Category: Cat

84 Things we have found in last month’s Wellness Bloodwork Special

We have been running our annual Wellness Bloodwork Special for the 31 days of October, and we have uncovered some interesting findings in “normal” dogs and cats.

Hypothyroidism in a dog– The thyroid gland controls the metabolic rate, so low thyroid can look just like a dog getting older. They slow down and gain weight. The coat can become dull, sparse, and slow to regrow after a haircut. They seem to get more frequent infections, like skin, ear & urinary tract. Treatment is a daily tablet, and the symptoms go away. It’s like magic. Definitely improves the quality of life for the pet and the owner.

Hyperthyroidism in a cat– This high thyroid disease is common in old cats, and is the opposite of the dog low thyroid. The cats are very active, losing weight despite a great appetite, and often vocalize. They have high heart rates, and all the revving up of the metabolism isn’t good. Treatment varies from daily tablets, referral for radioactive iodine (cure!), or a special diet that is super low in iodine.

Early kidney disease– many dogs develop kidney failure as the kidneys slowly degenerate with age. Until now we only had BUN and creatinine as tests, and they only become elevated when the kidney function is less than25-30% of normal. The new SDMA test can detect much earlier function loss, so we can make good choices to manage those kidneys. There are no magic pills to regenerate kidneys though, and kidney transplants are out for most dogs. So early detection is the best we have right now.

Early heart disease– the cardiopet- Pro BNP test measures stretching in heart muscle associated with heart disease. If this test is elevated, we look more closely at the heart and try to catch problems before they become symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath. With early medications, we can definitely increase the life expectancy and quality of life for dogs with congestive heart disease.

Leukemia-We had one healthy dog that we found white blood cell cancer in the blood. It really floored me.

Urinary tract infection– This dog had no symptoms despite a lot of bacteria and white blood cells in urine. Another had asymptomatic crystals.

Intestinal parasite check– one asymptomatic Giardia.

What we didn’t find this year– any Heartworm positives. I truly expected to find these.
No diabetics. YEAH!
No chronic infections with high WBC (only the leukemia boy).
No unexplained liver disease. I usually pick up 2-3 of these in October.

These are the reasons we do wellness bloodwork  (and urine & fecal checks). Just like people, we can find stuff early so we can make educated choices to improve the quality and quantity of days of our pets lives.

83 Halloween Hazards

So Halloween is less than a week away and we will be facing tricks and treats.

I usually see 3 problem areas with Halloween: ingestion of Halloween candy, behavior problems triggered by strangers ringing door bells, and costumes

Over the years I have seen dogs eat a lot of Halloween candy, wrappers and all. Don’t think that just because it’s all little fun sized individually wrapped Snickers in a bowl on the table or by the front door that Fido won’t counter surf and snag some. Or eat the whole bowl (seen it happen). Be prudent, store in closed containers out of the dog zone until the big night, and then be careful.

The biggest danger in Halloween candy is chocolate toxicity obviously, but all those wrappers can be hard to digest. According to candystore.com, the 3 most popular Halloween candy by sales in Texas are Reese’s peanut butter cups, Starburst, and Almond Joy. So chocolate is in 2 of the 3. Most dogs love peanut butter and it isn’t dangerous, but can be high in fat. I have seen some dogs with pancreatitis after eating snacks high in fat. I don’t see toxicity with most other candy, just sugar overload.

Many dogs are highly vocal and anxious when the door bell rings so Halloween is a big problem for them. For mildly agitated dogs, simply confining them far away from the door and chimes and distracting them with a loud TV show will do the trick. You might even add the calming pheromone Adaptil in a spray or plug in form. For the moderately affected dogs, some oral antianxiety medicine like trazadone might help them decrease the anxiety. For the most severely affected dogs, disabling the door bell, and doing all the above might be necessary. We certainly don’t want any Trick or Treaters bitten when we open the door to give out candy. These kids look cute, but to a dog they may look like big trouble when their job is to protect the family.

