The California Cat Doctor

Kidney Disease in Cats

2012-02-02T10:54:00.000-08:00

A couple of clients recently requested that I post about kidney disease in cats. It's been a while since I have done so.

I previously wrote THIS about renal disease management but it was really just a few words about somebody else's handout that I linked to.

There were two specific questions I wanted to answer for starters.

#1 - Why are the kidneys so trouble-prone in cats? We don't know. Cats, being desert animals, have a huge reserve of kidney function built in, which is important because, unlike the liver which can regrow functional tissue, when kidney tissue dies it is not replaced. In nature, kidneys only need to last long enough to ensure propagation of the species, which as you know can be accomplished several times by cats before they are two years old. So when we see kidney disease in older cats it may just be that it's a part wearing out, like tires on a car.

But we also know certain things can contribute to premature loss of kidney tissue and a decline in function. Untreated bacterial infections (most commonly dental disease) can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream where they are filtered out by the kidneys and set up housekeeping. Some cats have a genetic kidney defect known as polycystic kidney disease (PKD) that leads to renal failure in middle age - Persians and Himalayans are especially prone to this. Some cats develop renal lymphoma, a type of cancer formerly associated with feline leukemia virus infection but now most commonly seen in cats whose owners smoke. There is also a theory that certain vaccines which use a cell line derived from feline kidneys might be leading to an immune system attack on kidney tissue (we do not use those particular brands of vaccine).

#2 - How much urine do healthy cats normally produce and how can an owner quantify their own cat's urine output in the real world? Normal urine output in the cat is under 50 ml/kg/day. That's about (ok doing math in my head now) 8 oz for an 11 lb cat, more-or-less. Of course with cat's using a litter box it can be hard to tell how much a cat is urinating (volume) and how often, which is one major reason I strongly suggest using scoopable litter.

Urine balls can be easily quantified, and over time you can get a sense of how many times a day your cat urinates and how big the balls tend to be. What's important is that you make not of changes and bring them to your veterinarian's attention. My own cats normally urinate 2-3 times a day, and the bigger cat has bigger urine balls than the smaller one so I can often tell whose is whose.

If you notice that your cat is producing larger urine balls, and more of them, the two things that come to mind that we have to rule out are kidney disease and diabetes. If the urine balls are smaller and more numerous we need to rule out Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, which sometimes means an infection is present (but not always).

Here at Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic we do not measure urine output directly - cats don't tend to go along with such plans. We measure urine specific gravity (concentration) - cats that produce dilute urine are automatically going to produce a higher volume of urine, but the number we track is USG. The exception is in terminal end-stage renal failure where only scant amounts of very dilute urine are produced, right before none at all is produced - cats are typically euthanized before things reach this point.

I hope this sheds some light on the subject. Kidney disease is one of the most common things I manage in my older patients.

This Hinky Blog Format

2012-01-08T12:34:00.000-08:00

Try as I might, I simply CAN NOT get this format to do what I want. So in order to see ALL my lists and gadgets you have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and look on the right side for the Donate to Cat's Meow Charitable Fund button, my Favorite Links list, Recommended Reading list, and the gadget to subscribe to my blog.

I'm sorry. Complain to Blogspot. They are just weird.

Upper Respiratory Infections - Human and Feline

2012-01-01T10:51:00.000-08:00

As I sit at home this holiday weekend, trying with marginal success to fight off this nasty cold/bronchitis/laryngitis, I thought I would address some of the issues my clients express concern about with human and feline "colds".

Firstly, I did NOT catch this bug from any of my patients. Humans cannot catch feline upper respiratory viruses - most of those are due to FELINE herpesvirus, and most of the rest are due to FELINE calicivirus. I almost certainly caught my illness from the sick toddler I sat next to on the flight from LAX to Minneapolis, or perhaps in one of the three airports I was in that day, or even at the very busy shopping mall the next day.

Secondly, I am always a little concerned about spreading this sort of thing to my patients or my own cats because it IS possible for a few of the hundreds of human cold viruses to be spread to cats. This is known as a reverse zoonosis or an (and I like this word better, it's so scientific-sounding) anthroponosis. Fortunately, if a cat should be unlucky enough to catch it from me, it would tend to be fairly mild and self-limiting, and would not be able to spread on to other cats or back into humans - it would come to a dead end in that particular cat.

Thirdly, if this had been influenza instead of a cold (it's far too mild to be flu), I would have some serious concerns about spread to cats, but only if I had failed to get immunized against H1N1 influenza. That is the strain that was in the news so much a couple of years ago - I was vaccinated against it then, and I noted that it is also a component of this years routine annual flu shot. H1N1 has in the past spread to an unfortunate few cats and had a mortality rate of about 50%, so I consider it imperative that I protect myself as a way of protecting my patients and my own pets, along with humans.

Lastly, let's go back to that nasty feline herpesvirus. This is the bug that causes the majority of feline upper respiratory disease AND nontraumatic eye disease. It is probably the most common pathogen in cats, and one we have vaccinated cats against for decades. Being a herpesvirus, cats can only catch it once - then they have it, for life. So one would think that vaccinations at that point would have no value. But it turns out that cats with strong immunity to the virus from annual vaccinations do a better job of fighting the darned thing when they have those seemingly inevitable "recrudescences". Back before the recession, when most of my patients were current on their annual FVRCP-C vaccination, I rarely saw cats with upper respiratory or herpes-related eye problems that warranted any treatment whatsoever. But now that so many cats are overdue on vaccinations and their immunity is waning, medical intervention and good home nursing care are much more necessary.

So I guess the gist of this post is (big surprise here): get your annual flu shot, and get your cat vaccinated annually, too. The alternative is much bigger vet bills, and often a much sicker cat.

Here is my current likely nemesis - a picornavirus (actually, a whole cluster of the little devils - if you look close you can even see their horns and cloven feet):

New Year's Holiday Hours

2011-12-30T14:27:00.000-08:00

We will be closed all day Saturday Dec 31 through Monday Jan 2. This year the Rose Parade and bowl games are on Monday (I have been told this is due to the NFL Sunday football broadcast rules). So I get a 3-day weekend to try to get my voice back!

Happy New Year, everybody! Have fun and drive safely.

Laryngitis

2011-12-28T11:58:00.000-08:00

Well, it's that time of year again. My first day back in the office after Christmas vacation and I suddenly have a whopping case of laryngitis.

This, for those of you who don't know, appears to be my specialty. It's an annual wintertime tradition, and can have effects that linger for many weeks. So I am trying to not talk AT ALL. Of course, it's not actually going according to plan. Writing every thought down is hard, so I am whispering to my assistant. Bad idea. Sigh.

I can't even hum holiday tunes without making things worse. But the cats are happy about that.

Christmas Vacation Hours

2011-12-21T14:21:00.001-08:00

I'm headed off on my annual pilgrimage to the frozen wastelands of the Upper Midwest. From tomorrow (Thursday Dec 22) through Tuesday Dec 27 the office will be open limited hours and only for administrative and retail purposes. Hours will be:

Thurs Dec 22 - 9 AM to noon and 5 to 6 PM
Fri Dec 23 - 9 AM to noon and 5 to 6 PM
CLOSED ALL DAY SAT Dec 24, Sun Dec 25, and Mon Dec 26
Tues Dec 27 - 9 AM to noon and 5 to 6 PM

If your cat needs medical attention during this time, please call Veterinary Specialists of the Valley at 818-883-8387.

Have a very Merry Christmas!!

The Cat's Meow Charitable Fund

2011-12-02T17:16:00.001-08:00

In these difficult economic times we are encountering more and more hardship cases where long-term clients have encountered unforeseeable economic hardship followed by their beloved cat becoming seriously and unavoidably ill, or someone adopts a stray cat who turns out to be pregnant (and that certainly entails unexpected expenses), and occasionally someone presents us with an injured stray cat or kitten that needs medical or surgical care AND a home (and needs to stay here or in foster care in the meantime).

A charitable fund to help underwrite the often tremendous costs of some of these cases is something I have considered starting for a long time. Dr. Alice Villalobos started her Peter Zippi Fund for helping clients pay for cancer treatments for their pets in this same way, and it has helped hundreds, if not thousands of animals over the years.

For the time being, The Cat’s Meow Charitable Fund will be just an internal funding mechanism for subsidizing care for certain of our cases which we have determined would most benefit from it. We are accepting donations in any amount to the fund. They are not tax-deductible at this time, but we will be looking into the feasibility of taking that step. You can mail us a check – make payable to: Cat’s Meow Veterinary Clinic but please put “Cat’s Meow Charitable Fund donation” on the memo line. You can also ask to have your donation added to your bill when you are paying at the front desk.

I look forward to telling our clients about the kitties we (and YOU) have helped through this fund!

ETA on 12-17-11: A very kind person dropped by yesterday to make a very generous donation to the CMCF. S/he has been a FB fan for a while and saw the post about the fund. Huge thanks to ______ for your kindness!

38 Cases of Bat Rabies in Los Angeles County in 2011

2011-12-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

LA County Veterinary Public Health has published this latest information about the tremendous increase in bat rabies this year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Circumstances of rabid bats found in 2011

1. Palmdale. Bat found in airplane hangar.
2. Agoura Hills. Bat found sick, alive, outside.
3. Saugus. Bat found on ground in daylight in parking lot.
4. Los Angeles. Bat found stuck to sticky rat trap in apartment near Downtown LA. Eight people and one dog exposed.
5. Bellflower. Bat found dead on front porch.
6. Agoura Hills. Bat found sick, alive, outside.
7. Cerritos. Bat found on ground at a high school campus.
8. Canyon Country. Rabid bat being carried around by a dog, in the dog's mouth, in a condo complex.
9. Glendale. Bat found in elevator shaft in apartment complex.
10. Santa Clarita. Bat found in pool.
11. Newhall. Bat found in backyard on lawn.
12. Baldwin park. Bat found near a car.
13. Newhall. Found alive on ground outside, next to garage door.
14 and 15. Woodland Hills. Two rabid bats found on front lawn on same property. An additional bat in home tested negative for rabies.
16. Hollywood Hills. Bat found on ground outside home.
17. Topanga. Bat fell into fish pond.
18. Valencia. Found outside a home.
19. Santa Clarita. Found dead outside a home.
20. Malibu. Bat was found outside the home on a patio.
21. Valencia. Found alive on ground near school.
22. Stevenson Ranch. Dead bat found outside front door.
23. Newhall. Bat found alive clinging to stucco wall in daylight, high above ground.
24. Valencia. Bat on floor in bathroom at a school latched on to student's sandal, but reportedly did not bite the student.
25. Burbank. Bat found alive, at a private home.
26. West Covina. Bat found alive, at a private home.
27. Valencia. Bat found clinging high up on a wall at a school.
28. Pasadena. Found dead in a basement.
29. Arcadia. Found on ground, alive, outdoors.
30. La Verne. Bat found dead outdoors.
31. Monrovia. Bat found dead outdoors.
32. Canyon Country. Found alive outdoors while gardening.
33. Long Beach. Found along a bike path.
34. Agoura Hills. Bat hanging in daylight from eaves of home, one wing hanging down.
35. Santa Clarita. Found alive outside an elementary school.
36. Sylmar. Found alive near front door.
37. Glendora. Found alive on floor of warehouse.
38. Santa Clarita. Bat found on front porch. Seemed dead until lightly touched with stick - it squeaked.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Get those cats in for annual checkups and vaccinations (which always include rabies vaccination at Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic, regardless of the cat's lifestyle and owner misperceptions of risk)!

Potassium

2011-12-01T10:24:00.000-08:00

As I was putting together a supply order this morning, Alison and I both remarked at how many potassium supplements we seem to go through. We sell that stuff like candy most of the time - so many patients are on it, and I have a cat at home that gets it, too (Boochi).

So I thought it would be worth a quick discussion here - a sort of review of when and why and how.

Older cats often develop low serum potassium levels - in most cases this is linked to a decline in kidney function, but not always. And it can precede detection of kidney problems in lab testing by a few years, so I often look at it as an early warning sign. And as if that's not bad enough, low potassium in and of itself can cause kidney function problems. So the two are very closely linked. Low potassium levels can be extremely dangerous because it is vital in electrical conductivity of heart muscle and if it gets too low the heart can literally STOP.

When your cat has low potassium, most of the time it needs to be on long-term (generally permanent) supplements to avoid serious medical consequences such as muscle wasting and pain, anemia, and kidney failure. We have three main ways of providing that extra dose of this vital mineral: gel, granules, and tablets.

The potassium gel is administered orally by dosing syringe - we will show you how to do this and how much to give when we prescribe it. If you are unsure how to do it after instruction, you can bring your cat in for a demo.

Potassium granules for mixing into canned food are available and this is often the best solution. The taste is disguised by both the flavor added to the granules in the factory and the flavor of the canned food. A measuring scoop comes with the product.

Potassium tablets are another alternative. You need to be able to administer pills to your cat successfully and consistently. We recommend a water chaser after pilling and can provide a syringe for this if you want to do it.

Follow-up lab testing is essential to determine the right dose of potassium for your cat. You will need to continue giving the supplement as directed and come back for testing in a timely manner or treatment may fail to help your cat. We virtually never tell a client to merely give the first bottle of supplements and simply stop and go on your merry way!

Take-home message for cats with hypokalemia: consistent administration of supplements and timely follow-up lab testing, probably for the life of the cat to avoid dangerous complications.

Holiday Schedule

2011-11-24T12:05:00.001-08:00

We are obviously closed all day Thursday. We will be open 8-6 on Friday but won't be seeing any new clients with seriously ill animals for second opinions because.......we will also be closed on Saturday and Sunday. All weekend!

Have a Happy Turkey Day, everybody!

New Product for Managing Feline Hyperthyroidism

2011-11-19T15:13:00.000-08:00

Exciting news! Hills Pet Nutrition has just introduced a new Prescription Diet product specifically for managing feline hyperthyroidism.

Y/D is available in both canned and dry. Along with limiting the amount of iodine so as to reduce thyroid hormone production, the food is formulated to ease the work load on the kidneys. As many of you are aware, treatment of overactive thyroid gland in the cat can in some cases lead to diminished kidney function - a classic Catch 22 because untreated hyperthyroidism is itself fatal.

It is hoped that this new dietary means of managing thyroid disease will make use of methimazole less necessary as a temporary measure in cats that go on to receive I131 therapy (curative) and as long-term management for thyroid cats with kidney disease and those who cannot tolerate methimazole's potential side effects.

