Sometimes it is difficult to identify when your cat is not feeling well.  Watch for these signs of illness and consult with your veterinarian as soon as possible if you pet begins to show any of them:

 

1. Inappropriate Elimination
   A cat that urinates in inappropriately could have any number of conditions associated with the behavior, including lower urinary tract disease, kidney disease, urinary tract infection and diabetes mellitus.  It can also be a sign of arthritis, which makes it difficult for cats to get into the litter box.
2. Changes in Interaction
   Cats are social animals, so changes in interactions with humans or pets can signal disease, fear, anxiety or pain.
3. Changes in Activity
   A decrease in activity is often a sign of arthritis or systemic illness, while an increase in activity can be caused by hyperthyroidism.
4. Changes in Sleeping Habits
   If your cat is sleeping more than normal (keep in mind that average adult cats may sleep 16 to 18 hours a day – though much of that is “catnapping”), it could be a sign of an underlying disease.
5. Changes in Food and Water Consumption
   Most cats are not finicky eaters.  Decreased food intake can be a sign of several disorders, ranging from poor dental health to cancer.  Increased food consumption can be caused by diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism or other health problems.
6. Unexplained Weight Loss or Gain
   Sudden weight loss can be a sign of hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus or a host of other diseases.  Obesity, on the other hand, can cause an increased risk of diabetes mellitus, joint disease and other problems.
7. Changes in Grooming
   Patches of hair loss or a greasy or matted appearance can signal an underlying disease.  Cats who have difficulty grooming often suffer from fear, anxiety, obesity or other illnesses.  An increase in grooming may signal a skin problem.
8. Signs of Stress
   Stressed cats may exhibit signs of depression, hide more or spend more time awake and scanning their environment.  These signs may indicate a medical condition, so it is important to rule out physical ailments before addressing the stress behaviorally.
9. Changes in Vocalization
   An increase in vocalization or howling is often seen with an underlying condition like hyperthyroidism or high blood pressure.  Many cats also vocalize more if they’re in pain or anxious.
10. Bad Breath
    Bad breath is an early indication of an oral problem – studies have shown that 70 percent of cats have gum disease as early as age 3.

 

 Adapted from healthycatsforlife.com and Dr. Susan Little, DABVP (feline), Bytown Cat Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario

There are 82 million pet cats in the United States, compared to 72 million dogs.  Studies show that the number of cats that get to see their veterinarians is declining each year.

We here at Happy Pets Veterinary Center have also noticed this trend.  We see about half of the amount of cats compared to dogs each month.

Why is this so?  It cannot be that cat owners don’t care about their pets compared to dog owners; from our experience, cat owners are super-attentive to their pet’s needs.

No, we believe it is due to some misconceptions about cats as to why our lovable felines don’t see the veterinarian as often as their doggy counterparts.

Some common cat myths include: “Visits to the vet are more stressful for cats than dogs,” or “Cats are harder to handle than dogs during an exam.”  Another common belief we hear is “Indoor cats don’t need to have to see the vet or get ‘shots’ because they are “safe” inside the house; only outdoor cats get sick.”

We, as humans, have been taught by our own physicians to come see our doctors at least once a year for a physical exam and blood work.  Additionally, young children need to go more often for immunizations and special screening tests, while elderly patients need to see their doctors even more regularly, have blood work performed more often and start another set of screening tests most common for their age group.

It is no different for pets.  Our pets age more rapidly than we do, so all of these things need to be done in a shorter time period.  You’ve no doubt heard of the popular maxim that pets age seven years for every one of our years, and for the most part, that’s true.  That said, a cat’s life span from birth to age 15 or 20 years is comparable to a human living into their nineties or beyond 100 years of age.

Kittens need to be seen by the vet regularly for their immunizations and specific lab tests such as fecal exams and Feline Leukemia and FIV testing. We focus more on yearly preventative care, vaccine boosters, weight management and dental care in our adult cats.  Senior cats need to be seen by the vet more often; every six months being the ideal, to check for certain geriatric conditions – thus making prevention and early detection especially important.  Remember six months to a cat is equal to three or four human years!  A lot can happen in that time frame in any geriatric individual.

Now, about those myths: is it true cats can stress out more than dogs, or that they are harder to handle in the exam room?  No necessarily.  Dogs also get stressed and can also be difficult, sometimes more than cats.  With dogs, pet owners will try to make their annual veterinary visit a “fun time” by offering treats during their exams or by going somewhere special afterwards.  Most dogs love going for a car ride because it means fun and adventure.

For cats, we have to think of ways to make the carrier and car trip as enjoyable as it is for dogs.  You can make the carrier more comfortable and cozy with blankets, toys or an article of clothing belonging to your cat’s favorite person.  Several days before the appointment, leave the carrier out and open and place food and treats in the carrier.

You can also spray a synthetic feline pheromone, put cat nip or other botanical blends in the carrier to help make your cat feel calm and secure.  Once kitty is comfortable with the carrier, take him or her for a few short car rides, always striving to make it a positive experience.

If all that fails and your feline friend still stresses, the have your veterinarian come to you.  At Happy Pets Veterinary Center, we will do house calls in the Santa Clarita Valley for this reason.

Keep in mind that cats are masters at hiding illnesses and you may not notice any signs until the illness has reached an advanced stage.  Prevention is the preferable treatment option and this can only be accomplished with regular annual or semi-annual wellness visits.  Catching a problem early can not only spare your cat some suffering, but in the long run, save you some money.

And yes, even indoor cats are at risk of developing health problems.