Lastly, costumes can really frighten some dogs. I remember one year I wore a bird mask with a large pointy beak and feathers. It really triggered many dogs to bark at me because it was so unfamiliar. Use caution when getting dogs and cats to wear Halloween costumes. They can be cute, but many fit poorly, limit mobility, or the pets just tear them off. I haven’t had to do GI surgery to remove a pet costume yet, but I am sure some vets have.

The AVMA website also suggests using caution with candles or jack-o-lanterns, and keeping your pet inside (especially those black cats) on the big night.

On a fun note, if your dog is well behaved in noisy crowds of people, the City of Lewisville invites them to the Halloween Bash in Wayne Ferguson Plaza  from 5-7 pm on Tuesday, Oct 30, for live music by Le Freak!

Have and fun and safe Halloween!

81 Wellness Bloodwork Specials

It’s that time of year again when our laboratory gives us some great deals on wellness bloodwork that we pass on to you.
We have been busy drawing blood, collecting urine and feces already. So far, we have already picked up early problems in dogs and cats like hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, early kidney disease (SDMA), and several with some elevated heart muscle stretching tests (cardiopet pro BNP).

We have custom packages for dogs and cats, young and old, that are quite a discount than the rest of the year. I am getting my own dog’s wellness bloodwork today! If there is something going on inside, I want to know early so I can make diet and/or life style changes so Sarge is around for many more years.

It’s easy to set up an appointment to get Fluffy or Fido’s blood samples taken. We love it when you collect the urine and poop from home. We get the results in 1-2 days, depending on the types of tests performed. And we don’t make you come in to talk about the findings! You will be a call from the veterinarian, Dr Henricks or Dr Pena, who will actually explain the results. (of course, you are always welcome to come in…)

For more information, check out BLOG  #28, from October of last year for more details.

80 Bugs, Bugs, Bugs

Can you believe all the creepy crawly bugs we are seeing after the rain and slight break in heat? We are seeing crickets, army worms, fire ants, flies, moths, etc. near our building and homes. We will soon see an increase in fleas, ticks and mosquitos, so don’t let up on your heartworm and flea prevention. We have even found fleas on some dogs coming in for boarding.

Have you heard reports that the FDA is concerned about neurological events (tremors, ataxia, or seizures) in a class of oral flea and tick medicine calls isoxazolines? This class includes Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica and the new Credelio. None of the products is being recalled or withdrawn from market, but there have been reports of adverse events now the products have been out for a few years. Here at Garden Ridge Animal Hospital, we haven’t seen these side effects, but we urge clients with concerns to check out the FDA statement to the manufacturers to add additional warnings to their labels. We will continue to sell oral flea and tick medications because they are so very effective and safe, we use them on our own pets, but we will follow this closely. Link to FDA statement

A large study by Idexx, our laboratory, shows a relationship between tick-borne diseases (like Lymes and Ehrilichia) and kidney disease. When they searched their data, if a pet had been positive for Lymes or Ehrlichia they had up to a 300% increase risk for kidney value elevations, years later. Many of the early signs of kidney disease are very subtle like an increase in water consumption, increased urine output, or a slight decrease in appetite. With blood tests like BUN, Creatinine, and new SDMA, we can detect kidney disease is the early stages, and have time to make some lifestyle and diet changes to manage those nephrons and increase life expectancy.
http://www.aaha.org/blog/NewStat/post/2018/09/01/271046/New-study-shows-link-between-ticks-and-kidney-disease11.aspx

