July 2012
Ask Elizabeth: July 2012
Subscribers Only Dear Elizabeth: We adopted a new kitten from a local rescue group last month, and she is just perfect. Although she had been tested for the leukemia virus and FIV by the terrific group that saved her from the street, we took her to our veterinarian right away so that she could be examined before we introduced her to our two older cats. After a clean bill of health, we brought Bunny home, and she has become part of the family. The problem is that before we scheduled her spay surgery, she came into heat. What a scene!
Understand Intestinal Disorders
Subscribers Only Of all feline health problems, intestinal disorders rank among those most frequently treated by veterinarians at local clinics and large referral hospitals throughout the U.S. According to Melanie Craven, BVM, an internist and researcher in gastroenterology at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, vomiting, diarrhea and dramatic weight loss are the most common signs of feline intestinal disease in cats. However, she notes, subtler signs such as lethargy and appetite fluctuations can also suggest the presence of an intestinal disorder.
Fire Safety Tips to Take Seriously
Subscribers Only It’s human nature to postpone preparing for a disaster, but it’s vitally important that you take time now to put a plan in place before a fire occurs. Start by installing smoke detectors throughout your home and make sure the batteries are functioning properly. Change the batteries twice a year or more frequently if the smoke detector “beeps” to warn you that battery power is low. Many people put in new batteries when they change their clocks for daylight savings time.
Helping Your Pets Beat the Heat!
Subscribers Only The vigilant protection of your cat’s safety and good health should be a year-round priority for you. And unless you keep your cat indoors all of the time, the challenge facing you in this regard is likely to be most demanding during the summer months, when temperatures soar in most areas of the U.S. and cats, if given the opportunity, are more likely to wander from the secure and sanitary confines of their homes.
Is Your Aging Cat Slowing Down?
Subscribers Only At the age of 12, your cat seems to be slowing down a bit, and that could be perfectly normal. After all, a cat of her age — equivalent to the age of 65 or so in a human — has been living a full life and deserves to take it easy on herself. Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to have the animal checked out by your veterinarian. It’s quite possible that her diminished activity is a consequence not only of her advancing age, but of a debilitating pain in one or more of her joints.
Short Takes: July 2012
Subscribers Only Lymphoma is the most common cancer diagnosed in cats, and while several prognostic factors have been documented, another factor recently considered to be important is weight loss. Body weight over time may be a simple, objective and useful marker of patient status.