keep the dog and cats separated for about 24 hours to make sure the cat is not exposed to medication on the dog.

If you realize that you have applied the incorrect product to your cat, immediate bathing in lukewarm water and dishwashing hand liquid will remove most of the product and will minimize the amount of drug absorbed through the skin.  If your cat has licked the product off of itself or another animal, bathing will not be of benefit and your should call your veterinarian immediately.

Remember, it’s not worth saving a few bucks on a cheaper flea product at the risk of your cat’s life or an expensive emergency visit!  Please call the office if you would like a recommendation for a safe, effective parasite preventative.  Also, please remember that so-called “natural” flea repellents may sound attractive, but are not effective and can contain ingredients like citrus oils that are also poisonous to cats.


February 11, 2010

Euthanasia…………When is it the right time?

Filed under: General, behavior, medical, office — catdocto @ 2:15 pm

Since our feline friends all have a shorter lifespans than us, sooner or later you will need to make decisions for your cat that we all find difficult.  Our cats spend their lives enriching ours so we should be prepared to make decisions that relieve any pain or suffering that may occur at the end of life.  But when is it the “right time” to make that decision?  THERE ARE NO SIMPLE  ANSWERS!

Let’s start by explaining how we go about performing this procedure in what we believe is the most humane way we can.  Once we have all arrived at the decision that it is time to end one of our friend’s suffering, we first administer a combination of drugs that are sedatives, painkillers, and an anesthetic.  This is done via an intramuscular injection.  Depending on how sick a patient may be, it can take anywhere from 1-7 minutes for your cat to fall “asleep”, or be anesthetized by the drugs and not feel any pain or be aware of the rest of the procedures.  We then shave a small area on either a front or back leg and administer an intravenous injection of an overdose of pentobarbital and an anti seizure drug.  This will cause the heart to stop beating and end any brain function almost instantly.  Your cat will not know or feel any of this final step.  At that time you will need to decide what to do with your kitty’s remains.  Many of our clients have them cremated and the ashes returned.  You can take the remains home and bury your kitty in your yard if you prefer.

So now, when is it the proper time to make this decision?  Cats with severe injuries are a little easier to make make the decision.  If there is no hope of a functional life following an injury then the decision should be made immediately.  However with chronic disease such as kidney failure, cancer, or just old age, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact proper time.

I would like to offer some of the things that we consider when we are making recommendations to cat owners.  First, are the basics of being a cat still in place?  That is, is your cat eating enough to sustain life?  Is there chronic nausea or vomiting, or is there chronic diarrhea that we cannot control with medication?  Is your cat drinking to maintain hydration?  Being dehydrated is unpleasant or even painful in all species, so this must be easily controlled or it is time.  Is your cat using the litter box?  If we have made the litter area “handicapped accessible”, and your cat still cannot make it to the box, then it is time.

Finally, and I think most important, is your cat enjoying its life still?  That is, if your cat always greeted you when you came home, is it still doing that?  Is it still coming to you at dinner time and asking for food?  Does it play with its toys?  Does it enjoy sitting in your lap and being petted and /or groomed?  If it does not interact with you on its own, or if it is hiding all the time, not coming out for food, does not enjoy being touched or petted, or could care less if you are present or not, then it is time.

Often, cat owners will make an appointment to end their kitties’ life and just before, the kitty seems to rally some.  This always make the decision tougher, but if there are more “bad” days than “good” days, then I usually suggest we call it quits because there will probably be many more “bad” days to come.

The decision is always a painful one for all cat owners, but remember that we are more concerned about your cat’s pain than yours.  We will always make our recommendations based on your cat’s quality of life and the expectations for improvement or not.  Remember that each patient has a unique situation of disease and personal strength, so we try to treat each patient with care and compassion.  What would we want if this was me?  Would I want to continue to live like this?  These are the things that we consider and ask you to consider.

January 19, 2010

Temple to the Cat Goddess

Filed under: General, office — catdocto @ 2:21 pm

Egypt announces find of ancient cat goddess temple

This undated photo released Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, by Egypt's supreme councilAP – This undated photo released Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, by Egypt’s supreme council of antiquities

CAIRO – Archaeologists have unearthed a 2,000-year-old temple that may have been dedicated to the ancient Egyptian cat goddess, Bastet, the Supreme Council of Antiquities said Tuesday.

The ruins of the Ptolemaic-era temple were discovered by Egyptian archaeologists in the heart of the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great in the 4th century B.C.

The city was the seat of the Greek-speaking Ptolemaic Dynasty, which ruled over Egypt for 300 years until the suicide of Queen Cleopatra.