79 Rescued pets from Florence and Upcoming Test of the Emergency Broadcast System.

As with any disaster, there are amazing stories of heroism and stupidity. Florence is no exception. It does appear that disaster groups have learned some lessons from Katrina and will accept animals What are the lessons learned from Florence?
1. The flood after a hurricane is worse than the high winds. We learned that from Harvey too.
2. People fail to plan for their animals: dogs, cats, exotic pets, horses, livestock, etc. My heart hurt when I saw the photos of dogs in enclosed outdoor runs with the water up to their chests. Or horses penned in areas with standing water. Or wet cats loose in owner’s arms, no carriers.
3. Good Samaritans and pet lovers will step up the plate to help rescue individual pets, and even whole animal shelters. The story about the bus driver that help evacuate the Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach, the Dillon County Animal Shelter, Orangeburg Animal Shelter, and Saint Frances Animal Shelter. Last week, he rescued 53 dogs and 11 cats (in crates), got them to rescue groups outside the flooding, and was going back for more.
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2018/09/photos-pet-rescues-in-the-wake-of-hurricane-florence/570598/#article
https://people.com/pets/community-save-hurricane-florence-pet-rescue-van/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/09/14/animals-trapped-shelter/1307149002/

There is a planned test of the National Emergency Broadcast System, and you might receive an important text message on your phones on Wednesday, October 3. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be conducting tests of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) which includes the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). FEMA has performed three previous tests of the EAS, in November 2011, September 2016 and September of 2017. October 3 will be the first test of the WEA. If a cell phone provider participates in WEA, those who have that cell phone provider should receive the test texts. In reference to the WEA test text, www.fema.gov, explains, “Cell towers will broadcast the WEA test for approximately 30 minutes beginning at 2:18 p.m. EDT. During this time, WEA compatible cell phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA should be capable of receiving the test message. Some cell phones will not receive the test message, and cell phones should only receive the message once. “The WEA system is used to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations through alerts on cell phones. The national test will use the same special tone and vibration as with all WEA messages (i.e. Tornado Warning, AMBER Alert). Users cannot opt out of receiving the WEA test.” It continues, “The WEA test message will have a header that reads “Presidential Alert” and text that says: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.

78 Disaster Preparation for Pets– Part 2

In Part 1, we discussed planning for disasters while staying at home. But what if you have to leave to stay safe?

Who? Everyone, even pets leave. No one will come to your house in a disaster and take care of Fluffy, or the gerbils, snake & birds. So be ready to transport.

When? Leave as early as possible. I know that is vague, but you have seen the traffic jams when everyone leaves at the same time.

Where? Ideally you have a close relative in a nearby town that is out of the disaster area. Other ideas are booking a room in a pet friendly hotel in a safe city, or a hotel with a nearby pet boarding facility. Campgrounds might be an option for campers or families with RVs. As a last resort, governments will set up “shelters” like Dallas has done for Houston during Hurricane Harvey, or Houston did during Katrina. These facilities may or may not allow pets, and they definitely recommend or require a carrier for each pet. Imagine how scare Fifi would be in a new wire kennel, in a big building, next to dozens of other scared dogs and cats, with you in the next building.

What to pack? This comes straight from FEMA
• Food. At least a three day supply in an airtight, waterproof container.
• Water. At least three days of water specifically for your pets.
• Medicines and medical records.
• Important documents. Registration information, adoption papers and vaccination documents. Talk to your veterinarian about microchipping and enrolling your pet in a recovery database.
• First aid kit. Cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape and scissors; antibiotic ointment; flea and tick prevention; latex gloves, isopropyl alcohol and saline solution. Including a pet first aid reference book is a good idea too.
• Collar or harness with ID tag, rabies tag and a leash.
• Crate or pet carrier. Have a sturdy, safe crate or carrier in case you need to evacuate. The carrier should be large enough for your pet to stand, turn around and lie down.
• Sanitation. Pet litter and litter box if appropriate, newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach.
• A picture of you and your pet together. If you become separated, a picture of you and your pet together will help you document ownership and allow others to assist you. Add species, breed, age, sex, color and distinguishing characteristics.
• Familiar items. Familiar items, such as treats, toys and bedding can help reduce stress for your pet.
(I would add calming pheromones to this list, or a Thundershirt if it helps your dog )

If you have made it this far, I challenge you to discuss this with the family, line to 2 or 3 relatives you could “visit” for a while, plan a few different ways to drive to their houses, gather up carriers, vaccine records, food & water for 3-7 days, and practice getting pets in the car. It will be challenging, but way less to practice now than in the event of an actual emergency.

