Client Education

Cats Are Masters At Hiding Illness Inappropriate Elimination Behavior Client education about litter box care and normal elimination behavior is important for prevention and treatment of medical and behavioral problems. Clients should be aware that inappropriate urination and defecation often accompany an underlying medical condition and do not occur “to get back at the owner.”…

Cat Dental Care

Oral disease begins with a buildup of bacteria in the pet´s mouth Bacteria, combined with saliva and food debris between the tooth and gum, can cause plaque formulations that accumulate on the tooth. As bacteria grow in the plaque and as calcium salts are deposited, plaque turns to tartar. Bacterial plaque is the most important…

Chronic Nasal Discharge

Chronic upper respiratory tract (URT) disease is a relatively common problem in cats, and can have many causes. The most common form is termed chronic post viral or idiopathic rhinitis. In this condition viral infection (eg, cat flu – caused by feline herpesvirus or feline calicivirus) causes the initial mucosal damage; but the chronic signs…

Emergency Care

EMERGENCY CARE Are you able to distinguish the signs of minor feline illness from those calling for an immediate trip to the emergency veterinary clinic? Knowing signs of serious symptoms may save you a midnight trip to the emergency clinic. If your cat (or other pets) have any of the signs listed below, take them…

Feline Asthma

What is Asthma? Asthma is a recurring respiratory compromise featuring constriction of the lung’s airways. First, excess mucus forms, then the airway walls swell with inflammation and can actually ulcerate, and finally the airway muscles go into spasm, which leads to constriction. Airway constriction leads to inability to draw a deep breath, intolerance to exercise,…

Feline Heartworm Disease

Do Cats get Heartworm? The answer is an unequivocal yes but the feline situation is vastly different from the canine situation. While it is true that the feline infection is not as common as the canine infection, the feline infection has recently been found to be a much more widespread problem than previously believed. In…

Feline Life Stages

The American Association of Feline Practitioners and the American Animal Hospital Association released the Feline Life Stage Guidelines. The guidelines have been developed in response to statistics that show that while cats outnumber dogs as pets, they receive significantly less veterinary care. Studies have also shown that many cat owners are unaware of their cats’…

Feline Upper Respiratory Infection

Symptoms Sneezing Nasal discharge Runny eyes Cough Oral or nasal ulcers Sniffles Fever Hoarse voice Or any combination thereof What Cats are at Risk? The chief infectious agents that cause feline upper respiratory infections are: herpesvirus and calicivirus, together accounting for about 90% of infections. Other agents include: Chlamydophila, Mycoplasma, Bordetella, and others. Of course,…

Heartworms

Heartworm disease is exactly what it sounds like; worms that infest the heart and pulmonary arteries. Mosquitos transfer the worm larvae from an infected animal to your cat. The larvae develop into worms that live in the cat’s circulatory system. All it takes is one bite! Although heartworms are more common in dogs, it is…

Orphaned Kitten Care

Hand raising an orphaned kitten includes feeding, ensuring elimination, handling, and providing a warm, clean environment. The first 48 hours are critical for survival of kittens that have never nursed. Orphan kittens should be kept at a constant temperature of approximately 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Placing the kittens box half-way onto a heating pad turned on…