If your hyperthyroid cat is on methimazole, please ask us about Y/D the next time you are in, or feel free to call.

A Helpful Product for Enticing Your Cat Into the Carrier

2011-11-19T10:45:00.000-08:00

A client reported to me this week that they had tremendous success in getting their cats into their carriers (and enjoying a quiet ride here) after using At Ease calming spray. It's made by Whisker City and they got it at PetSmart.

I think it's worth a try and plan to get some for my own cats. If enough clients show interest or report to me that it works I will carry it here with the other retail items at the front desk.

Before using, be sure to clean the carrier thoroughly. Spray the terrycloth towel that you MUST lay in the bottom, but also spray the carrier's interior.

You DO lay a folded towel in the bottom of your carrier, right?? If your cat pees, you want it to absorb rather than winding up with a dripping cat. I get tired of having to do all that cleanup while I should be examining the cat.

Ok, Should I Start Up an Email Newsletter of Sorts?

2011-11-08T10:58:00.000-08:00

I am seeking input on whether or not people are interested in any kind of email newsletter from us. It would be quite advantageous for us as a way to pass PDF files that don't have a web host on to you (my hard drive is just FULL of client information sheets and stuff that could be sent to your email inbox rather than posting here, formatting issues and all, and hoping you remember to visit).

If you are a client of Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic, or if you are just an interested cat owner, please email me at gardvm at aol dot com - and please put "CMVC newsletter" in the subject line. Tell me if you would like to be on a mailing list, and how often you think a newsletter should be (I am sensitive to the issue of TOO MUCH EMAIL).

Please do NOT email me with questions about your cat's health. We can only advise you based on an actual physical examination of the cat here at Cat's Meow. I do NOT practice internet medicine.

Our Facebook Page

2011-11-08T10:48:00.000-08:00

This is just a friendly reminder that we DO have a Facebook page and I am a little better about posting links to good news and info over there than I am here (lately).

Click here:
Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic on Facebook

Weird Pets and Weird Infections

2011-10-28T12:20:00.000-07:00

Dr. Scott Weese over at Worms & Germs has a great piece about some of the difficult considerations when you adopt an exotic species of animal and then get bitten by it.

As is virtually always the case, I agree completely with him. People sometimes ask why I don't treat various exotic species: ferrets, ocelots, chinchillas, snakes, etc. Well, aside from the small fact of our being a CAT hospital (ie DOMESTIC kitties ONLY), I don't have experience with these types of critters. They can and do have sometimes extraordinarily unique husbandry needs, and can have very rare and strange diseases, many of which can affect people. I never took the exotic animal medicine elective course in vet school, so I prefer to leave that to those who did.

The State of California strictly regulates ownership of many exotic species, and for good reason. The case of 49 large exotics having to be killed in Ohio recently is a tragic case in point. If you are going to keep lions and tigers and leopards, you simply MUST know what you are doing and be equipped to do it right. I will never forget the sight of all those gorgeous tigers lying dead in a heap. I would never want to enable that sort of neglect.

On rare occasion I still see pet domestic rabbits or rats, but the demand for that is virtually gone in this economy so I am phasing them out altogether.

We are all about Felis domesticus. We don't dislike other creatures, we just don't vet them. And yeah, we still don't do dogs.

Happy Ending / A New Beginning

2011-10-23T21:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Mr. Happy, our fractured pelvis hit-by-car stray, went to his new home with a former employee of mine. By all accounts he is adjusting very quickly and likes things there.

I already miss him.

A Particularly Important Reason to Never Feed Your Cat Raw Meat

2011-10-15T17:20:00.000-07:00

If NDM-1-containing Salmonella ever gets established in poultry farms in the US, it's game-set-match in the battle against this particular food-borne bacterial infection. If you don't care about your own life, I can't make you. But I care about mine and that of my staff and patients and clients. I have seen presumed Salmonella infection in several cats that were fed raw poultry, and it can make kitties (and humans who associate with them) extremely ill. If we have no antibiotics to fight it, cats will have to be euthanized and humans will simply die if they catch it.

NO RAW MEATS. USE GOOD FOOD HANDLING SAFETY TECHNIQUES IN YOUR KITCHEN. BE INFORMED - READ ABOUT NDM-1 IN SALMONELLA HERE.

Salmonella Redux

2011-10-05T15:09:00.000-07:00

It seems like this is one that will just never go away. Salmonella, a bacterium, causes far too much illness in the US and lack of adequate poultry testing from farm to table is the main problem. Without following the entire chain of custody, there is no way to know how or where the Salmonella is getting into the food supply.

This excellent article over at iwatchnews.com is an excellent backgrounder for the interested lay public. I wish the not-so-interested lay public would read about it, too, but I suppose that's hoping for too much.

ETA: The whole point of this post, which I forgot to mention, is that Salmonella in poultry is a potential health threat to our kitties, too. And a major reason why I oppose feeding raw meats.

Hey, She's Posting!

2011-10-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

I seem to spend most of my time doing quickie posts over on my Facebook page rather than blogging here, which is simply laziness on my part. I guess I feel like I need a lot more length, depth, and substance in my blog posts than FB posts, but in truth that's not some legal requirement. It's just something that got into my head and now serves only to make me avoid posting here.

Bad, bad Dr. R!

I hope to do better. But if you are looking for briefer, lighter fare, you can indeed find it on the CMVC FB page.

Please Excuse Our Neighbors

2011-09-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

Please pay no attention to the one-handed Persian man who runs the print shop next door to us. He may yell and scream and fight with his wife and sons all day long, but he is harmless as far as we and our clients are concerned.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.

Today is World Rabies Day

2011-09-28T08:21:00.003-07:00

The World Health Organization and CDC team up every year to promote rabies education and prevention around the nation and the world. Rabies is primarily a human threat in Third World countries, but only an active animal rabies prevention effort makes it the minor threat in the US that it currently is.

~~~~~~~~
From the CDC website:

Rabies is a deadly virus that can kill anyone who gets it. Every year, an estimated 40,000 people in the U.S. receive a series of shots known as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) due to potential exposure to rabies. In addition, the U.S. public health cost associated with rabies is more than $300 million a year. Each year around the world, rabies results in more than 55,000 deaths – approximately one death every 10 minutes. Most deaths are reported from Africa and Asia with almost 50% of the victims being children under the age of 15.

The Challenge of Rabies
Rabies is present on every inhabited continent. People usually get rabies when they are bitten by an animal that has the virus. In the U.S., the animals that most often get rabies are wild animals. Fortunately, the U.S. has been successful in eliminating a particular kind of rabies – known as canine rabies – that is responsible for rabies spreading from dog-to-dog.

However, canine rabies has not been controlled in many regions of the world, further threatening the health of humans and animals in these areas. In addition, some areas of the world have problems with large numbers of stray dogs, which can often come in contact with wild animals that have rabies. This often causes an increased number of rabid animals that have the potential to transmit the virus to humans.

The good news is that people can easily take steps to help prevent and control rabies.

Keep Away From Wildlife and Unfamiliar Animals
More than 90% of all animal rabies cases reported to CDC each year occur in wild animals. The main animals that get rabies include raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes.

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to avoid contact with wild animals. Do not feed or handle them, even if they seem friendly.

Unfamiliar animals that are often thought of as pets, such as dogs and cats, should also be avoided. These animals are often in contact with wildlife and can also transmit rabies to humans.

If you see an animal acting strangely, report it to animal control. Some things to look for are:

General sickness
Problems swallowing
Lots of drool or saliva
An animal that appears more tame than you would expect
An animal that bites at everything
An animal that's having trouble moving or may even be paralyzed
Sometimes, people may come across a dead animal. Never pick up or touch dead animals. The rabies virus may still be present in the saliva or nervous tissue, especially if they have only been dead for a short time. If you see a dead animal, call animal control to take care of the animal's body.

Take Pets to a Veterinarian for Their Rabies Shot
Make sure to take your pets, such as dogs and cats, to the veterinarian each year. A veterinarian can make sure your pets are up to date on their rabies shot, which can protect them from getting rabies. This in important, since animals that have not received a rabies shot and are exposed to rabies must be quarantined for six months, or put down.

Talk to your veterinarian about spaying or neutering your pet. This helps cut down on the number of unwanted and stray animals. These animals often do not have their rabies shot and are in close contact with wild animals.

Stay Rabies Free In and Around Your Home
No matter where you live, rabies can threaten your family's health. Fortunately, there are things you can do around the home to help reduce the risk of getting rabies.

Keep your pets indoors. When a dog goes outside, make sure an adult is there to watch it and keep it safe.
Do not feed or put water for your pets outside and keep garbage securely covered. These items may attract wild animals or stray animals to your yard.
Teach children never to handle wild animals or unfamiliar domestic animals.
While most wild animals are found primarily outdoors, bats can sometimes fly into buildings. This includes your home and even the room where you sleep. If you see a bat in your home, confine the bat to a room by closing all doors and windows leading out of the room except those to the outside. The bat will probably leave soon. If not, approach it slowly, and when it lands and place a box or coffee can over it. Slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside. Tape the cardboard to the container securely. Be sure to contact your health department or animal control authority so they can test the bat for rabies.

There are also steps you can take to "bat-proof" your home. Learn more about bats and how to ";bat-proof"; your home.

~~~~~~~~~

Visit the CDC rabies web page for links to more information, including rabies safety during travel.

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Rabies/?s_cid=fb1169

And if your cat is overdue for its rabies vaccination, make an appointment today!

Today is World Rabies Day

2011-09-28T08:20:00.000-07:00

The World Health Organization and CDC team up every year to promote rabies education and prevention around the nation and the world. Rabies is primarily a human threat in Third World countries, but only an active animal rabies prevention effort makes it the minor threat in the US that it currently is.

~~~~~~~~

Rabies is a deadly virus that can kill anyone who gets it. Every year, an estimated 40,000 people in the U.S. receive a series of shots known as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) due to potential exposure to rabies. In addition, the U.S. public health cost associated with rabies is more than $300 million a year. Each year around the world, rabies results in more than 55,000 deaths – approximately one death every 10 minutes. Most deaths are reported from Africa and Asia with almost 50% of the victims being children under the age of 15.

The Challenge of Rabies
Rabies is present on every inhabited continent. People usually get rabies when they are bitten by an animal that has the virus. In the U.S., the animals that most often get rabies are wild animals. Fortunately, the U.S. has been successful in eliminating a particular kind of rabies – known as canine rabies – that is responsible for rabies spreading from dog-to-dog.

However, canine rabies has not been controlled in many regions of the world, further threatening the health of humans and animals in these areas. In addition, some areas of the world have problems with large numbers of stray dogs, which can often come in contact with wild animals that have rabies. This often causes an increased number of rabid animals that have the potential to transmit the virus to humans.

The good news is that people can easily take steps to help prevent and control rabies.

Keep Away From Wildlife and Unfamiliar Animals
More than 90% of all animal rabies cases reported to CDC each year occur in wild animals. The main animals that get rabies include raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes.

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to avoid contact with wild animals. Do not feed or handle them, even if they seem friendly.

Unfamiliar animals that are often thought of as pets, such as dogs and cats, should also be avoided. These animals are often in contact with wildlife and can also transmit rabies to humans.

If you see an animal acting strangely, report it to animal control. Some things to look for are:

General sickness
Problems swallowing
Lots of drool or saliva
An animal that appears more tame than you would expect
An animal that bites at everything
An animal that's having trouble moving or may even be paralyzed
Sometimes, people may come across a dead animal. Never pick up or touch dead animals. The rabies virus may still be present in the saliva or nervous tissue, especially if they have only been dead for a short time. If you see a dead animal, call animal control to take care of the animal's body.

Take Pets to a Veterinarian for Their Rabies Shot
Make sure to take your pets, such as dogs and cats, to the veterinarian each year. A veterinarian can make sure your pets are up to date on their rabies shot, which can protect them from getting rabies. This in important, since animals that have not received a rabies shot and are exposed to rabies must be quarantined for six months, or put down.

Talk to your veterinarian about spaying or neutering your pet. This helps cut down on the number of unwanted and stray animals. These animals often do not have their rabies shot and are in close contact with wild animals.

Stay Rabies Free In and Around Your Home
No matter where you live, rabies can threaten your family's health. Fortunately, there are things you can do around the home to help reduce the risk of getting rabies.

Keep your pets indoors. When a dog goes outside, make sure an adult is there to watch it and keep it safe.
Do not feed or put water for your pets outside and keep garbage securely covered. These items may attract wild animals or stray animals to your yard.
Teach children never to handle wild animals or unfamiliar domestic animals.
While most wild animals are found primarily outdoors, bats can sometimes fly into buildings. This includes your home and even the room where you sleep. If you see a bat in your home, confine the bat to a room by closing all doors and windows leading out of the room except those to the outside. The bat will probably leave soon. If not, approach it slowly, and when it lands and place a box or coffee can over it. Slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside. Tape the cardboard to the container securely. Be sure to contact your health department or animal control authority so they can test the bat for rabies.

There are also steps you can take to "bat-proof" your home. Learn more about bats and how to ";bat-proof"; your home.

~~~~~~~~~

Visit the CDC rabies web page for links to more information, including rabies safety during travel.

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Rabies/?s_cid=fb1169

And if your cat is overdue for its rabies vaccination, make an appointment today!

Another Hit-by-car Stray.......

2011-09-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

Well I was overdue for a post anyway, so I may as well cover the latest excitement at Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic. Around noon an earnest young man walked in with a stray cat he had just found in the street, injured. Poor kitty appears to have been hit by car and he probably has a fractured pelvis. He's very sweet and gentle, and doesn't seem very disturbed by the whole experience. He just has a lot of trouble standing and walking.

So we gave him some medications for pain, inflammation, and to guard against infection, and am letting him have a little rest overnight as our guest. The young man can't adopt him but he'll be checking in tomorrow to see what has developed. If he seems stable we will probably sedate him and get radiographs tomorrow (the cat, that is, not the human).

Kitty is about 7 months old, not neutered yet, has no microchip, and is a Domestic Medium Hair gray tabby/white bicolor - a gorgeous cat! I have temporarily dubbed him Mr. Happy because, well, in spite of his situation he seems happy.

UPDATE:
Mr. Happy has been radiographed and neutered (he should have been named Mr Stinky). He has a fractured pelvis and will need cage rest, stool softeners, and pain medication for a while but we expect a full recovery. And a very good client is probably going to be his new mom when he is good to go in about a month.