If you can’t find your vaccine records, give us a call to reprint them. Or they aren’t up to date, let’s fix that.

I have a free red AAHA collapsible water /food dish like in the picture for the first 5 readers who contact me. You must come by to pick it up.

https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/disaster-prep-pet-emergency-checklist.pdf
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/disaster-preparedness

http://files.dvm360.com/alfresco_images/DVM360//2018/08/07/657c1bfc-fe2f-4458-998b-ba01d4197a65/veterinary-disasterprep-handout-rev1.pdf

74 The Allergic Cat

Last week I wrote about ragweed, pollen, and allergies, especially in dogs. Cat can develop pollen or food allergies too, but it seems less frequent than dogs. This week, I have seen some indoor and outdoor cats with allergic symptoms. I think I see less feline allergy because most of my cats are indoor only (even though pollen does get into our houses.)

The symptoms of cats with allergies to pollen or food include itchiness, especially the face and ears, licking feet more, generalized tiny bumps, and raised red skin plaques. Some have other signs like sneezing, coughing, wheezing (asthma), and occasional vomiting and diarrhea (especially secondary to hairballs).

Cats can develop asthma just like people, which is a constriction of the tiny airways in the chest. It can be mild to severe. I probably never see the mild ones, but when cats are open mouth breathing and wheezing from an asthma attack, it is an emergency. And of course it isn’t healthy to smoke around cats, especially asthmatic ones.

Cats can also be allergic to flea bites, but we seldom see the actual fleas on cats because most cats are such great groomers. I do see more fleas on chubby patients because it is harder for them to groom themselves. So just because you don’t SEE fleas on Fluffy doesn’t mean she isn’t getting a single flea a day that bites her, which she quickly lick off. Revolution is a great topical product for cats that kills fleas, ear mites & many intestinal parasites.

Cat do occasional have food allergies. The symptoms are often skin related, not just gastrointestinal. They aren’t born with food allergies, but develop slowly over time, even when the food isn’t changed. I usually suspect food allergies if my patient doesn’t respond to steroids.

The treatment for cats is similar to dogs, with a few minor differences. Ideally we try to avoid the trigger, like keep them inside more. We try to remove pollens by bathing them or at least wiping them down with damp washcloths (“lick the cat”). We could try to give them liquid Benadryl, but most owners find that challenging. Apoquel isn’t approved for cats so I usually go straight to steroids, conveniently available in a long term injection. Fortunately, cats don’t have many side effects to an occasional steroid injection, unlike humans and dogs, so it is much safer.

Feline allergies are really a thing, and I don’t mean people that are allergic to cat dander (that’s a different article.) If your cat is grooming more, getting sores, or having respiratory signs, a vet can help. Come see us!

http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/cat-health/cat-diseases-conditions-a-z/what-bothering-your-cat-it-could-be-feline-allergies
https://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/cat-health-care-tips-seasonal-allergies

71 Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day

National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day is August 22.  That is next week.  I would argue EVERY day should be “Take Your Cat to the Vet Day”, but this gives me a chance to wrap up my feline exam & vaccination series.

Today I performed a routine exam and vaccinations on my new nurse’s (Larissa) cat name Dandi.  She has been anxious in the past going to the vet and usually growls.  We know that growling is a sign of fear and anxiety.  She has had a lot of dental work and extractions, so maybe her fear was based on good reasons!  To help avoid anxiety, Larissa gave Dandi a dose a gabapentin this morning on her food before going in the carrier & coming to work.  We scheduled her on a light day, no barking dogs.  She was transferred from carrier to cage while we did our morning cases.