The statement said the temple was thought to belong to Queen Berenice, wife of King Ptolemy III who ruled Egypt in the 3rd centuryB.C.

Mohammed Abdel-Maqsood, the Egyptian archaeologist who led the excavation team, said the discovery may be the first trace of the long-sought location of Alexandria’s royal quarter.

The large number of statues depicting Bastet found in the ruins, he said, suggested that this may be the first Ptolemaic-era temple dedicated to the cat goddess to be discovered in Alexandria.

This would indicate that the worship of the ancient Egyptian cat-goddess continued during the later, Greek-influenced, Ptolemaic period, he said.

December 30, 2009

Geriatric Cat Guidelines

Filed under: General, medical, office — catdocto @ 11:42 am

Geriatric Cat Guidelines.

The American Association  of Feline Practitioners have recently released a new set of guidelines for care of the geriatric cat.  Over the next few weeks, we will follow their lead with several blogs about your older cat.

The most common disease of the older cat is Chronic Kidney Disease.  This disease is multifactorial in it’s causes, but it essentially is a progressive decreased ability of the kidney to get rid of waste products from the blood stream.  Signs of this disease are non-specific but include:

Mild changes in behavior

Change in drinking frequency or location

Excessive thirst

Larger Volumes of urine

Small, dry bowel movements

Decreased appetite

Decrease in muscle mass

Nausea

Poor hair coat

The earlier it is diagnosed, the more likely we can slow down the progression of this disease. Simple blood and urine tests aid in diagnosing this disease, and should be considered in all older cats.  Some cats that have kidney disease also suffer from hypertension.  Any older cat with any of the above signs should be examined and a determination made if testing is warranted.

Older cats should visit their veterinarian at least every 6 months.  In the life of a senior cat, six months is about the same as two years for a human. Certainly long enough for significant health changes to occur.

December 2, 2009

H1N1 Update

Filed under: General, medical, office — catdocto @ 1:00 pm

H1N1 update: Chinese dogs, Va. turkeys and Calif. cheetah

The USDA has confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza virus in a turkey breeder flock in Virginia.  This is the first detection of the virus H1N1 in U.S. turkeys.  Canada and Chile have already had cases in domestic turkeys.   A worker at the Virginia farm had been sent home with flu-like symptoms, and has been identified as the possible source of infection.
Also on the USDA’s updated list is a cheetah in California that has tested presumptive positive for 2009 H1N1.  We are currently communicating with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV) to obtain more information and develop resources for veterinarians and the public.
On November 28, Xinhua (Chinese press) reported that two (2) dogs in Beijing tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 virus.  We have not been able to confirm this report. We have contacted sources in China, requesting additional information about the history, signalment, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of these cases, but have not yet received the information.
At this time, the messages to clients remain largely the same:
  • This is not cause for panic, but underscores the importance of taking pets to a veterinarian if they are showing signs of illness.  This is especially important if someone in the household has recently been ill with flu-like symptoms.
  • Ferret and cat owners should remain vigilant.
  • There is no evidence to suggest that pets have or will spread the virus to humans or other animals.  To date, all of the sick pets became ill after a person in the household was ill with flu-like symptoms.
  • There have not been any confirmed cases of U.S. dogs infected with the virus, but because of the Chinese reports we know it may be possible for dogs to become infected.
  • Proper hygiene and sanitation measures should be followed to limit the spread of the influenza virus.
  • Turkey and pork are still safe to eat.  Nonetheless, proper food hygiene and preparation are very important when it comes to protecting your family from any foodborne illness.
  • It is safe to visit zoos.

November 5, 2009

H1N1 in Cats

Filed under: General, medical, office — catdocto @ 8:47 am

2009 H1N1 influenza virus confirmed in Iowa cat

November 4, 2009 – A 13-year old cat in Iowa developed signs of a respiratory infection after several people in the household were ill.  Preliminary testing was positive for 2009 H1N1 on October 29, and the results were confirmed on November 2.  This is the first report of a cat infected with H1N1.  The cat has recovered from its illness.

To date, this is the first cat confirmed infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus.  Two ferrets, one in Oregon and one in Nebraska, have also recently been confirmed infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus.  The Nebraska ferret died, but the Oregon ferret has recovered.  To date, there is no evidence that the ferrets or the cat passed the virus to people.

The American Veterinary Medical Association and American Association of Feline Practitioners are reminding pet owners that many viruses can pass between people and animals, so this was not an altogether unexpected event. We are advising pet owners to monitor their pets’ health very closely, no matter what type of animal, and visit a veterinarian if there are any signs of illness.