We don't normally hospitalize cats with pelvic fractures for a month, BTW, but he needs confinement of some sort and that's the sort we have here. In a private home he would be housed in a bathroom or other smallish room.

News of the Truly Weird

2011-08-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

I know it doesn't have anything at all to do with cats, but I still thought this article about how a type of giant rat in Africa defends itself against predators was fascinating.

Simple enough: chew on poisonous plant, coat hairs along your back with your poisonous saliva, stand back and wait for anybody who tries to grab you along your back to get the unpleasant surprise of their lives. It's apparently not enough toxin to kill, yet enough to give the predator a memorably bad experience so as to deter further predation.

Health Officials Issue Warning on Rabid Bats

2011-07-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Gleaned directly from our own Los Angeles Times:

"In the wake of a recent uptick of rabid bats in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, health officials are warning the public not to handle bats or other wildlife.

"Twelve rabid bats have been found scattered across Los Angeles County since the beginning of the year, numbers that are above normal.

"Typically, about eight to 10 rabid bats are found each year, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Heath.

snip

"These numbers do not mean that the public should become alarmed. Most bats do not have rabies," Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said in a statement Friday. "However we want everyone to be aware of what they should do if they see a bat on the ground, or if they or their pets come into contact with a bat."

~~~~~
Read the rest of the article at the link.

10 Bats Test Positive for Rabies in Moorpark

2011-07-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here I go again with another rabies post - but we can never do enough to get the word about this very real deadly disease threat in our own neighborhood. Moorpark, like much of Los Angeles County, has a bat rabies problem. And these rabid bats can and do get inside people's homes on a regular basis. So this report from the Sacramento Bee comes as absolutely NO surprise. Well, other than that we have to find out about this from a newspaper up north.....

This serves as a reminder that we need to keep our cats (and dogs) current on their rabies vaccinations at all times and regardless of their lifestyles. Rabies vaccine is extremely safe and highly effective, so there is no medical justification for not giving it (other than recent fever or physical debilitation).

And of course annual rabies vaccinations are an important time for your cat to get its annual or semi-annual physical exam to ensure that all its health needs are being met.

Read more about rabies at CDC's web page.

Prison Possible in Cats' Deaths

2011-07-29T12:14:00.000-07:00

Animal abuse seems to know no bounds. I support harsh punishment for those who deliberately harm pets. Such people are often just a short step away from doing the same thing to humans.

I try not to read too many of these sorts of stories - they make me almost physically ill.

From the Omaha World Herald:

A Nebraska City man who police say strangled two of his family's cats now faces a possible prison term.
Police arrested Eric Inman, 47, last week after they found the pets buried in the back yard of his residence. He has since been charged with two felony counts of animal cruelty, which carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
A veterinarian who examined the cats determined they died by strangulation, said police Capt. Lonnie Neeman.
"We have animal neglect calls about every day, but we've never had anything quite like this before," he said.

snip

~~~~~

Read the rest of the story here.

Threatened Snow Leopards Found in Afghanistan

2011-07-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

In a little good news from the endangered species front, it appears that snow leopards are thriving in some remote mountainous regions of Afghanistan.

No, we don't treat non-domestic species of cats here at Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic, but I have a special fondness for these guys and other big cats anyway. You might have noticed the large print of a snow leopard in our waiting room (and which has sadly faded, but I can't bring myself to take it down just yet).

As humans multiply and wild lands become more and more "developed", there are fewer safe havens for large predators such as this. Let's hope that we have the sense to leave these guys' home turf untouched for the forseeable future.

Parking Meters

2011-07-25T11:57:00.000-07:00

Last week at some point the parking meters out front got upgraded to the new version that accepts credit cards in addition to coins. We have been eagerly awaiting this change, hoping it would solve the 20-year-old problem of our local parking meters being broken more often than not.

Unfortunately, it seems we STILL have a problem, Houston.

For those who don't know - for the past TWENTY YEARS the meters out front have frequently taken money and yet provided no time. They have been broken. People have complained endlessly; unseen elves come and "fix" them; they function properly for a brief time, and then malfunction again. This has been an issue for as long as we have been here, which as I mentioned was TWENTY YEARS. No one from the city has made any attempt to replace the obviously broken meters. They prefer to ticket the hapless victims.

And therein lies the real problem. In Los Angeles it is illegal to park at a broken meter. You WILL be ticketed. It matters not how much money you put into said meter that you got no value for. It matters not that every meter for half a block is broken. You can't park there, and you will be ticketed if you do.

I swear it's some sort of a racket: the city makes far more money with all the ticketing than it ever would by fixing the meters permanently and then just collecting the parking fees.

I think our only hope for a permanent fix is to raise some hell as a community, so here is what I propose: everybody who has ever been ripped off by the meters at our curb needs to call the city at 311 and complain bitterly and at great length about how Woodland Hills Parking Meters #25, 25A, 26, 26A, and 27 are defective and perpetually breaking down. If enough people make a stink about it, something might just get done. Also, please feel free to call Councilman Zine's office at (818) 756-8848 and complain about how the meters, for TWENTY YEARS, have only had band-aid fixes and keep breaking.

In the meantime, good luck using the new meters. Someone has already complained to me that one wouldn't take their card. Please don't complain to me. The meters are not the responsibility of business owners. We have zero control over them. The CITY is responsible.

And of course you can always park behind our clinic, or next door in the lot at Papa John's (the building's owner has personally told me that he doesn't care if my clients park there, and nobody is using the lot until almost noon most days anyway). If you do park next door, please be considerate of that building's customers and do not take the prime spots near the street, but instead park toward the alley.

Holiday Weekend Closure

2011-07-01T18:49:00.000-07:00

We will be closed Saturday July 2 through Monday July 4 for the Independence Day holiday weekend. If you have an emergency, please call Veterinary Specialists of the Valley at 818-883-8387.

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Frequently Asked Questions by Pet Owners about The Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR)

2011-06-30T13:11:00.000-07:00

(Provided by AVMA; NOT written by Dr. Robison)

Q: What is a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR)?
A: A Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship, or VCPR for short, exists when your veterinarian knows your pet well enough to be able to diagnose and treat any medical conditions your animal develops. Your part of the VCPR is allowing your veterinarian to take responsibility for making clinical judgments about your pet's health, asking questions to make sure you understand, and following your veterinarian's instructions. Your veterinarian's part of the VCPR involves making those judgments, accepting the responsibility for providing your pet with medical care, advising you about the benefits and risks of different treatment options, keeping a written record of your pet's medical care, and helping you know how to get emergency care for your pet if the need should arise.

Q: How is a VCPR established and maintained?
A: A VCPR is established only when your veterinarian examines your animal in person, and is maintained by regular veterinary visits as needed to monitor your animal's health. If a VCPR is established but your veterinarian does not regularly see your pet afterward, the VCPR is no longer valid and it would be illegal and unethical for your veterinarian to dispense or prescribe medications or recommend treatment without recently examining your pet.
A valid VCPR cannot be established online, via email, or over the phone.

Q: Why is a VCPR so important?
A: For one, it's required by law in many states – in order for a veterinarian to diagnose or treat your animal, or prescribe or dispense medications, a VCPR must be in effect according to the state's Veterinary Practice Act (if you have questions about your state's Practice Act, contact your state veterinary medical board). Two, it's the best thing for your animal's health. Your veterinarian should be familiar with your animal's medical history and keep a written record of your animal's health so they can provide your animal with the best possible care. The AVMA's Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics also requires a VCPR for a veterinarian to prescribe medication or otherwise treat an animal.

Q: How can a VCPR be ended?
A: You, as the client, can terminate a VCPR at any time by notifying the veterinarian. If your veterinarian chooses to end the VCPR, they should notify you and, if your animal has an ongoing illness, provide medical care until you have transitioned to another veterinarian.

Q: What does my veterinarian offer that an online source can't match?
A: Your veterinarian knows you and knows your animal(s), and this is critical to keeping your animal(s) healthy. For example, your veterinarian can customize a vaccination program to give your animal the best protection from disease and make sure that it isn't getting a vaccine it doesn't need. Vaccine and drug reactions, although uncommon, can occur, and your veterinarian is trained to recognize and treat them to minimize the chance that the reaction will become severe or even life-threatening – you can't get that from a website!

Figuring out what's wrong with an animal is like solving a very complex puzzle – your veterinarian has to figure out how to fit all of the clues (pieces of the puzzle) together to solve it. Veterinarians have, on average, 8 or more years of college and in-depth veterinary school training to prepare them for this task. Their training makes it possible for them to thoroughly evaluate, diagnose and treat your animal's problem. Doing these things effectively involves thorough knowledge of your animal's body systems and how they function, as well as a familiarity with how medications and other treatments work and if any treatments interfere with others. Hands-on physical examination is incredibly valuable to your pet and can't be replaced by a phone conversation, web-based conversation, or email description.

This information has been prepared as a service by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Redistribution is acceptable, but the document's original content and format must be maintained, and its source must be prominently identified. Please contact Dr. Kimberly May (800.248.2862, ext 6667) with questions or comments.

Nestle Purina Recall

2011-06-29T17:04:00.000-07:00

The Nestle Purina dry cat food recall does NOT involve food sold in California, but stay tuned just in case it expands.

ETA: Many people don't realize that half the concern about Salmonella contamination of dry pet food is due to the risk of it spreading to humans. Salmonellosis is a zoonosis (a disease spread from animals to humans) - in this case, the food is the device by which such spread is accomplished.

CDC has an excellent page that discusses how to minimize the risk of catching Salmonella from pet food.

Why Cats Hate the Vet

2011-06-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

A few of you might have noticed that your cats are not exactly keen on coming to visit us here at Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic. Well, maybe that's more than a few. Perhaps even most.

I'd sure love it if they all had dog-like enthusiasm toward new and different experiences, people, and places. But they are cats, and their brains work differently than ours or dogs' do. When frightened, cats tend to revert to behavior more like that of their Felis sylvestris lybica ancestors, and that poses special challenges for us when it comes to handling, examining, and treating them.

Amy Shojai has written an excellent article on this vet-related behavior problem and how to address it, and I highly recommend reading it.

Our Time Warner Phone Service

2011-06-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Clients:

As I write this, we are AGAIN experiencing an interruption in our phone service. I guess I shouldn't complain too much - we also lost internet for over an hour, but it just came back on.

This is the second phone outage this week, and the third since I switched from AT&T. While I am happier overall with TWBC than I was with AT&T for a multitude of reasons which I won't delve into here, this inconsistent, unreliable phone connection has me a bit perturbed. Especially since I am locked into a two-year contract with these fools.

Sigh. You know the routine. 818-297-xxxx. I'm also going to try allowing comments on here and will check in periodically.

Update: 11 AM the phones are working again. Whew.

The Pancake

2011-06-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

You might remember the kitten we had here last fall for a couple of months after she was brought in by a Good Sam who saw her collide with a car. Anne has been fostering her since just before Christmas.

Well, good news: Little Miss Pinkie Pancakes has got a Forever Home with a very kind woman who found herself catless and in need. The Pancake goes to her new home today, and we are hoping she has many good years there, and a long life full of love.

I'll post a pic of her with her new mom as soon as I have one.

Oodles of Great Videos

2011-06-01T15:10:00.000-07:00

I just managed to rediscover the CATalyst Council's video page. I guess that's sort of like reinventing the wheel.......

My personal favorite is Scotty's trip to the vet from his own perspective.

For clients, my top recommend is for the two videos about getting your cat accustomed to the carrier.

June is Adopt-A-Cat Month!

2011-06-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

From the AVMA website:

Benefits of Cat Ownership - Each year around this time, thousands of newborn kittens join the millions of cats already in shelters across the country. To help address this booming population of cats in need of a home, the American Humane Association—along with partner organizations such as the AVMA, CATalyst Council and Petfinder—are observing Adopt-A-Cat Month in June. These groups hope to promote the benefits of having a cat (or cats) in the house and encourage responsible adoption and ownership to mitigate the problem of overpopulation.

Here's a very informative podcast with Dr. Jane Brunt of the CATalyst Council.

And here's an article from the CATalyst Council about Adopt-A-Cat Month and a ten point adoption checklist.

Of course, nobody needs to sell ME on the pleasures of cat ownership - I have had one or more of these furballs in my life continually since 1980, and enjoyed them from afar for many years before that. And in these difficult economic times, it's important to note that cat ownership is generally a less costly commitment than dog ownership.

So if you don't yet have a cat, please do consider getting one, or better yet, two (they do best with a buddy). If you already have one or two, there's room for more, and cats needing homes abound! When you do, be sure to make an appointment within a week or so for an initial veterinary exam to get off to a healthy start.

Gosh, No One Could Have Forseen THIS!

2011-05-31T16:47:00.000-07:00

Those of you who have been bringing your kitties to me at Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic have probably heard a rant or two of mine when it comes to feline nutrition. Well, here we go again.

A company producing RAW meat cat food (that should be an oxymoron, but it isn't) has had to recall product due to Salmonella contamination.

No, really. Imagine THAT. And it's got raw chicken. I'm simply stunned.

Not.

I guess this is as good a time as any to link back to my original raw meat rant.

The company even admits that raw chicken has a high rate of contamination with Salmonella:
".....Raw meat, especially poultry, harbors pathogens (bacteria). That is why it is essential for you to wash your hands after handling raw meat and to clean surfaces and utensils that have been in contact with raw meat. Approximately 7 percent to 15 percent of all poultry is estimated to be contaminated with Salmonella by the time it reaches the age of slaughter. Therefore, contamination takes place long before the poultry parts ever make it to raw diet manufacturers for processing. The USDA recognizes Salmonella as a fact of life and has even set "tolerance levels" for Salmonella - so poultry producers are allowed to have a certain amount of Salmonella present in their birds....."

Knowing this little factoid should give them substantial pause about the entire raw poultry concept, but they appear to live by magical, wishful thinking.

Oh, and I am not naming the company here because that just gives them free advertising. Click on the link to get the details.

Holiday Weekend Schedule

2011-05-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

Dr. Robison is away from the office until Tuesday May 31. Medical care will be unavailable at Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic until then.

If you have a medical emergency during this time, please call Veterinary Specialists of the Valley at 818-883-8387.