At lunch, we moved Dandi to the cat room, with the pheromone Feliway diffuser, and covered her with a towel that had been sprayed with Feliway.  Dandi never growled, , no dilated pupils, no ears laid back, and seemed comfortable throughout.  We did our whole exam and vaccination without ever triggering fear or anxiety.  Put that in the WIN column!

Dandi is a textbook example of how Fear Free can make a difference.  Let us try it on YOUR cat.  And tell Larissa how cute her cat is.

https://www.catvets.com/public/PDFs/Content-Articles/Cat2VetDayInfographic-2016%20FINAL.2.pdf

https://www.catvets.com/public/PDFs/Content-Articles/Benefits-Routine-Vet-Visits.pdf

https://www.catvets.com/public/PDFs/ClientBrochures/Cat-to-VetHandout.pdf

70 Free Fear Feline Exams

So how do you get a stressed out cat to the vet? My sister-in-law would grab the cat, no carrier, place it in the back of her hatchback car, and drive fast to the vet. Her cat was always anxious, and she had trouble getting her in the carrier. She did what she thought best at the time. Now, in 2018, we have a few tricks to make this easier for cats AND their owners.

Trick #1- CARRIER– Cats will be less stressed in a clean, familiar carrier, either hard sided or the new soft sided kind. Some cats prefer a top opening. For best results, leave it out in house all the time, not just before a trip to the vet. Let Fluffy get used to it, and not just associate it with “going to the vet.” Place treats & catnip in it to make it a happy place. Pheromones like Feliway wipes or spray can help create calming/relaxing atmosphere.

Trick #2- ANTI ANXIETY MEDICATION-Prevet visit medications like RX gabapentin or OTC Feliway pheromones can really help a cat with previous anxiety problems at the vet. I compare it to taking a valium before a visit to the dentist if you are afraid of dentists. It isn’t sedation, but it does help reduce the fear so maybe Tigger won’t have another fearful & anxious experience.
So what is this gabapentin (Neurotin), and how the heck to do I give it to my cat?  Gabapentin is an inexpensive medication originally developed to control seizures in humans. It is also used to control neuropathic pain in humans, dogs, and cats. While it is not labeled for use for anxiety, it is increasingly used for that purpose in human and veterinary medicine. The powder in the capsule does not have a strong taste and is usually well accepted by cats when the capsule is opened and sprinkled over wet food, 90 minutes to three hours before the car trip.
What is Feliway? Feliway is a pheromone (hormone that travels through the air) that goes straight to brain and triggers other hormones. Most people have heard about sex pheromones or fear pheromones. These are calming and marking pheromones. The cats react to them, without drugs, and humans can’t smell them.

Trick #3-THE CAR TRIP– Once in the carrier, the best place for it is on the floor behind the driver. There is less motion & less visual stimulation. You can even cover the carrier with a towel for less stimulation. Some pets respond better to soft music on the radio, not loud Rock or Rap.

Trick #4- THE EXAM– Ask to be scheduled at a time when it isn’t crowded so you can go straight into an exam room. Carry the carrier with 2 hands (don’t swing by the handle) . Don’t place the carrier on the floor- keep at seat or table level. It is great if owner bring a favorite treat or toy from home what we coax them out of carriers with, and use a reward after the exam. Some cats even prefer their own towels from home.

Trick #5 – Chose a Cat Friendly Vet, and one certified in Fear Free practices. Here at Garden Ridge Animal Hospital, we have a “cat room”, use Feliway diffusers , soft yoga mats on tables, spray our towels with Feliway calming pheromones, and handle cats gently, and trying to avoid triggers. We are able to do so much more with cats since we adopted these principals. Most owners are amazed that a few tricks can make such a difference. And often that success builds with each visit, as the cat doesn’t have scary experiences. Because one day, that cat will get sick, need to go the vet, and already be stressed from the illness.

