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.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Laryngitis
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Christmas Vacation Hours
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!!
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!!
Friday, December 2, 2011
The Cat's Meow Charitable Fund
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!
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
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)!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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)!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Potassium
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.
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.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Holiday Schedule
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!
Have a Happy Turkey Day, everybody!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
New Product for Managing Feline Hyperthyroidism
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.
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
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Ok, Should I Start Up an Email Newsletter of Sorts?
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.
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
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
Click here:
Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic on Facebook
Friday, October 28, 2011
Weird Pets and Weird Infections
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.
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.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Happy Ending / A New Beginning
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.
I already miss him.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
A Particularly Important Reason to Never Feed Your Cat Raw Meat
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.
NO RAW MEATS. USE GOOD FOOD HANDLING SAFETY TECHNIQUES IN YOUR KITCHEN. BE INFORMED - READ ABOUT NDM-1 IN SALMONELLA HERE.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Salmonella Redux
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.
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!
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.
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.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Please Excuse Our Neighbors
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.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Today is World Rabies Day
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!
~~~~~~~~
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
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!
~~~~~~~~
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!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Another Hit-by-car Stray.......
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
News of the Truly Weird
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.
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.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Health Officials Issue Warning on Rabid Bats
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.
"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.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
10 Bats Test Positive for Rabies in Moorpark
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.
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.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Prison Possible in Cats' Deaths
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.
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
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.
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.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Parking Meters
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.
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.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Holiday Weekend Closure
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!
Have a safe and happy weekend!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Frequently Asked Questions by Pet Owners about The Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR)
(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.
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.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Nestle Purina Recall
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.
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.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Why Cats Hate the Vet
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.
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
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.
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.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Pancake
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.
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.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Oodles of Great Videos
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.
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!
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Gosh, No One Could Have Forseen THIS!
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Holiday Weekend Schedule
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!
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
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.
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??
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.........
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.........
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
A Day in the Life of a Veterinarian
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.
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.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Information for Pet Owners During Disasters
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.
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.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Cat Fur
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
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
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Fire Hydrant
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.
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
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Fun With Bunnehs
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.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: Showjumping Bunnies.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Health Certificates
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.
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.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Bush Out Front
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!
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!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Other Blogs
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.
Please just remember if you give my blog address to others verbally or in writing that it has BLOGSPOT in it.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Dumb Easter Decisions
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.
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.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Feline Heart Disease
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Radiation Fallout Risk for Pets?
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.
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.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Medications Top List of Most Common Cat poisons
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Wellness Canned Cat Food Recall
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.
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.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Cowpox in a Dog
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Another Phone Call
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.
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.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
How To Make Your Own Cat Litter
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.
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.
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