If you need a refill of your cat's medication; need to purchase food or retail items; need to call to schedule an appointment for next week; or would like to have us fax a copy of your records someplace else for care, the office will be open for administrative/retail services only on the following schedule:
Thursday May 26 9 AM - noon and 5-6 PM
Friday May 27 9 AM - noon and 5-6 PM
Saturday May 28 CLOSED
Sunday May 29 CLOSED
Monday May 30 CLOSED

Regular hours will resume Tuesday. Have a pleasant weekend!

Feral cats identified as possible Willow Creek rabies source; victim currently in stable condition

2011-05-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

For decades I have been harping on the subject of rabies as a public health issue, constantly telling clients, friends, family, and a whole host of other acquaintances that the rabies threat is real, that it is and will always be with us here in North America, and that cats should never be ignored as potential rabies vectors. We have a huge feral cat population in Los Angeles, and they have always troubled me because they are by and large unprotected against this ancient scourge. Our local bats are an ongoing rabies threat, and cats by their curious and predatory natures are especially at risk when rabid bats are around. Where this case occurred rabies is also common in skunks and gray foxes.

So it appears now that a perfect storm of events may have occurred in Northern California: high local incidence of rabid skunks and foxes, with some rabid local bats also; significant feral cat population; susceptible humans. The result is a woman in a fight for her life, and the only good news is that the Milwaukee Protocol appears to be working and she is now in stable condition. Every one of the half dozen rabies survivors worldwide is a small miracle because this viral disease has the highest mortality rate of any infectious disease: essentially 100%.

While I am thrilled at the woman's probable survival, I worry that people will use this as an excuse to have an even more lackadaisical attitude toward rabies than they do now (and that's really saying something). We have a serious feral cat issue here, and they pose a significant zoonotic disease threat even without taking rabies into consideration.

We still need to, as a community, come together to eliminate the feral cat problem, not just perpetuate it by dumping the poor things out on the street after neutering and a one-time vaccination and calling it good. Cats are NOT a native species and have no place in any North American ecosystem other than our households. As domestic animals, they have every right to a clean, safe home; protection from the elements and outdoor hazards; and most importantly, ongoing and adequate medical and preventive care by a licensed veterinarian.

I hope this is a wake up call for Angelenos. I fear that it will not be.

IPad Games for Cats - What Will They Think of Next??

2011-05-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

I just got wind of this new way to keep your cat entertained: iPad games for cats. Of course, I don't personally have an iPad, and am unlikely to get one, being a PC girl who doesn't get the Mac cachet, but even I have to admit this is pretty cool.

The games are: Cat Fishing, Tasty Treasures Hunt, and Party Mix-Up.

But please don't take this as an endorsement of Friskies cat food. As you know by now, I oppose the use of fish in cat foods except for very limited situations, and Friskies puts fish in virtually everything they make. I think they also use a bit of wheat gluten in some of their canned foods and that also is a bad idea.

I'm also not sure what sort of damage cat claws could do to one of those rather costly devices.........

A Day in the Life of a Veterinarian

2011-05-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

I came across this article back in April - it details a reporter's experiences as an observer at a veterinary hospital in Wisconsin on one day this year.

I found this part interesting:
"...Doing follow-up research for the story, I came across a British study that revealed the suicide rate of veterinarians is proportionally four times that of the general population and twice that of other doctors and dentists. Job stress, lethal drug access and euthanasia acceptance are among the potential driving forces behind the heightened risk, the study said..."

I wasn't aware of this, but it doesn't surprise me. We certainly know how to do that "dead" thing as part of our professional training, and have access to the tools and drugs to do it. A veterinarian from the class ahead of me in vet school committed suicide just a couple of years after graduating, while he was successfully employed in private practice.

I wonder how the numbers look in light of the economic decline of the past few years? It has almost certainly become more of a problem than ever, because veterinary visits are down so much.

Sigh. I'm gonna go home tonight and tell my kitties how much I love them, and that no matter what, I will always be there for them.

Information for Pet Owners During Disasters

2011-05-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles Veterinary Public Health has produced a brochure called Information for Pet Owners During Disasters. If you click on the link you can get a downloadable copy of it.

It seems like these sorts of considerations are in the news right after a disaster, but then they seem to fall out of favor as celebrity divorces and two-headed baby animals get back into the headlines.

I keep plenty of dry cat food on hand at home, and have a 30 gallon hot water tank for fresh water in emergency (accessed via the drain spigot). My cat carriers are clean, handy, and lined with fresh terrycloth towels. I recommend that you also have a summary of your cat's medical history and veterinary contact information stored on your computer on in paper form (I prefer Dropbox for online AND hard drive storage with synchronization for my important personal information).

It's not a bad idea, either, to have a game plan in mind for where you might house kitty temporarily in case of emergency. We can and do board our existing patients if fire threatens or someone has an urgent need to vacate their home temporarily. We are not a public boarding kennel, so your cat won't be needlessly exposed to random hordes of cats from heaven-knows-what background and vaccination status. We DO require that any cats staying with us be current on vaccinations, so if they are overdue they will need to be vaccinated upon entry.

Cat Fur

2011-05-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

We aren't a grooming parlor, but we DO get involved in feline grooming issues when a groomer can't or won't tackle it. Sometimes this is because a cat is simply too fractious (I like that term - it sounds so much less judgemental than "nasty") to be combed or shaved, and sometimes it is because the groomer sees something scary about the cat's condition and alerts the owner that medical attention is needed, not simply grooming.

Either way, when a cat comes to us with grooming issues, we always start with an EXAMINATION. By the DOCTOR. In the EXAM room. And yes, we do charge for this exam. It's part of what I consider appropriate medical care, and is essential so that we can do a thorough evaluation of the cat's overall needs (we don't treat fur - we treat PATIENTS) and give an accurate fee estimate.

You'd be surprised at the vast number of phone calls we get from people demanding a bath and combout or shave WITHOUT my ever examining the patient. It would be funny if it weren't so sad, because this demand is usually AFTER the receptionist has already explained the need for an EXAM.

And no, we can't tell you how expensive it will be to combout or shave your cat, who we have never seen before, without having a good look at it. We don't have a magic crystal ball to intuit the concomitant kidney failure, or out-of-control hyperthyroidism, or advanced oral cancer that we sometimes see in cats presented for "grooming".

I try not to get frustrated by these things, but it's hard. Especially when it's clear the owner doesn't care nearly as much about their cat's medical well-being as they do their own personal convenience or entertainment budget.

We had a cat come in recently that was old and decrepit, and badly matted. When we got done shaving her, it was hard to tell which was the pile of fur and which was the cat. It ended well - she went home feeling much better than when she came in. But it was scary - and she isn't the worst I've ever seen.

So, which is the cat? And which is the fur? You decide.

Disclaimer: The cat depicted is alive. No cats were harmed in the production of this blog post.

Helpful suggestion: Grooming implements

Fire Hydrant

2011-05-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month we had a little adventure out front. A couple of cars over at the In-and-Out Burger driveway got into a dispute and one of them sheared off the fire hydrant as it careened up onto the sidewalk.

When it happened, Alison and I were wasting time chatting in my office. Mid-sentence she flinched, turned around, and walked quickly up front. She had heard the cars collide but didn't know what the sound was.

Much laughter and shouting ensued as she excitedly informed me of the geyser across the street and I grabbed my camera. And I actually remembered to take pictures!

Fortunately, LAFD was quickly on scene and it only took about 5 minutes before the water was shut off. It took a while for the traffic to clear, though. This happened just as Taft HS was letting out.

The geyser:

The cavalry has arrived:

All fixed:

Now, most of you probably won't see the humor in this. But the exact same thing happened to the fire hydrant 20 feet from my apartment late one night a couple of months ago, and the geyser came down directly on my (flat) roof, making me wonder if my bedroom would soon be flooded. And there was also the kerfuffle with the switchblade-wielding lunatic trying to carjack people at my apartment complex in March, but that's another story altogether and not cat-related at all other than the part about my cats gawking at him when he broke his bedroom window not 30 feet away.....

I have had quite enough excitement of late, thank you.

Video of Cat Giving Birth

2011-05-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

Not many people living in Los Angeles these days have seen a cat actually giving birth. But thanks to the wonders of the intertubes, we have THIS VIDEO of a cat "queening".

While it's a wonderfully educational video, I do have one concern. Queening cats do far better if they are left alone in a dark, quiet place without humans or other animals around to disturb them. It is uncommon, but they have been known to kill and eat their kittens when overstressed by their presence.

The average litter size is 3 or 4, but I have personally seen a litter of 7 and I think more is not unheard of.

We still recommend spaying female cats at age 6 months to prevent pregnancy and greatly lower the risk of mammary cancer. In this economy, too few kittens are being adopted into good homes, so watch the video and have your own cat spayed before she can have any.

Fun With Bunnehs

2011-05-11T15:47:00.000-07:00

When I first read about this, I was certain it had to be from The Onion (the world's best online satire magazine). But it's not. It's real.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: Showjumping Bunnies.

Health Certificates

2011-05-09T12:46:00.001-07:00

If you are planning airline travel for your kitty within the United States, or travel by any means to another country, your cat will need a health certificate. Issuance of health certificates is regulated by state and federal government, and laws regarding import of animals are a matter for the country you are importing to. Veterinarians may only issue health certificates if they are federally accredited (I am and have been since 1983). Airlines typically require health certificates even if the animal is flying within a single state.

In order for us to issue either an interstate or international health certificate, we will need to examine your cat during an office visit, and you will need to make an appointment for this. WE CANNOT LEGALLY ISSUE A HEALTH CERTIFICATE WITHOUT PERFORMING A PHYSICAL EXAM AT THE TIME IT IS ISSUED. This point is not negotiable. Advance planning is the order of the day - you should look into legal requirements as soon as you know you are traveling - please do not wait until the day before you plan to fly to Australia or Hawaii to start the ball rolling.

Interstate travel:

Call your airline or check their website to find out what their travel requirements for pets are. How much does it cost to fly your pet? What restrictions are there on pets traveling in the cabin (carrier size is an issue here)? What sort of paperwork is required for your pet to fly (airlines differ greatly here - some no longer require health certificates at all - some are very strict in their requirement that you provide one).

Do your due diligence and check your state websites, too! Hawaii is the only state with major restrictions on animal importation due to its rabies-free status. The four-month process with allows you to import a cat to Hawaii without a lengthy quarantine is not often fully complied with, so some owners, after doing what they think is the right thing, STILL wind up having to quarantine Fluffy for 4 months at the end. Don't let this happen to you - it's a horribly expensive mistake and very distressing for pet and owner.

International travel:

This is where we see lots of problems leading up to transport. Failure to adequately plan for transportation and allow enough time to comply with all regulations imposed by the importing country is a constant and ongoing issue. Fortunately, due to the wonders of the internet, owners are much better able these days to navigate the minefield that shipping a cat to someplace like Japan or Australia or England can be. Every country has a website that spells out the process in plain English.

Most countries don't require anything other than an exam, health certificate, and current vaccinations (particularly rabies). In these cases it's a simple process involving only one vet visit, generally within a week or two of travel. If you need to submit the health certificate to the USDA in Sacramento for their stamp of approval, you need to allow time for that, too.

If you are traveling to a rabies-free country, be prepared for a long, drawn-out process of exams, vaccinations, blood tests, microchipping, more exams, more vaccinations, etc. And you have to get it JUST RIGHT, or it's the same as not complying at all. So again, do your due diligence and know exactly what you are getting into. Never take a cat to a foreign country on a whim or if it's not absolutely necessary.

Here are links to the pet importation web pages of some of the most common (or challenging) travel destinations:

Hawaii pet importation brochure - this thing's more like a book!

Hawaii Department of Agriculture

Bringing Cats and Dogs to Australia

Traveling With Pets to the UK

Taking Pets to Japan - translation is a little bit problematic with this website, in my opinion. PDF of current requirements is HERE.

Canada

Mexico

And here's the USDA page on pet travel with important links.

The Bush Out Front

2011-05-05T14:08:00.000-07:00

Those of you who have been clients for a while may vaguely recall the lovely crape myrtle tree out front that was mercilessly hacked down one weekend years ago, presumably by agents of the pizza shop manager next door who complained to me that it blocked views of his sign. The stump of the tree soldiered on, valiantly putting out suckers every spring, which my dear landlord faithfully kept trimmed into a semi-tidy bush.

A couple of weeks ago, an aide from Councilman Zine's office stopped by to talk about the "bush" and the need to remove it as the next step in the tree-planting beautification project along Ventura Blvd. We don't own the property it sits on (it belongs to the pizza shop/dental office building next door) so we can't give the final okay, but I told him we and every other business owner in the area that I knew of were eager to get a nice new REAL tree back in there.

Well, last weekend the bush/stump was removed. So I guess we are going to get our new tree one of these days pretty soon!

Other Blogs

2011-05-04T08:41:00.001-07:00

I snagged web addresses to set up two other blogs for the sole purpose of directing viewers to THIS blog. Though since you are already here and reading this, I guess YOU, constant reader, don't need them. But FYI, www.catsmeowveterinaryclinic.blogspot.com and www.gaylerobisondvm.blogspot.com do now exist. I wish every web address involving my practice name were available, and some ARE (for a PRICE), but I am happy with the blog format for keeping clients informed rather than traditional business website formats, so here I am and here I will stay.

Please just remember if you give my blog address to others verbally or in writing that it has BLOGSPOT in it.

Dumb Easter Decisions

2011-04-24T11:47:00.001-07:00

Scott Weese has a little bit to say about the impulse purchasing of chicks and baby bunnies at Easter, one of America's more deplorable holiday traditions, over at Worms & Germs. We occasionally see rabbits that started out as Easter bunnies, but I suppose that if they are being taken to the vet for any care at all that's a sign that they might have a decent home in spite of the odds.

I'd be happier if this silly trend died. Rabbits can be great pets, but it requires a serious commitment and lots of homework before you dive in. And chickens as pets? Well, not so much.

Feline Heart Disease

2011-03-26T17:14:00.000-07:00

For many years we thought primary heart disease was extremely uncommon in cats. After researchers figured out the critical role that insufficient taurine in cat foods was playing in the development of dilated cardiomyopathy and cat food manufacturers corrected the problem, we thought we were home free.

Other than the occasional hyperthyroid cat with secondary heart disease, we didn't think heart problems were an issue for cats. But it turns out that another heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, may be surprisingly common in cats. And it's my considered opinion that this disease, which has a genetic (inherited) component, may be behind many of the sudden deaths (particularly in male cats) that I have seen over the years. I even lost one of my own cats, our diabetic mascot Tiggy, to sudden death that was almost certainly cadriac in origin.