So now you know HOW to set the stage for Fear Free cat visits to the vet. Call us to set up your cat’s annual well check exam, and maybe some vaccines. If you do these steps, YOU will be less stressed.

69 Feline Injection Site Sarcomas

You may have hear or read on the internet that vaccines cause cancer in cats. It is enough to scare any caring cat owner into rethinking about the safety of these lifesaving vaccines. It is true that a rare cat will get a true “allergic” reaction to a vaccine, just like dogs or humans. Vaccines have foreign proteins that we inject into their bodies. But it is also true that injections (any injection) CAN cause a reaction that can lead to a sarcoma in a rare cat. Lots of epidemiological studies have to done in the last 25 years to find out WHAT is causing the inflammation, WHICH vaccines, WHAT manufacturer, and WHY cats might develop this terrible disease

The current thinking is that individual cats may respond to inflammatory changes in a manner that predisposes to sarcoma formation. Current studies to investigate the cytogenetics of injection site sarcomas may provide more information. Up-to-date information regarding research can be obtained from the Vaccine Associated Fibrosarcoma Task Force.
What is the incidence of injection site sarcomas? Most studies agree it is 10-100cats with sarcomas/100,000 cats vaccinated, so about 0.1-1% of vaccines. There does seem to be some regional variation, but they are reported worldwide.

What injections area associated with sarcomas? All vaccines, long acting steroids, subcutaneous fluids, and antibiotic injections
At first vets thought it was only vaccines, and we saw a higher incidence with killed vaccines (Rabies and Feline Leukemia Virus also called FELV) , and especially if aluminum was used as adjuvant. So Garden Ridge Animal Hospital switched to recombinant non -adjuvented FELV and Rabies by Merial like many other vets. Later we saw that all vaccines types made by all the manufacturers have some association. If a cat received all the vaccines in same location, like the neck, there was a higher incidence of sarcomas, so we split them up now. The recommended sites are NOT the neck anymore, but Rabies on Right rear leg, Leukemia on Left rear leg, and FVRCP on the Right foreleg.

Why do cats make sarcomas at injection sites? One theory speculated about a viral helper to FELV, the Feline Sarcoma Virus, but only a few cats with sarcomas test positive for FELV or FIV. Another theory is gene mutation, oncogenes, and mutations in tumor suppressor genes. Approximately 75% of injection sarcomas were found to contain p53 and c-kit oncogene. Approximately one third of tumors contained both p53 and mdm-2, and these tumors were histologically more anaplastic, perhaps explaining the aggressive biologic behavior of some injection site sarcomas.
Any injection can cause local inflammation, usually in first few weeks after the injection. If a bump is present less than 1 month, it should get checked out with a needle biopsy. If the biopsy is “suspicious”, then aggressive surgery is indicated and maybe presurgical radiation therapy. These Injection Site Sarcomas are scary because they are aggressive, large (greater than 4 cm), invasive, and can metastasize to other parts of the body.

There is a lot we still don’t know about Feline Injection Site Sarcomas. I have seen 3 or 4 in my 28 years at Garden Ridge Animal Hospital. One was a cat that I had vaccinated, but not exclusively. But over my 35 years as a vet, I have seen many more cases of Feline Leukemia, Distemper, respiratory infections and even feline Rabies. We also vaccinate less frequently than years ago, and we talk about a risk assessment at our yearly exams. For examine, I don’t recommend FELV vaccine to indoor only adult cats. FVRCP is every three years once they are adults, but Rabies (required by state law and a real threat in Denton county) is still annually with the non-adjuvented Merial Purvax.

I know vaccines save kitty lives and improve quality of life a hundred fold over the risk of Injection Site Sarcomas. If you are still worried, please come in with your cat and we can at least perform a yearly health checkup. Vaccines are always optional, and not the only reason to see a vet.  Our staff is standing by.

For more information
https://www.catvets.com/guidelines/practice-guidelines/feline-vaccination-guidelines