For more information, view the AVMA’s press release on the Iowa case or visit the AVMA’s H1N1 resources Web page.

September 22, 2009

SIMPLE STEPS TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY FELINE

Filed under: General, medical, nutrition, office — catdocto @ 2:09 pm

These are 6 simple things you should do to keep your cat healthy:

  1. Feed canned food at meal times.  Cats are carnivores not grain eaters.  All cats should have at least 2 meals per day of a meat based, moist cat food.  Establishing a routine mealtime is important so you can observe your cat asking for food and actually consuming it.  Changes in these behaviors warrants closer observation.
  2. Provide a safe, clean, quiet, large litterbox.  Litterboxes should be 2 times the length of the cat in size.  Most pet-store varieties are too small, so we suggest going to the building supply store and getting the large Rubbermaid storage containers.  We like the 37 gal container.  Leave the cover at the store.  Cut an opening in the side wide enough for your cat to go through, stopping 4-6 inches from the bottom.  Put 1-2 inches of a non-perfumed clumping litter in the box.  Keep it in a quiet but easily accessible spot.  The rule of thumb is one more litterbox than the number of cats in the household, all in different locations in the house.
  3. Weigh monthly.  Longterm, this is one of the most important things to do.  When cats are young adults you will be able to make dietary decisions on a monthly basis and make small adjustments in the diet to keep them at their optimum weight.  Weight loss is the cardinal symptom of almost all diseases of cats and often goes unnoticed by owners.
  4. Play daily.  Both cats and their caretakers do not take the time to play daily.  Cats ARE social animals and do need daily interactions to stay social.  Playing with your cat should be enjoyable for both you and your cat, and allows you to make sure they are acting properly on a daily basis.  Most cats will play for short periods of time, so this should be a daily routine.  Observing your cat’s movements and interests are another way to verify that it is feeling well.
  5. Hunt for pellets.  Cats are hunters, and tripping over the food dish is not very challenging.  The small amounts of dry pellet foods that are fed daily should always be presented  in a way that is hard or different to obtain.  Simply spreading the pellets around the house and having the cat look for the food is good.  A few pellets in the dish with 3 golf balls will make a cat work to obtain each pellet.  Putting pellets in things like cardboard boxes, paper towel tubes, brown paper bags, etc will stimulate the cat’s problem solving.
  6. Control fur.  Cats constantly groom and their rough tongue pulls out massive amounts of fur.  Controlling the ingestion of fur is important, so quick, daily grooming with a comb or “the Furminator” is vital.  Routine use of furball remedies to “prevent” furball build-up is important rather than wait for the vomiting to begin.  Furballs can cause vomiting, gastritis, enteritis, or even obstruction.  Cats with short hair can have just as many problems as long-haired cats.

August 24, 2009

Notes from Cat Camp: Part Two

Filed under: General, medical, nutrition — catdocto @ 3:27 pm

Notes from “Cat Camp”: Part Two

One very hot topic at the Cornell Feline Health Center Conference this summer was feline obesity and how to deal with it.  This is a topic we discuss daily here at The Cat Doctor, and one with which most of our clients will be familiar.  At least 25% of the cats in the United States are obese, and 35-40% are thought to be overweight.

According to Dr. Jacquie Rand, a feline diabetes expert who visited us from the University of Queensland in Australia, the increasing incidence of obesity in cats results from a number of factors.  Obviously, pet cats who are fed by their owners do not need to work for food, so many pet cats are less active than their wild counterparts.  The constant quest by the pet food industry to make delicious food that cats will love also plays a role.  As most of us can attest, we are more likely to overeat when the food tastes good than when it is just so-so.  Neutering cats also reduces their metabolic rate and can lead to weight gain.  Neutering has many positive benefits, but as pet owners we just have to realize that calorie control is simply more important after the cat has had surgery.

Dr. Rand pointed out that it takes just 10 extra kilocalories per day for a cat to gain about 1 pound per year.  This is roughly equivalent to 10 kibbles of dry food–not much at all!  In some ways, this is discouraging, because it seems like it must then be difficult to keep a cat from gaining weight. However, it also means that your cat does not necessarily need to go on a drastic diet to maintain or get back to a healthy weight.

Dr. Rand pointed to research that shows that even 10 minutes of physical activity a day for a cat can produce the same amount of weight loss as calorie restriction.  Even though it can be hard to get your cat to play for more than a minute or two at a time, this research shows that every little bit counts!  Try to get your cat to play, or even lure him up and down the stairs a few times with toys or a treat, just to get him moving.