Some of the most common questions we get at Happy Pets concern dogs eating chocolate and other foods that people have heard that may or may not be deadly to their pet. So just as a helpful reminder, here are some common foods that pets get exposed to that can be harmful or even life threatening.  Please note that this list is far from inclusive and doesn’t even address things like bones or food allergies, which is beyond the scope of this article.  If you have any questions, please be sure to talk with your veterinarian.

Chocolate

Chocolate contains theobromines and caffeine which, unfortunately, are what dogs are sensitive to.  The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it can be.  For example, milk chocolate contains 6 mg. per oz. of caffeine and 44-56 mg. per oz. of theobromine compared to baking chocolate that contains 33-47 mg. per oz. of caffeine and 393 mg. per oz. of theobromine!

White chocolate contains negligible amounts of these compounds.

Symptoms to look out for include hyperactivity, increased heart rate, tremors and potentially death.  Other effects seen with chocolate overdose include vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, increased urination and lethargy.  The best treatment is early treatment; call your local veterinary hospital as soon as you become aware that your pet friend helped themselves to chocolate.  The hospital will determine if treatment is needed based on your pets weight, amount of chocolate, and the type of chocolate ingested.

Onions

Pieces of onion, onion powder or even cooked onion can cause damage to red blood cells.  The toxic substance in onions cause red blood cells to burst, thus causing an anemia in both dogs and cats.  To get an idea of how many onions are needed before toxic effects are seen, 0.6 pounds of onion in a 10 pound dog is considered toxic. Be careful when feeding your pet commercial baby food, some of them contain onion powder which has been reported to cause toxicity in cats.

The major signs to look out for include vomiting, weakness and pale gums.  Sometimes the pet may appear jaundiced as well. Early treatment is important, vomiting is induced if ingestion occurred not more than 2 hours ago, afterwards, your pet will be monitored with regular blood work to check for anemia.

Rising bread dough

Ingestion of rising bread dough can be life threatening to dogs.  Once ingested, body heat will cause the dough to rise in the stomach to several times its original size.  As the dough rises, ethanol is produced which is also toxic to pets.  The immediate treatment is to get that dough out of there either by inducing the pet to vomit, or surgery if it is too large in size to vomit it up.  Signs to look out for include stomach pain, bloating, vomiting, depression, incoordination and “drunk like” walking.

Grapes and Raisins

Some types of grapes and raisins have been shown to cause kidney failure in dogs.  The amount of grapes/ raisins needed to be consumed to cause kidney disease is unclear and it can vary per dog.  It is just safe to avoid them completely.  If you know your dog has eaten a large quantity of grapes or raisins, he needs to be seen right away.  Vomiting will be induced and activated charcoal can be given to absorb any remaining toxins.

To help protect the kidneys, IV fluids is recommended for 48 hours.  During this time, blood work will need to be done periodically to check kidney function.  Unfortunately, there are no immediate signs to look for with grape toxicity.  The typical signs of kidney failure include lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, but these may not be apparent until a few days after ingesting grapes or raisins.

Tobacco Products

Tobacco products such as cigars, cigarettes, snuff, nicotine gum or transdermal nicotine patches all contain varying amounts of Nicotine which can be toxic.  Signs usually develop quickly with in 15 to 45 minutes after ingestion.

Signs can include vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, or hyperactivity.  With higher doses or longer exposure times, signs of muscle weakness, twitching or seizures may be seen.

Because signs develop quickly, if a pet is left unattended for long periods of time before an owner is aware that tobacco products were ingested, nicotine toxicity can cause death secondary to cardiac arrest or respiratory paralysis if left untreated.

Xylitol

Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar substitute found in many sugar free gums, candies, and other foods.  Dogs appear sensitive to xylitol and ingestion can cause a life threatening low blood sugar, liver failure and bleeding disorders.  Immediate treatment is necessary to manage the low blood sugar (which can lead to coma or death) and blood transfusions may be needed as well to control the bleeding disorder.

Again, if you have any questions, talk with your veterinarian or feel free to give us a call at Happy Pets @ (661) 295-9972.

Since your pet cannot tell you in words if something is bothering him, and animal instinct is to hide signs of illness from the “pack”, it makes it difficult to treat an illness in its early stages, when it is still manageable. This is where an early detection and prevention program (EDP) is of most importance. EDP is not just one diagnostic test or one exam visit, it is a new way of caring for your pet, it is practicing preventative medicine. Just like we have been taught to go see our doctors for our yearly physicals, blood work, and special tests, our pets should also. Especially since our pets can not tell us what they are feeling and because they often mask their symptoms, running biological tests such as urinanalysis, fecal exams and blood work will give the veterinarian tools to help find any underlying problems.

Statistics show that if detected early, 75% of common diseases in dogs and 63% in cats can be prevented just by dietary modifications alone over a one year period. For example, EDP can help detect early kidney disease which is a major cause of illness and death in dogs and cats. With kidney disease, animals are not symptomatic until they have lost 2/3 of their kidney function! So when the pet is showing signs of kidney disease, it might be too late. EDP can also detect liver problems and diabetes at an early stage and with proper treatment, all of these diseases can be treated and controlled and thus your pets can live healthy, happy lives for a long time.

Another reason for EDP is parasite control. Parasites are not only a problem for pets, they are a problem for you and your family as well. We can perform tests to detect if parasites are present through fecal and blood tests. Parasites can debilitate and kill your pets and you. EDP is far more reasonable and humane than having to treat once an animal has been affected by the parasite.