Fortunately, there is a lot we can do these days for cats with heart disease, even in the early stages before the cat becomes ill. And detection of asymptomatic heart disease is getting much easier with the new blood test for proBNP, a blood marker for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

IDEXX, our outside laboratory service provider, has a great new website full of information about feline heart disease. ALL cat owners should read it and get a little bit familiar with this disease. And don't be afraid! We have lots of patients with heart disease (on paper) who are on medication to control symptoms and possible stop progress or even reverse heart changes, and most of them live normal lives and go on to die of unrelated disease. My own Eddie was on heart medication the last three years of his life and it seemed to reverse the problem to where he had no external evidence (no murmur anymore, heart rate down to normal), and when he died of cancer at age 12 his heart was the least of his problems.

Radiation Fallout Risk for Pets?

2011-03-23T12:25:00.001-07:00

While it doesn't cover infectious disease, this piece by Scott Weese on Worms & Germs does an excellent job of explaining the (lack of) risk to our pets from radiation due to the nuclear plant mishaps in Japan.

I was thinking this exact thing before reading his post: ".....Compared to humans, pets are probably at much lower risk of adverse effects from radiation exposure, because pets have much shorter lifespans, but the effects of radiation exposure tend to cause disease over very long periods of time....."

Of course, if significant plutonium is released from Fukushima Daiishi Reactor #3 with its MOX fuel, all bets are off. Plutonium radiation is essentially forever due to its half-life of tens or hundreds of thousands of years.

Medications Top List of Most Common Cat poisons

2011-03-21T20:50:00.000-07:00

According to the Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 animal poison control center, the most common causes of poisoning in cats are:
1) Human and veterinary medicines (40%)
The problem is often with misuse/failure to follow instructions/not reading labels, in my experience. And then there was the cat I saw years ago whose owner almost killed it with cyanide poisoning from laetrile. Coma resulted in the cat's blindness, deafness, and inability to relate to its environment or even eat/drink, so we had to euthanize. All because the cat's owner wouldn't let me amputate the leg to cure its cancer, and decided that mumbo jumbo was better.
2) Poisonous plants (14%)
Lilies, of course, come to mind this time of year - ALL lilies are deadly poison to cats and can destroy their kidneys even in small doses - don't decorate with Easter lilies or any other kind.
3) Insecticides (9%)
I have seen numerous poisonings due to use (correct or incorrect, BTW) of OTC flea control products - some are intended for use in cats but are simply obsolete due to safety/effectiveness issues, and some are intended for use in dogs but for whatever reason pet owners think they can disregard this and use on cats. I have NEVER seen toxicity of any kind with proper use of Advantage, Frontline, or Revolution.
4) Household cleaners (6%)
Most household cleaning compounds are unnecessary in my opinion. I make my own cleaning concoctions such as laundry pre-spot, all-purpose cleaner, soap for handwashing delicates, and all manner of baking soda/lemon juice/vinegar combos for kitchen use, and only rarely use bleach or ammonia. I don't want these things in my home where they can spill or leak and get on kitty paws, and toxic residues can be left on surfaces. Someday I should do a blog post with my recipes for cat-safe cleaners!
5) Other poisons (31%)
One memorable poisoning I saw several years ago was the poor cat who tried to drink the liquid simmering potpourri liquid stuff, which is chemically like concentrated detergent. Poor thing had caustic burns in her mouth, which did heal, but it was a painful and expensive lesson for the owner.

Wellness Canned Cat Food Recall

2011-03-02T09:10:00.001-08:00

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/letter.aspx

Wellness has announced a voluntary recall of some canned cat food due to inadequate thiamine levels (which can cause neurologic disease). The full text of their letter follows:

February 28, 2011
Dear Pet Parents,
My name is Tim Callahan and I'm the CEO of WellPet, makers of Wellness® natural pet food. Over the years, we at WellPet have worked hard to earn the reputation of being a company that does everything possible for the pets that depend on us.
WellPet is committed to delivering the very best in pet food nutrition, as nothing is more important than the well-being of our dogs and cats. So when we found through product quality testing that specific product runs of our Wellness canned cat food might contain less than adequate levels of thiamine (also known as Vitamin B1), we decided to voluntarily recall them.
Please know, the vast majority of products tested had the appropriate levels of thiamine; however, with the number of recipes we offer, we did not want to make this more confusing. Therefore to avoid confusion and in an abundance of caution, we have decided to recall all canned cat products with the specific date codes noted below. Cats fed only product with inadequate levels of thiamine for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.
Though the chance of developing this deficiency is remote, withdrawing these products is the right thing to do and we are removing it from retailers' shelves.
The lots involved in this voluntary recall are:
Wellness Canned Cat (all flavors and sizes) with best by dates from 14APR 13 through 30SEP13;
Wellness Canned Cat Chicken & Herring (all sizes) with best by date of 10NOV13 and 17NOV13.
If you have cat food from these lots, you should stop feeding it to your cats. You may call WellPet at 1-877-227-9587 to arrange for return of the product and reimbursement.
No other Wellness products that your pets currently enjoy are impacted, so you can continue to feed your pets Wellness with full confidence. This is an isolated situation, as we have had only one reported issue. We are taking all the necessary steps to ensure it does not happen again.
Speaking on behalf of our entire Company, I apologize for any concerns this may have caused you. As a parent of a yellow lab named Hope, I understand the sense of responsibility we all share for our dogs and cats. Rest assured, product quality and safety will always be our top priority.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some of you may feed Wellness and be perfectly happy with it, but it's not on my "Doctor Gayle-Approved List" because it is not tested to document nutritional adequacy but rather merely formulated to meet written criteria. Nutrient bioavailability is very much an issue when that's the case, completely apart from failing to add necessary ingredients in the first place.

I still don't recommend the company. I still see lots of urinary problems associated with their products, too.

Cowpox in a Dog

2011-01-21T11:32:00.000-08:00

Oh noes!! What is that crazy Doctor Robison writing about NOW that has nothing to do with cats??

Well, patience has its virtue. Do read on at this link, because cowpox has more relevance to cats and their owners than it does dogs, as Scott Weese over at Worms and Germs explains.

I don't think we have endemic cowpox in our local rat population, but it is always possible. So it's one MORE reason to keep your cats indoors to minimize their contact with wild rodents.

I don't spend time worrying about this one, perhaps because I am fond of our friend cowpox, which gave us the smallpox vaccine (smallpox being the only deadly human virus mankind has ever completely wiped out in nature, a huge public health victory). Read more about that here.

Another Phone Call

2011-01-11T16:04:00.000-08:00

So Alison was fielding phone calls this afternoon and got one from our friends at the boiler room in India, who grace us with their solicitations for all manner of scams at least once a day.

Caller: Hello, may I speak to Gayle Robertson (sic)?
Alison: May I ask who's calling?
Caller: My name is Roger.
Alison (who can hear the boilerroom operation humming in the background and notes that Roger sounds Indian): What company are you with, Roger?
Caller: Um....uh....my name is Roger.
Alison: I heard that part, Roger. What company are you with?
Caller: I....uh....um....I don't know.
Alison: Wait. What? You don't know? Who do you work for that you are calling on behalf of, Roger??
Caller: Um...I think I'm gonna go now. (click)

I swear. You can't make this stuff up.

How To Make Your Own Cat Litter

2011-01-06T12:16:00.000-08:00

Yes, sportsfans, if you have the time, energy, and motivation, you too can manufacture your own homemade paper-based cat litter. Instructions are found over at The Greenists.com.

Why would you want to? Well, it sounds like a great way to reuse waste paper, which is a very environmentally friendly thing to do (and preferable to shipping it to China for recycling over there, or even some faraway place in the US), and it's oh so artsy/craftsy/do-it-yourself-ish.

I must confess - I have not tried this myself. But I am tempted, if only for an experiment to see if it's really that easy. Besides, I think it might be a good way to give my brand new immersion blender a trial run (though my sister, who gave it to me this Christmas for KITCHEN use might not approve).

If any of you do decide to try this, let me know how it works.

New Year's Hours

2010-12-29T09:41:00.000-08:00

In observation of the New Year we will be taking a little time off this weekend. Office hours will be:

Friday Dec. 31 - 8 AM - noon only
Saturday Jan. 1 - CLOSED
Sunday Jan. 2 - CLOSED

Regular hours will resume Monday Jan. 3. Have a safe and happy New Year!

MT wildlife expert offers raccoon advice

2010-12-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

I found this piece online that discusses some of the dangers raccoons can pose to public health. While we don't have raccoon rabies here in Southern California, the local raccoons can and do carry the very dangerous raccoon roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis, which is not mentioned in the very brief piece by a tv station (typical!).

Don't let raccoons set up a latrine on your property. If they do, clean it up using good hygiene to minimize the risk to human and animal health. Baylisascaris can infect and kill perfectly healthy humans and their pets.

Wikipedia entry on B. procyonis

B. procyonis factsheet from Wisconsin's DHS

Oopsie!

2010-12-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

When Hormone Creams Expose Others to Risks

Dr. Richard Fried, owner of the Lincoln Square Veterinary Hospital in Manhattan, said he recently saw two cats that seemed to go back into heat after spaying by a different vet. Tests in one cat showed high blood levels of estrogen, but before he could spay it again, the cats’ breeder suggested that the culprit might be the owner’s hormone treatment.

“We are always warning pet owners to be careful about their medications,” Dr. Fried said. “But this is a much more insidious kind of problem that most people don’t think about.”

"Dr. Stuenkel says women should be counseled about safe use of the drugs.

"After using a topical hormone cream, they should thoroughly wash their hands before handling food, children or pets. Products should dry completely before the user comes into contact with people or animals, and women may want to consider changing the area where they apply the cream or covering it with long sleeves or slacks."

I haven't seen any suspected cases of this. Yet.

How to Rescue Orphaned Kittens

2010-12-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

My own experience with rescuing tiny kittens is rather limited (and there was that one bottle baby years ago that became psychotic as a result of inadequate cat-to-cat interaction that I regret), but some veterinarians are better with that whole complicated, energy-sapping deal. Here's an excellent article on the subject with tips from a pro.

Why the Deaf Have Enhanced Vision

2010-12-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

"Deaf people with enhanced vision can thank otherwise idle brain cells for their heightened sense, a new study in cats suggests.

"That's because the brain recruits cells normally devoted to hearing to help them see better, the research revealed.

"The brain is very efficient and it's not going to let this huge territory that is the auditory cortex and all the processing that it has go to waste," said study leader Stephen Lomber of Canada's University of Western Ontario. The auditory cortex is the part of the brain that controls hearing.

"So it makes sense that other senses will come in and colonize."

Here's the BEST part: "....the research could lead to improved cochlear implants that target specific regions of the auditory cortex, such as the part involved in understanding speech...."

Read the entire fascinating National Geographic article here.

Abnormal urination could be sign of medical or behavorial issue for cat

2010-12-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

Here's an excellent article about the significance of abnormal urination in cats and why it should never be simply written off as "the way cats are". The author is a veterinarian, which is what I like to see in articles about feline health (as opposed to being authored by lay journalists who may not be able to address medical issues coherently or may just get their facts wrong).

"Abnormal urination is a common problem in felines. Symptoms center on urinating in inappropriate places, but problems can also include spraying, increased frequency of urination, straining to urinate, inability to urinate, and the presence of blood, bacteria, pus or crystals in the urine. If the underlying cause is not addressed, the patient can become very ill.

"The key to resolving this matter is to determine if this is a medical or behavioral issue. Both categories occur frequently, but the treatment differs.

"Your veterinarian will want to know:
» When this problem started,
» Frequency and type of symptoms.
» Water consumption.
» Appetite, energy and weight.
» How many cats are present in or around the household.
» Information about the litter and litter box.
» Stressful household changes.

"Lab work will minimally include a blood panel and urinalysis. Other diagnostics may include a urine culture, X-ray or ultrasound.

"Medical causes for abnormal urination can include diabetes, kidney disease, cystitis, a urinary tract infection, a kidney infection, urinal crystal formation, urinary stone formation, kidney stones and cancer."

I'm going to add an important request: when bringing your cat in for evaluation of urinary problems (or ANY illness for that matter), if it has been seen by another veterinarian for that problem within the past couple of years, please bring with you a complete compy of the prior medical record so we can offer a VALID second opinion rather than guessing at what has been done/seen previously.

Holiday Hours

2010-12-21T09:25:00.000-08:00

I am making my Christmas pilgrimage to the frozen wastelands of the Upper Midwest again this year and will be gone from Wednesday Dec.22 through Tuesday Dec.28. The office will be open for administrative purposes only (scheduling appointments, calling with questions, picking up food and medications) while I am gone. Hours will be:

Wed. Dec.22 8 AM - noon, 5-6 PM
Thurs. Dec.23 9 AM - noon, 5-6 PM
Fri. Dec.24 9 AM - noon only
Sat. Dec.25 and Sun. Dec.26 CLOSED
Mon. Dec.27 9 AM - noon, 5-6 PM
Tues. Dec.28 CLOSED
Regular hours resume Wednesday Dec.29
We will also be closed New Year's Eve (PM) and New Year's Day.

If you have a medical emergency while I am gone, contact Veterinary Specialists of the Valley. They are open 24/7 and can provide critical care needs while I am gone - they do NOT provide primary care (vaccinations, routine minor care, routine lab testing, routine surgery, etc).

If your pet has a non-critical need, contact Capri Plaza Pet Clinic. They are open week days and Saturday like we normally are.

If you need a copy of your record faxed anywhere, call the office during the above hours to make your request. No one will be checking phone messages and doing that sort of thing outside office hours.

Bird lovers see roaming cats as a major threat to many species

2010-12-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Found this article in the Washington Post about the impact of feral cats on wild birds, and it's not pretty.

"In the recent oil spill, fewer than 10,000 birds were killed in the Gulf [of Mexico] that we know of," said Steve Hutchins of the Bethesda-based Wildlife Society. "But literally millions of migratory birds are killed every year by feral and free-roaming pet cats. It's a serious environmental problem."

"This is, as Marra realizes, "a charged issue." For gardeners seeking to attract cardinals, chickadees and goldfinches with feeders, baths and bird-friendly plantings, the sight of a neighbor's cat stalking and killing these feathered friends can be extremely upsetting. Cat owners, however, believe their pets need to be outside and that having a bell on their collar will warn birds of their approach.