Dr. Rand believes, as we do, that weight loss is more successful in cats eating a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, such as that found in canned foods.  Another speaker at the conference, Dr. Joe Wakshlag, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, also spoke on the value of high protein diets in cats.

For some cats with stubborn weight problems that do not respond to calorie restriction and increased appetite, L-carnitine, an amino acid, can help to increase the fat-burning capacity of the body and has been proven to enhance weight loss in clinical trials.  It is important to point out that Slentrol, a weight-loss drug marketed for dogs, is NOT safe in cats and leads to fatal liver complications.

One of Dr. Rand’s final points is that it’s important to weigh your cat frequently when he’s on a diet so that you can see if you are making any progress.  Even a small amount of progress is important and can encourage you to stick with the program.  Here at the office, you are welcome to make an appointment with the technician staff to bring your cat in for a free weigh-in on our scales.  That way, they can record your cat’s weight, let you know how the diet is going, and we can make changes if you are not having success.

It’s important not to make any drastic changes in your cat’s diet without consulting the vet.  Please make an appointment to discuss nutrition or be sure to bring it up at the annual checkup if you have any questions!

August 10, 2009

Cat Camp ‘09

Filed under: General, medical, office — catdocto @ 2:09 pm

Notes from “Cat Camp”:  Part One

Between July 24th and 26th, all three of The Cat Doctor’s veterinarians went to the Cornell Feline Health Center’s Annual Feline Symposium, aka “Cat Camp.”  We try to make this excellent conference an annual event for at least some, if not all, of us.  There are always great lectures by the top specialists in feline care, plus there are feline-oriented veterinarians to meet from all over the US and Canada.

This year was one of the best meetings so far!  Over the next few weeks, I’d like to try to pass along some very interesting and important information that came up over the course of the weekend.

The first speaker of the weekend was Dr. Mike Lappin, an internal medicine and infectious disease specialist from Colorado State University.  He does an amazing amount of research on a wide variety of infectious diseases in cats, and one of his areas of focus is zoonotic diseases.  Zoonotic diseases are infections that can infect both animals and humans.  These diseases are always a concern, but are of increased concern in people with suppressed immune systems.  With the rise of HIV and AIDs in the past thirty years, and the increasing number of people who are successfully treated for cancer but are on drugs that suppress their immune systems, these diseases are receiving more attention.  Also, seniors, pregnant women, and children are considered to be immunosuppressed, and the senior population is on the rise all around the world.

The most important information we discussed is that even people with severely suppressed immune systems can have pets!  Even though many misinformed physicians still recommend that AIDs patients and pregnant women give up their pets, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends keeping your pets with appropriate precautions.

As long as pets are mature, indoors, and healthy, they present a very small risk of infection to people.  Indoor pets are less likely to pick up blood-borne infections from biting insects and are also less likely to contract gastrointestinal bacteria and parasites that could be passed on to people.  Mature pets are less likely to inadvertantly or playfully scratch or bite.  As long as your cat is not showing signs of illness and is not having vomiting or diarrhea, the risk of infection is small.  Washing your hands after petting your cat or scooping the litterbox is always a good idea and can make your risk even smaller.

It’s always important to bring your cat to the vet if he or she is sick, but especially important if your immune system is not strong.  We can test for and treat any contagious infections to minimize your risk, and recommend any parasite preventatives that might be necessary to reduce any risks in the future.  Indoor pets may still require flea preventatives and regular testing or deworming for intestinal parasites, despite their indoor lifestyle.  One tip we learned in Cat Camp is that intestinal worm eggs can be carried on the feet of houseflies and come indoors that way.  Yuck!

If you want more info on zoonotic diseases here is a great source:   http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/

July 16, 2009

Cat Camp 2009 is coming!

Filed under: General, office — catdocto @ 1:01 pm

Cat Camp 2009 aka the 21st annual Fred Scott Feline Symposium, will be held this year from July 24-26.  All three of the doctors here at The Cat Doctor will be attending this year.  The Symposium, held at Cornell University, is three days of intensive study in a variety of feline topics.  This year the subjects being discussed are:  gastrointestinal diseases, modern diagnostic medicine, feline diabetes, feline obesity, feline vaccine controversies, infectious diseases, feline nutrition, feline kidney diseases, and feline anesthesiology.

Since  all three of our Doctors will be attending, the Nashua office will be closed on July 24 &25.  The Bedford office will remain open as a substitute Doctor will be covering for us.  We will post the highlights of the Symposium in future blog updates!

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