(snip)

The number of pet cats in the United States has tripled in the past four decades, and each outdoor cat kills between four and 54 birds a year, according to wildlife biologists Nico Dauphiné and Robert J. Cooper in a review paper published last year by the bird conservation consortium Partners in Flight. They estimated that at least one billion birds are killed by cats annually, "and the actual number is probably much higher."

"Two-thirds of all bird species are in decline in the U.S.," said Steve Holmer, a policy adviser with the American Bird Conservancy in Washington. "Cats are a contributing factor."

I am a big fan of wild birds (and the natural environment as a whole) so I cringe at the idea of our beloved kitties having such a negative impact on birds, who have got enough troubles these days without being cat lunch.

One more reason to keep kitties indoors, along with the whole "keeping dry" thing we are having to consider these days.......

Fewer cats live beneath Atlantic City Boardwalk as volunteers help reduce population by half

2010-12-20T09:58:00.000-08:00

Things are looking up for the stray cats of Atlantic City, NJ. It seems a trap/neuter program there over the past ten yours has lowered the feral cat population along the boardwalk by 50%.

From pressofatlanticcity.com:

"Atlantic City's chapter of Alley Cat Allies is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, having worked with the government since 2000 to keep feral colonies under control and educate people about how they contribute to the problem. It is common in resort areas for people to leave behind their pets at the end of their visits, with barrier island towns along Long Beach Island and down to Sea Isle City and Wildwood all having a history of strays roaming their streets.

"They pack up their cars and whatever doesn't fit they leave behind," said Amanda Casazza, a project manager for Alley Cat Allies.

"Decreasing feral cat numbers is not only a public health and animal welfare concern, but is also part of the overall effort to make the tourist destination more attractive."

We also have a terrible feral/stray cat problem here in Los Angeles, like any city. Though I am not a fan of the "release" part of trap/neuter/release, it is important to engage the community in addressing these issues and the rescue groups do a fair job of that, and help with educational efforts to make cat abandonment/neglect less of a problem.

Holiday Safety, Etc.

2010-12-16T10:28:00.001-08:00

It's that time of year again, and we need to remind clients of the many household dangers to cats that are unique to this time of year. I posted about this two years ago (I have been blogging two years??).

If you are looking to give kitty a holiday gift or two, remember to choose toys carefully. Avoid playing with anything involving string, thread, yarn, ribbon, newspaper ties etc. Catnip mice are always lots of safe fun. Toys made of sisal rope are NOT a good idea - I have seen one cat die as a result of ingesting this tough indigestible fiber. Our Pancake really loves her fuzzy little creatures (similar to these)- she can easily pick them up and carry them around, which she can't do with larger, heavier toys. And sometimes the best toy is just a cardboard box with a couple of doors cut into it.

Pointsettia WILL make your cat vomit so much it will need a trip to the vet, which can get costly on a holiday weekend, so let people who don't have cats display them, or keep yours where no kitties can get near it.

I will be out of town for a full week over the Christmas holiday so plan your visits accordingly. I'm leaving the 22nd and will be back to work on the 29th. The office will be open short hours while I am gone and Alison will be here to help you with your medication and food needs and scheduling appointments. Emergency care is available at VSV. If you have routine needs that can't wait until I get back, Capri Plaza Pet Clinic is the nearest alternate day practice to us.

Cat Diaries

2010-12-13T20:21:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the giant corporations that are taking over the world actually do something cool, as this clever little video demonstrates. Cat Diaries: The First Ever Movie Filmed By Cats just appeared on ICHC. It's absolutely enchanting!

Click on the hyperlink - I can't seem to get the video thingie directly embedded in the post.

This doesn't mean I am going to start recommending Friskies, however.

Seagull Rodeo At The Cat Hospital

2010-12-13T12:21:00.000-08:00

Mondays in veterinary practice are often pretty exciting, and today is proving to be right up there with the best. We started out with two office visits and an emergency walk-in, involving three blood draws, one sedation, a major bath, two very worried owners, and three unhappy cats.

Then Alison stepped out back for a break, and a minute later called me on her cell phone.

"Dr. Robison, there's a (unintelligible) with a (unintelligible) leg out back!!!"

"What?"

"There's a seagull with a broken leg here!!"

Alison was particularly difficult to understand because of her panic-induced fast speech pattern. You see, she's terrified of birds. And we did indeed have a very large injured seagull at the back door.

Apparently over the weekend, said seagull arrived here by means unknown. It has a limp, and can't fly. I am not qualified to come to any conclusions about what is actually wrong with it, because other than chickens, I didn't study birds in vet school (avian medicine was an elective). But I know when they need help.

We called the California Wildlife Center , but because he was loose they didn't really want to come out. So we got a big cardboard box from the printer next-door, recruited the proprietor (who had been feeding him scraps over the weekend) and had us a little roundup out in the Papa John's parking lot. After a couple of minutes of running back and forth and shouting and throwing the box toward him as he scurried away, I finally got him against the chain link fence along the alley and pinned him in the box. With the lid in place he was secured and brought into the hospital.

We called the wildlife people again, let them know he was ready for transport to their rehab facility, and are awaiting their arrival. The lid is taped in place and the box is in Room 1 with the doors shut so Alison can get over her panic (she is a complete aviophobe, or whatever you call a terrible fear of birds).

I'd post a photo of him, but he's in the box.

ETA: The correct term for Alison's problem is "ornithophobia". It has manifested before - when she was new here, somebody brought in an injured sparrow and I had her drive it (in a box) out to the wildlife rehabbers in Calabasas for me, not knowing how badly they scared her. I felt bad for her, but she handled it like a trooper and then quietly went home and had a meltdown.

Animal Bite Reporting

2010-11-18T11:47:00.001-08:00

I just got off the phone with a woman whose husband was just bitten by their son's cat, a patient of mine. In addition to advising her that he should see his physician promptly, I told her of my obligation to report the bite to the health department. She wasn't happy to hear that, but the law is quite clear in these things. And because the cat was indoor/outdoor and its vaccination status unknown as of the only visit to me in September, this could very well end badly for the cat. Quarantine or immediate euthanasia for rabies testing are the only two options.

To complicate matters, the owner's mother hates the cat, is insistent that it be euthanized without any involvement of the health department, and refused to provide me with the bite victim's name to aid in my reporting obligation. This, despite her near-hysterical concern about the possibility of her husband contracting some disease from the cat.

Veterinarians have a duty to work closely with public health authorities to minimize the risk of zoonotic diseases in humans. But we need the unconditional and complete cooperation of pet owners in order to do so. It is most unhelpful to refuse medical treatment of parasites, refuse vaccinations, allow your pet outdoors in spite of said lack of vaccinations and parasite control, refuse to cooperate with measures designed to keep you safe and healthy, and then verbally upbraid the one person who is working overtime to protect you from your bad decisions.

Los Angeles County Veterinary Public Health has an excellent online portal for animal bite reporting. Anyone who is aware of an animal bite has an obligation to do so, not just the physician or veterinarian involved. The purpose of this reporting is to ensure that no rabid animals slip through the cracks, resulting in needless human rabies deaths.

My biggest concern in this case now is that the owner's mother will take the cat elsewhere for euthanasia, withhold information about the recent human bite, and in doing so allow the cat to go untested. This will then, because I have already reported the bite, lead to mandatory rabies treatment for not only the bite victim but everyone else who handled the cat in the past 10 days. Expensive, inconvenient, painful, and perhaps completely unnecessary.

Just yesterday, LAVPH emailed me with an update on the bat rabies situation this year, and it's not good. They have diagnosed rabies in over 20 bats locally in 2010, more than double the normal number. If your cat goes outdoors AT ALL, it is at risk. And even if it never goes outdoors it is not at zero risk because rabid bats do get into homes all the time. So it's time for another shameless plug: VACCINATE YOUR CAT FOR RABIES EVERY YEAR REGARDLESS OF ITS LIFESTYLE.

Only YOU can prevent gastric ulcers and forehead bruising in your veterinarian.

Infectious Disease Considerations For Fostering Pets

2010-11-15T10:15:00.000-08:00

Scott Weese, DVM over at Worms & Germs has another excellent post about the things you need to think about if you are considering, or currently doing, any fostering of dogs or cats.

Many of our clients do some fostering or cats/kittens,and it is important to spend a little time considering the potential disease risks to other pets in the home AND humans. But it's just as important to not get excessively worried to the extent that foster homes become less available.

As Scott puts it so well:

"Fostering is a good way to reduce pressures on humane societies and shelters, and to provide better care for some animals, like pregnant animals or those with young kittens/puppies. A good fostering program can be set up with limited risk to all involved, but infectious disease risks can never be completely eliminated. By accepting a new animal into your house, you increase the risk of exposing yourself and anyone else (human or animal) to infectious diseases. That's just a fact of life."

And speaking of fostering: we are still fostering Little Miss(ed) Pancake here at the hospital. This weekend she was allowed to have free run of the middle of the hospital when nobody was here to supervise. She did well until last night, when she figured out how to get up onto the counters in the lab and knocked a soap dispenser and some other things over. She is adjusting well to the increased freedom, but SHE REALLY NEEDS A PERMANENT HOME.

How A Cat Drinks

2010-11-12T10:52:00.000-08:00

I don't normally post articles from the Washington Post here - they tend to be a little dry from a veterinary perspective. But this article on the fluid dynamics of how cats drink was actually pretty interesting.

In a nutshell: "the cat, in effect, balances the forces of gravity against the forces of inertia, and so quenches its thirst".

Little Miss(ed) Pancake Needs A Home

2010-10-31T17:02:00.000-07:00

You may recall how a stray kitten was brought in to us a couple of weeks ago after colliding with the wheel of a passing car. She had a head injury and some cuts and scrapes and bruises, from which she has completely healed.

Little Miss(ed)Pancake (called that because she just missed becoming a pancake) is 10 weeks old, using her litter box uneventfully, plays normally with people and toys, and loves to lie in your lap and sleep. She has been dewormed and vaccinated once against FVRCP, and is ready to go to a new home.

Unfortunately, the kind man who saved her life by bringing her in has not followed through with his plan to adopt her, so we are putting her on the open market. Please contact the front desk to arrange to meet her if you are interested. We will be insisting that she be kept 100% indoors, and that she go to a home with another cat (she obviously misses having her mom/littermates around). She will need two more visits for preventive care over the next 2 months, and will need to be spayed after that.

Halloween Safety

2010-10-29T17:03:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reminder to keep kitties indoors as much as possible this weekend and especially Sunday night. There will be lots of strangers on the loose, and cats can get frightened and disoriented, and wind up lost or stuck in somebody's garage. The risk of being hit by car is also greater when cats are distracted or frightened.

Have a Happy Halloween, and don't eat too much candy! If you have extra or leftover chocolate, we can help solve that little problem, by the way.

Now that it's flu season, a request

2010-10-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

That time of year is upon us again, when people start coming down with all sorts of nasty viruses. Alison and I both managed to pick one up at the same time this week, and I think I even know who it was. This caused half a day of lost work (and a ruined day off) for Alison, and 1 1/2 days of missed work for me.

PLEASE, if you are ill with something you suspect is contagious, stay home unless it is absolutely imperitive that you go out and about. The close quarters of an exam room is a perfect place to spread your viruses - just think how close our heads get when I am examining your cat. And also think how often I handle your carrier or other possessions in the process - these fomites also help to spread illness.

Just remember this: contagious diseases are CONTAGIOUS.

Oh, and H1N1 flu, which can kill cats, is still out there.

Donations Needed - Charity Case

2010-10-14T14:35:00.000-07:00

Somebody I know in VA has a cat that needs I131 treatment to cure its hyperthyroidism because it CANNOT take methimazole. The treatment is estimated at about $1300. I figure if we can find 130 people around the US to give $10 each, nobody will even notice the dent in their wallets.

Donations for the care of the cat "Delenn" (owner's name Mary ___) may be sent to Radiocat at: Radiocat, 6651-F Backlick Rd., Springfield, VA 22150

You can speak to Lynn on staff there - she is coordinating the effort. 703-451-8900

If you have any more questions you can call and ask me and I can contact the cat's owner online but this case is legitimate. She is on a fixed income due to a permanent disability.

FDA warns pet owners about buying online pet meds

2010-09-30T11:14:00.000-07:00

Source: Paw Print Post

Excerpt:
"Buyer beware, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns Tuesday with this video and announcement, especially when it comes to ads that say you don't need a veterinarian's prescription. You could kill a dog, for instance, that has heartworms by giving it heartworm meds and kill cats and small dogs by giving them certian tick and flea meds.

"We've had other posts about what safety labels to look for when buying online drugs. Some online dealers are reputable, but Patty Khuly, a veterinarian who writes a column for USA TODAY, suggests it's really most safe to get drugs from your vet.

"Maybe when you go looking for a vet you could inquire about prices of medications. I'm lucky. Turns out my vet has the best prices for meds.

"FDA reported Tuesday it has found companies that sell unapproved pet drugs and counterfeit pet products, make fraudulent claims, dispense prescription drugs without requiring a prescription, and sell expired drugs. A copy of the information you can print out can be found on their website."

~~~~~~~~~
I have cautioned clients for years about buying supposed bargain pet medications online because we have known for eyars about the risk of buying counterfeit products. But there are a lot of other reasons to avoid these shysters.

We currently only recommend one online source for medications and use them for a lot of our compounded specialty medications: VetCentric.

Here's a direct link to the FDA's PDF on buying pet medications online.

Tuesday is World Rabies Day

2010-09-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Public health veterinarians and the veterinary community at large are observing the 4th annual World Rabies Day tomorrow, September 28. This terrible and universally fatal disease still kills an average of 55,000 people around the world every year. Fortunately, human rabies cases in the US are minimal, but that is in large part because of aggressive animal vaccinations and leash laws, and ongoing educational efforts to keep the public and the medical community informed.

AVMA has an excellent new podcast of an interview of Dr. Lynne White-Shim, assistant director of the AVMA’s Scientific Activities Division about rabies in the world today. The Global Alliance for Rabies Control has this excellent series of videos about rabies which you can use to teach your families and children about the problem and how to minimize risk.

We strongly encourage that all cats, regardless of personal circumstances, receive annual rabies vaccinations. There is really only one valid reason not to, and that is if the cat is actively fighting an acute bacterial or viral infection and has had a fever within a week or so. Los Angeles County is reporting an increase in bat rabies cases this year, and I have seen a number of cats over the years in this area that have found and played with bats, potentially exposing them to rabies. We DO have it here, and it IS a real threat.

Lions and Tigers and Bears! OMUMS!

2010-09-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

FDA has an excellent information sheet about the issue of minor use of pharmaceuticals in major species (cats are considered a major species) and also minor species (rabbits and rats included here).

I think fair use allows me to post entire government documents here if they are for public release, so here it is:

~~~~~~~~~

Cow, chicken, cat, catfish – one of these animals is not like the others. Read more to find out
which one and why it’s different.
What is OMUMS?
OMUMS is shorthand for “Office of Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Drug Development.”
OMUMS is the smallest Office in the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary
Medicine (CVM). It was established by the MUMS Act.
What is the MUMS Act?
The MUMS Act is shorthand for “Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Health Act.” The MUMS
Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2004.
What is the purpose of OMUMS and the MUMS Act?
The purpose of OMUMS and the MUMS Act is to help make drugs available for minor species
and for minor uses in a major species (“MUMS drugs”).
What are major species?
There are seven major species: horses, cattle, pigs, dogs, cats, chickens, and turkeys.
What are minor species?
Minor species are all animals that are not major species. Zoo animals, such as lions and tigers;
“pocket pets,” such as guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, and ferrets; laboratory rodents; fish; and
pet birds, such as parrots and parakeets, are examples of minor species. Some minor species
are important to agriculture, including sheep, goats, catfish, llamas, bison, honey bees, and game
birds such as pheasants.
Have you figured out which animal at the top isn’t like the others? If you said “Catfish,” you’re
right! A catfish is a minor species, while a cow, chicken, and cat are all major species.
Animal Health Literacy
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary 11/18/2009 2
What is a minor use in a major species?
A minor use in a major species is the use of a drug in a major species for a condition that occurs
infrequently and in only a small number of animals each year, or occurs in limited geographic areas
and in only a small number of animals each year. For example, the use of a drug to treat cancer
in cats may be a minor use in a major species if only a small number of cats get that type of
cancer each year.
What is a small number of animals for each major species?
OMUMS determined that “a small number” is less than:
50,000 Horses
70,000 Dogs
120,000 Cats
310,000 Cattle
1,450,000 Pigs
14,000,000 Turkeys
72,000,000 Chickens
Why is there a lack of available MUMS drugs on the market?
Two main reasons explain the lack of available MUMS drugs on the market. First, it is very expensive
for a drug company to get a drug developed, approved by the FDA, and on the market for
sale. Second, the market for a MUMS drug is too small to generate an adequate financial return
for the company. The combination of the expensive drug approval process and the small market
makes most drug companies hesitant to spend substantial resources to develop a MUMS drug
when there is so little return on their investment.
Why is the MUMS Act important?
The MUMS Act is important because it provides for innovative ways to bring MUMS drugs to market
faster and helps drug companies overcome the financial roadblocks in developing drugs for the
small MUMS market.
What are the key provisions of the MUMS Act?
The MUMS Act amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by providing for three key
provisions – conditional approval, designation, and indexing.
What is conditional approval?
Conditional approval allows a drug company to legally market a MUMS drug before collecting all
necessary effectiveness data, but after proving the drug is safe and there is a reasonable expectation
of effectiveness. Conditional approval does not reduce the requirements for approval. It simply
allows the drug company to market the drug while completing the effectiveness requirement.
This early marketing is good for two reasons: first, the drug is available to the MUMS market; and
second, the company can recoup some of the investment costs while pursuing a full approval.
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary 11/18/2009 3
At the time of conditional approval, the drug must meet all the requirements for approval except
for effectiveness. The drug company can market the conditionally approved drug for up to five
years, with annual renewals, while collecting the remaining effectiveness data. Once this remaining
effectiveness data is collected, the drug company submits a request for full approval to
the Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation.
Extra-label (“off label”) use of a conditionally approved drug is not allowed. There is also no
marketing exclusivity for a conditionally approved drug (unless the drug is also designated). This
means that if another drug company gets its MUMS drug fully approved for the same use first,
the conditionally approved drug is pulled off the market.
What is designation?
Designation provides drug companies with financial incentives, such as grants and exclusive
marketing rights, to pursue an approval or conditional approval for a MUMS drug. A drug company
submits a request to OMUMS for a drug to be designated for a specific use. After the designation
request is granted, no other identical designation may be granted. However, more than
one designation can be granted for the same drug, as long as the designations are for different
uses.
Once a drug company gets a drug designated, the
company or other organizations or individuals
working with the company are eligible for grants
through the federal government. This grant
money is used to reduce the costs of conducting
safety and effectiveness studies.
Designation requires that the drug company actively
work toward approval and provide annual
reports to OMUMS to show progress toward approval.
A drug company that receives approval or
conditional approval for a designated drug receives
seven years of exclusive marketing rights, beginning on the day of the approval or conditional
approval. This means the company will have no competition from other companies in the
marketplace for seven years.
Designation is a status that qualifies a drug company to receive financial incentives. It does not
mean that the drug is approved. It is illegal for a company to sell, promote, or advertize the designated
drug until it is approved or conditionally approved.
Designation can be terminated if another drug company gets the same drug approved or conditionally
approved for the same use before the designated drug. It can also be terminated for
other reasons, including lack of progress toward approval.
What is indexing?
Indexing allows the legal marketing of unapproved animal drugs for use in certain minor species
as long as the drugs are on the Index of Legally Marketed Unapproved New Animal Drugs for
Minor Species. Simply referred to as “the Index,” it is a list of drugs that used an alternative
pathway to get on the market.
In some cases, a drug intended for a minor species cannot reasonably go through the standard
drug approval process. For example, an animal may be too rare or valuable, such as the endangered
California condor, or the animals may be too varied, such as ornamental fish, to be used
in traditional safety and effectiveness studies to support approval. In these instances, indexing
What does “extra-label” mean?
When an approved drug is used in a manner
other than what is stated on the approved labeling,
it is an extra-label use. This is commonly
referred to as an “off-label” use because the
drug is used in a manner that is “off the label”. It
is illegal to use a conditionally approved drug or
an indexed drug in an extra-label manner. Conditionally
approved drugs and indexed drugs
must be used exactly as stated on the labeling.
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary 11/18/2009 4
provides an alternative pathway to get a drug on the market that is faster than going through the
standard drug approval process.
Indexing is only available for drugs intended for a non-food producing minor species or for an early
life stage of a food producing minor species. Spat, or immature oysters, are an example of an
early life stage of a food producing minor species. Because people do not generally eat oyster
spat, a drug intended to treat a disease in spat can be indexed, but a drug to treat a disease in
adult oysters, which people commonly eat, cannot be indexed.
Drugs intended for transgenic animals cannot be indexed. Extra-label use of an indexed drug is
not allowed, and there is no marketing exclusivity for indexed drugs.
An indexed drug cannot compete with an approved drug, meaning that a drug cannot be listed on
the Index if the same drug is already approved. However, indexed drugs can compete with each
other, meaning that two drug companies can have the same drug listed on the Index for the same
use.
A drug company has to go through a three-step process to get a drug listed on the Index. First,
the company submits a request to OMUMS to determine the eligibility of the product for indexing.
To be eligible, a drug must not pose any safety concerns to the end user (the person giving the
drug to the animal) or to the environment. The company must also explain the manufacturing
process for making the drug. Second, the company chooses qualified experts outside of the FDA
to serve on a panel. OMUMS must agree with the experts chosen by the company. It is the
panel’s job to review information on the safety of the drug to the animal and the drug’s effectiveness
when it is used according to the proposed label. Third, the outside expert panel submits a
report of their findings to OMUMS. All members of the expert panel must agree that the drug is
safe and effective when it is used according to the proposed label. If OMUMS agrees with the
panel’s report, the drug is added to the Index.
Unlike the long removal process for an approved drug, an indexed drug can be quickly removed
from the Index and pulled off the market if problems arise. And unlike conditional approval and
designation, indexing does not require the drug company to be actively working toward approval.
Is the MUMS Act working?
Yes! One drug for use in catfish has been conditionally approved, and OMUMS has granted over
80 designations. Two drugs are already on the Index, with more in the process of being indexed.
CVM is working hard to make sure safe and effective drugs are available for minor species and for
minor uses in a major species.
How can I get more information?
Contact the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine at 240-276-9300 or CVMHomeP@cvm.fda.gov

~~~~~~~~~~~

If the format is hinky, don't blame me. I'm just the cut-and-paste lady.

What Not To Do In A Vet's Office

2010-08-31T12:07:00.000-07:00

Even though a lot of his article refers to dogs and not cats, there is still a lot of wisdom in Scott Weese's post on this subject over at Worms and Germs.

#1 and #9 are probably the most important in our office. Confining ALL cats to secure carriers prior to entering the exam room is critical for the safety of your pet, other people's pets, you, and other people (including the veterinary hospital staff, whose job requirements do not include getting bitten or scratched). Leaving small children at home makes for a more relaxed cat - when frightened and in an unfamiliar environment, cats lose the ability to recognize familiar people and be comforted by them.

Tiger Smuggler Thwarted

2010-08-31T12:01:00.000-07:00

Even though I don't ever work on exotic feline species, I just had to post this about the baby tiger in the suitcase that made the news recently.

There isn't much in the world more adorable than baby tigers in my opinion, so this story really fries me. Poor thing could have died in there. And it must have been so scared. People are stupid, greedy, and mean sometimes.

No, I Didn't Die

2010-08-31T11:56:00.000-07:00

I just realized I hadn't posted since I was sick earlier in the month. I was fine after a couple of days.

Maybe it's a reflection of my huge blog viewership that nobody called the office to see if I was still alive. LOL.

(Kicking self to make me get back to posting)

It's Been Quite A Day

2010-08-10T18:05:00.001-07:00

This morning I went downtown to LA Veterinary Public Health to be interviewed by Dr. Emily Beeler for some educational podcasts/slide presentations about the rabid cat I reported back in 1987.

For background: there has been only one case of domestic animal rabies in Los Angeles County in the last, oh, at least 53 years or more. I know all about that case because I saw the cat in question, suspected rabies, reported it, and it was subsequently quarantined and confirmed. Sort of my 15 minutes of fame, if that. I guess now it's going into reruns or syndication!

Anyway, how I pulled off the trip downtown I will never know because I have been sick as a dog for a few days and really should be home in bed 24/7. But I made a commitment, and off I went.

But I am so very happy I was in the office this afternoon, because I was surprised by a phone call from my favorite professor in vet school, Dr. Simon Turner, to whom I had written a letter earlier this year when he was recovering from his SECOND traumatic brain injury received while riding his bicycle. We hadn't spoken to or seen each other in 28 years, but when he called it was such a pleasure, and I don't know who shed more tears or had more speechless moments. He is recovering at home, and his return to research and teaching is still uncertain, but he wanted to let me know he considered my letter particularly noteworthy.

I need to GO HOME. I still feel like c--p, but that phone call sure helped. In theory I will be at work tomorrow.

Another Facepalm Moment

2010-08-06T10:43:00.001-07:00

Alison just finished dealing with a phone call that went on for at least 10 minutes but ended without an appointment being scheduled - as previous calls from this same prospective client have ended, Alison informs me.

The woman repeatedly asked Alison (who is not a doctor, BTW) variations on the same questions along the lines of "My husband works and I don't drive - how close to closing time can I bring my two cats in?" and "How experienced is the doctor and are you sure she knows what she's doing?" and "What's wrong with my two old cats who have never been fixed or seen a veterinarian?".

The clincher was, "My cats aren't eating well. Have you ever heard of THAT???" To her credit, Alison merely informed her that she wasn't a doctor and couldn't answer medical questions.

In all honesty, it was actually a double facepalm moment.

The Sad, Unnecessary Consequences Of Inadequate Public Health Systems

2010-08-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

I was saddened to read today about the severe dog rabies problem in Bali reported in the San Francisco Chronicle. Bali, of course, is a trendy vacation hot spot of late, but you wouldn't catch me taking any children there, in large part because the country is utterly lacking in the physical resources to provide post-exposure prophylaxis to its own citizens, let along tourists who might get exposed to rabies.

In Third World countries like this, if you get bitten by an animal that cannot be proven to be free of rabies, your safest bet is to throw away your vacation money already spent and evacuate back to the US immediately for treatment. And how many people are going to do THAT?? So they put the blinders on, continue their vacation, and die a couple of months later.

Of course if it happened to me, I would worry less because I have been previously vaccinated for rabies and several years ago still had a protective titer. But if exposed, I would still fly home for the minimal treatment I would need. That's why I buy trip insurance.

Sadly, Bali was rabies-free until 18 months ago. So the local residents have no experience with it, and do not have reason to fear dog bites like those in areas with longstanding rabies problems.

Things That Can Make Your Cat Lose Weight

2010-07-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

1) Collar way too tight
2) Large squamous cell carcinoma under tongue
3) Ants invading the cat food bowl
4) 1 1/2" skull tumor keeping it from being able to open its mouth
5) Stomach completely packed full of cat fur
6) Unregulated diabetes
7) 16 rotten, loose teeth
8) Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism
9) Complete bone marrow shutdown of unknown cause
10)Rubber band around base of tail causing the whole thing to die

There are more, of course. These are just some of the causes for weight loss I have seen in my years in practice.

One Health - An Idea Long Overdue

2010-07-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I am so excited about my upcoming interview by Los Angeles Veterinary Public Health for a podcast on their website about that rabies case I was involved in back in 1987 is that it is going to provide another excellent opportunity to put the concept of One Health into action. Dr. Beeler has indicated that she wants to use the interview in presentations to both veterinary students at WU and also physicians at UCLA. We need to take advantage of every chance we get to tighten up the connections between the two professions in recognition that there isn't just "animal health" and "human health" - it's all a continuum, dubbed One Health.

Dr. Weese at Worms & Germs has an excellent post about the concept that is worth a read. He brings up an important point that I don't think I have addressed here yet: that people who know they are immunosuppressed need to be proactive and inform their veterinarians so we can keep them advised of how to safely approach pet ownership.

And because the situation is ever-changing, a single discussion is not enough. It needs to be an ongoing conversation. Back in the early days of AIDS, we veterinarians mistakenly thought that people with the disease simply couldn't own pets because of the risk of zoonotic diseases. Now we know that's not true, and can advise clients how to stay safe and still enjoy Fluffy or Spot. Also, people can forget over time that the transplant they had and are still on medication for might affect their immune system function, as will chemotherapy for cancer, spleen removal, and a host of other conditions and situations.

But we can't spend time telling everyone who walks in the door all this, so we need clients to step up and start the conversation.

So let's hope that One Health gets enough publicity that ALL physicians and All veterinarians hear about and understand their important roles in keeping all animals healthy, even the human animals.

Pill Pockets

2010-07-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

I often recommend the use of Greenies Pill Pockets for helping administer pills to cats. People seem to be unfamiliar with them, but they are now available at most pet stores. Certainly they can be found at our local Petcos and PetSmarts.

Pill pockets come in 3 flavors: chicken, salmon, and the new duck and pea formula for cats with food allergies. Obviously I advise against the salmon flavor (fish is inappropriate for cats), but I suppose in an extreme case it might be necessary - just try the others first.

Also, if you are giving pills the traditional open-and-shove way, it's best to follow with a water chaser - we recommend 5-6cc water via a 6cc syringe (we have them here, just ask at the front desk). Get your syringe of water ready BEFORE you pill the cat - even my Boochi, who is pretty accepting of medication, wants to leave right after the pills.

Pet Tales: Paralyzed Therapy Cat Inspires Patients

2010-07-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

I found this fascinating story of a cat, paralyzed since kittenhood, that is able to live a fairly normal life (with a veterinarian mom) that includes visiting a rehabilitation facility as a therapy cat!

Our Facebook Page

2010-07-26T09:10:00.001-07:00

We have a Facebook page - go over there and hit the Like button!

Procter & Gamble Voluntarily Recalls Two Lots of Therapeutic Renal Dry Cat Food

2010-07-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

We don't carry IVF diets, but it's possible some of our clients feed this food or know people who do. Here's the info via AVMA:

~~~~~~~~~~

The following notice was received by the AVMA from Procter & Gamble on Sunday, July 25, 2010:

The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) (NYSE:PG), is voluntarily recalling two specific lots of its therapeutic renal dry cat food in North America as a precautionary measure, as it has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. No illnesses have been reported. However, P&G Pet Care wanted to make sure veterinarians were aware of the situation as soon as possible.

The health and welfare of pets and their owners is our top priority. P&G Pet Care is working swiftly to minimize any potential health risk to pets and working closely with the FDA to resolve the issue. Veterinary clinics that were affected have already been notified.

This product is available through veterinary clinics and is limited to those bags with the lot codes listed below. Lot codes can be found on the lower right corner of the back of the bags.

Product Name Lot Code UPC Code
Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal 5.5 lbs 01384174B4 0 19014 21405 1
Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal 5.5 lbs 01384174B2 0 19014 21405 1

If you need additional information, please call our veterinary line at 800-535-8387. Concerned pet owners may be directed to call P&G toll-free at 877-894-4458.

We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may cause you and want to assure you that P&G Pet Care is taking all the necessary steps to ensure our product quality meets your expectations.

~~~~~~~~~~

For clarification - Salmonella bacteria can and do infect cats and can cause seerious illness or even death, plus affected cats can spread the disease to humans. People can also get the infection just from handling the food and not washing their hands adequately.

I can't fathom how kibble could GET contaminated by Salmonella. Maybe they have really dirty production facilities??? Pigeon or rat poop??? Inadequate heat processing of the kibble???

Good News For The Neighborhood (not about cats)

2010-07-23T12:11:00.000-07:00

We all breathed a huge sigh of relief around these parts this week when fencing went up (FINALLY) indicating the start of the remodeling over at Corbin Village shopping center across the street from us - this is going to culminate in a brand new, fancy Von's Pavilions store opening up in March 2011.

That shopping center, built in the 60's, has sat virtually empty for almost a decade. We heard promises about a grocery store going in there, but nothing ever happened for years. So this is a big relief and will help improve the appearance of the neighborhood and maybe even stimulate business for a lot of small businesses nearby due to increased traffic and visibility.

Plus, a source for cat treats (and people treats, too) will be a lot closer.

ETA: Also, the huge tacky 60's architectural abomination formerly known as Woodland Casual (patio furnishings) just across Oakdale from the clinic has finally got a new tenant - a ballet and yoga studio. The bad news: the pink and burgundy paint job. Let's hope they are really successful so they can afford to repaint it after a consultation with someone other than a bordello owner.

CSU Researchers Will Study Felines In Boulder's Back Yard

2010-07-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

My alma mater, Colorado State University, is launching a study of how the paths of mountain lions, bobcats, and domestic cats and what this can mean for infectious disease transmission between the three species. I am interested, of course, because it's CSU but also because we have all three kinds of cats right here in our nearby Santa Monica Mountains and the interface with suburbia.

They mention Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in the article, but I am more interested in how Feline Leukemia Virus is involved, because it is so much more easily spread, through casual contact rather than bite wounds.

Our Sudden, Unexplained Dog Problem

2010-07-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic is a hospital just for cats (and the odd rabbit or rat). We do not treat dogs. Our cat-owning clients bring their pets here specifically because they know there are no dogs on the premises, nor are there going to be any dogs on the premises to cause their cat(s) undue stress at any time. We work very hard to make sure our feline patients do not get frightened or upset needlessly while here, and keeping dogs far away is key to that.

For whatever reason, over the past 10 days at least 3 or 4 people have walked into the waiting room with their perfectly healthy (and sometimes very large) dog(s) in tow or in arms. Fortunately no cats have been in the waiting room at the same time, but that's just sheer luck. An unexpected dog combined with a cat loose in someone's arms (something we also strongly discourage but cannot completely prevent) is a recipe for injury and even death. All of our advertising specifies Practice Limited to Cats, as does the large lettering on our front window. So I don't get it.

Out of desperation we have placed a small sign at eye level on the front door that says No Dogs Please. We ask that people respect our wishes so we can provide the safest and least traumatic hospital experience possible for our patients.

As I've said before: we love dogs. We really do. We just cannot permit them inside our CAT hospital for safety reasons. I cringe to think what would have happened to my mascot, Dusty, if she had been here these past 2 weeks - she was absolutely terrified of dogs, and spent most of 10 years on the front counter where she would have been within easy reach of a large dog's teeth or a tiny dog's shrill bark.

Feline Hydrotherapy

2010-07-21T16:01:00.000-07:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Normally swimming pool therapy is something for horses and dogs (and people). But here's a kitty who appears to have benefitted from it, though I am not sure I am ok with how frightened she probably was by the whole proposition.....

Rabies Update at Worms & Germs

2010-07-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

Anytime you start thinking I am a bit obsessive about rabies, go over to Dr. Scott Weese's blog, Worms & Germs. He posts about it probably four times as often as I do, and most of the rest of the time he's posting about, well, worms and other germs.

Anyway, he has some great comments, and then a link to ProMed's actual update.

The ProMed report states that the majority of human rabies cases in the US are caused by the bat strain. I have read elsewhere that in most of those cases, the actual bat contact appeared to have gone unnoticed and unremarked. I find myself wondering if CATS infected with the bat strain could be serving as a vector - it would go unnoticed, and would explain the lack of known bat contact........Back east most feline rabies is due to the raccoon strain (because the raccoon rabies there is seriously out of control), but here in the west, if I remember correctly, cats tend to get the bat strain more than anything else.

Things that make you go HMMMMMM.........

Health Alert for Pet Rabbits

2010-07-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles County Veterinary Public Health has issued a medical alert for pet rabbits for the viral disease myxomatosis. Three cases have been confirmed in the San Gabriel Valley. The affected pet rabbits were allowed out of doors at times, where they were apparently bitten by mosquitos, black flies, or fleas which serve as vectors of this deadly disease. The natural reservoir is the native wild rabbit population, which is relatively resistant.

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Overview.
In July 2010, 3 fatal cases of myxomatosis (mix-oh-ma-tow-sis) in rabbits were reported in two homes in a neighborhood in the San Gabriel Valley. The rabbits died in the last two weeks of June. The pet rabbits lived mostly indoors but had access to the outdoors, where they could have been bitten by mosquitoes, fleas, or black flies. One case was confirmed after death by biopsy of swollen skin. All three rabbits showed typical symptoms (see description below). Blood tests on two rabbits showed low white blood cell counts, and increased liver enzyme and kidney values.

What is myxomatosis?
Myxomatosis is disease of rabbits caused by a virus. The onset of illness is rapid and death may occur within days or hours. Symptoms can include fever, loss of appetite, and swelling of the nose, eyelids, lips, ears, or genital area. Sudden death may occur.

Myxomatosis is found naturally in wild rabbits in California, especially along the coast. Wild rabbits are generally more resistant to the effects of the virus, but may become infected and spread the disease. In 1950, this virus was deliberately introduced into Australia in an attempt to rid the area of wild rabbits. Initially, 90% of infected rabbits died, but over several years, the mortality rate dropped to approximately 25%.

How is myxomatosis spread?
This virus can be spread from infected rabbits to other rabbits by the bites of any bloodsucking insect, including mosquitoes, fleas, black flies, and ticks. It may also spread through direct contact between rabbits or contact with surfaces contaminated by an infected rabbit.

Can people or other animals catch myxomatosis?
No. Myxomatosis causes illness only in rabbits.

How can I protect my rabbits from myxomatosis?
1. Protect your rabbits from fleas, mosquitoes, and flies. Some flea products are toxic to rabbits, so make sure you use only flea control products that are safe for rabbits. Keep your rabbit indoors, especially at dusk and dawn.
2. Stop mosquito breeding on your property. Check your property for stagnant water twice weekly (examples: drainage systems, flowerpots, old tires, gutters) and remove any that you find.
3. Isolate sick rabbits. if you have a sick rabbit, keep it in an area away from other rabbits. Wash your hands before and after handling the sick rabbit. Do not share rabbit equipment (bowls, cages, toys) until after you thoroughly clean and disinfect it.
4.Quarantine new rabbits. If you bring any new rabbits into your home, keep them in a cage far from your other rabbits, and use separate food and water bowls. Wash your hands well before and after handling the new rabbit.
5. Contact your veterinarian if you see any symptoms of myxomatosis in your rabbits.
6. Report myxotmatosis cases in Los Angeles County to Veterinary Public Health (213) 989-7060 or complete and fax in this form.

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The bottom line: keep those pet bunnies INDOORS all the time. They can't handle our summer heat anyway (without burrowing into the ground), so they are much safer indoors.

There is NO treatment for myxomatosis. Avoiding exposure is the only way to avoid death. And it is a RABBIT disease. It doesn't affect humans or anybody else.

Toxoplasmosis - What Your Ob-Gyn Doesn't Know

2010-07-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Well, for about the hundred-seventy-ninth time in my career a client has come to me for information about toxoplasmosis after having been frightened half to death or completely misinformed about it by their or their wife's ob-gyn.

Now, a physician whose job is to keep a pregnant woman and her fetus healthy for 9 months should know a great deal about the most dangerous zoonotic threat during pregnancy, right?? One would think.

And given the vast storehouse of medical information available on the internet, and the universal access by physicians to said internet, and the extensive education of said physicians which would allow them to read, understand, and put to use said professionally relevant information, one would logically conclude that ob-gyns would know at least as much about toxoplasmosis as your average lowly cat doctor, right??

The sad truth? The aforementioned ob-gyn, who will remain unnamed so as to avoid outing him as the complete fool he is, after warning his patient (who fortunately is not yet pregnant but will be trying to become so soon) about this terribly dangerous disease, then told her (and I am quoting here), "But I really don't know anything about it." Or care, apparently. He then sent her home where, in the middle of the night after working herself into a completely understandable frenzy, she placed a panicked phone call to my answering machine. Fortunately I had answers and set her mind at ease in short order.

It may come as a shock to you, but this really is a huge improvement over the situation here in Los Angeles 25 years ago when a client came to me completely hysterical because she had just found out she was pregnant and her ob-gyn informed her in no uncertain terms that she HAD TO DESTROY HER CAT. So, really, there has been progress. I think.

So now I have to take time out of my Sunday (yeah, right, like I don't LIKE blogging, lol) to enlighten you, Constant Reader, and hopefully more than a few ob-gyns if enough people link back to this page from elsewhere on the net where they are commenting on this matter in sheer outrage (that is what's known as a hint).

Toxoplasmosis IS a serious disease. It can do grave harm to developing fetuses. But problems with toxo are pretty darn easy to avoid. Here's the CDC's web page on Toxoplasma gondii and the disease it causes, toxoplasmosis. It has lots of links and there is a whole lot of material to read for those who are interested.

Here's CDC's special page on toxo geared specifically toward pregnant women. Somebody with more gumption than me needs to email that link to every ob-gyn in the country so they have NO MORE EXCUSES FOR IGNORANCE.

I was gonna settle my outrage with a glass of chardonnay, because I am pretty hot under the collar about this. But then I remembered I used that bottle to start some white wine vinegar after I learned all about how to do that on the internet.

Initiative is such an amazing thing. And in such short supply.

ETA: my fist-waving, cussing smilie avatar appears to be broken, but I'll leave him up because he's cute enough as he is.

Also ETA some CDC brochures:

Toxoplasmosis: An Important Message For Women

Toxoplasmosis: An Important Message For Cat Owners

CDC Toxoplasmosis Fact Sheet to hand to worried family members so they will stop bugging you about the cat.

Online Resources: Part 3 - Nutrition and Parasite Prevention

2010-07-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

Today I'm finally getting around to wrapping up my series on web resources for cat owners with this piece on diet, nutrition, and parasite prevention.

Your Cat's Nutritional Needs - A Science-Based Guide for Pet Owners - this informational brochure is produced by the National Academy of Sciences, so you can take it to the bank.

Companion Animal Parasite Council: Information for cat owners - I agree with virtually everything they recommend provided it's tailored to local risk realities. Adult housecats eating commercial cat food and living completely indoors in my region of Southern California are essentially NOT a factor in toxocaral larva migrans problems in children, particularly when compared to puppies living outdoors in the American Southeast. And IMHO, CAPC overrates the value of fecal microscopic testing in asymptomatic animals because of the unacceptably high incidence of false negatives.

American Heartworm Society - we are not in an endemic heartworm area here in the San Fernando Valley (yet), but it is a disease of potential importance in cats from other areas where it IS endemic: Northern California, the American Southeast, and any areas with significant ongoing mosquito issues (Marina del Rey is a local pocket of trouble).