Meet Tommy – A Heartworm Positive Cat
June 10, 2009 by catvet8580
Filed under In Purrfect Health
By Cassandra Kelley DVM-Cat Clinic of Plymouth
Tommy was a strapping orange and white tiger cat. His parent’s became concerned when their robust boy started getting wheezy after exercise. Tommy’s physical exam revealed a new heart murmur and some very loud lung sounds.
Heartworm Disease- Not just for Dogs Anymore
June 10, 2009 by catvet8580
Filed under In Purrfect Health
By Dr. Cassandra Kelley
In my practice, I see quite a number of feline patients with chronic lung diseases. Call it asthma or allergic bronchitis, breathing problems can be a constant source of concern for the patient, their owners, and their veterinarian. The cause of these lung injuries cannot always be explained. Because of this, the problem can be hard to prevent. Now there is another potential cause of breathing problems in cats - heartworm infection.
Indoor or outdoor? To be or not to be…
May 1, 2009 by catvet8580
Filed under Cat Care, In Purrfect Health, Uncategorized
By Cassandra Kelley DVM-Cat Clinic of Plymouth
Sophia & Alice in thier outdoor kitty safe run!
We have all heard the arguments. Indoor cats are safer. But are they happier? Certainly, indoor cats have a longer average survival surviving well into their teens in most cases. Cats who are allowed outdoors unsupervised tend to roam and come into contact with other animals, cars and sometimes inhumane humans. The risk of contracting an infectious disease including rabies or parasites that may affect their human caregivers is real, costly and can have devastating consequences.
White Coat Syndrome – helping kitty cope.
April 29, 2009 by catvet8580
Filed under Cat Care, In Purrfect Health, Uncategorized
By Cassandra Kelley DVM-Cat Clinic of Plymouth
Taking your cat to the veterinarian can be a daunting experience for both the patient and the client. The greatest area of combat becomes cat entry into the cat carrier. I encourage all my patients to travel in carriers not only because it’s safer for them and their driver, but I believe it can truly alleviate feline travel anxiety.
Owners will tell me that they have to hide the carrier from their cat until they can be corralled into the bathroom. Otherwise the reticent patient hides under the bed and the appointment is missed. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if your cat walked willingly into the carrier? Follow this advice and we may be successful.
Why spay and neuter? Did you know……
April 21, 2009 by catvet8580
Filed under Cat Care, In Purrfect Health
By Cassandra Kelley DVM-Cat Clinic of Plymouth
The importance of spaying and neutering of animals cannot be ignored. The most well known reason is to combat the widespread overpopulation of pets. Over 3 million cats and dogs are euthanized each year because there is no one to adopt them. Many of these are healthy and adoptable pets. In fact, purebred animals account for 25 % of this population.
Cleopatra’s Physical Exam – What’s so Important Anyway?
April 9, 2009 by catvet8580
Filed under Cat Care, In Purrfect Health
By Cassandra Kelley DVM-Cat Clinic of Plymouth
Did you ever wonder what exactly is taking place during the physical exam that the veterinarian is performing on your new pet? And why is it important?
Kittens Are So Beautiful
Cleopatra was about the most beautiful kitten I had seen. She was a perfectly marked petite Maine Coon type long haired diva. Her new owner had just adopted her from neighbors who owned Cleopatra’s mother. Cleo’s new adoptive mom was tickled with her new kitten; they had already become best friends. I was regaled with stories of how clever and active Cleopatra was at her new house. She sure seemed like a healthy kitten.
I began my physical exam in typical fashion by examining the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. The eyes were clear and bright without any discharge, the ears were clean with no evidence of mites or infection, the nose was not congested, the mouth revealed pearl white teeth with…wait a minute. Unfortunately, Cleopatra also had pearl white gums rather than healthy pink gums.
I continued my exam of the entire cat. Feeling the skin for lumps and bumps, listening to the heart rate and rhythm, palpating the belly for the presence of normal sized and shaped organs, I found no other signs of disease. Upon completing, I gave Cleopatra’s owner the news and discussed the importance of further testing to confirm the presence of anemia or a low red blood cell level that can cause the gums to turn from a healthy pink to a paste-like white.
Luckily for Cleopatra, her owner understood the importance of the physical exam even when her new friend seemed so healthy. Early intervention allowed us to treat Cleopatra and give Cleopatra many years with her new owner.
Do you have a question about feline obesity? Please contact Dr. Kelley by posting a comment below or by going to http://www.catclinicplymouth.com.
Setting up a Feline Friendly Home Gym: What’s Hot
March 25, 2009 by catvet8580
Filed under Cat Care, In Purrfect Health
By Cassandra Kelley DVM-Cat Clinic of Plymouth
Just like us, our cats need to decrease calories eaten and increase calories burned in order to lose weight. Weight loss should be slow in cats. Achieving only a pound of weight loss in a large cat is the equivalent of a 150 pound human losing 7 pounds! Although diet and calorie control are an important part of a feline weight loss program, increasing activity is just as important. Not only does it serve to burn calories but it relieves stress and diminishes boredom.
Dr. Atkins to Dr. Oz –Which diet to choose?
March 23, 2009 by catvet8580
Filed under Cat Care, In Purrfect Health
By Cassandra Kelley DVM-Cat Clinic of Plymouth
Cats are carnivores, plain and simple. They require a diet high in protein and fat without plant based carbohydrates. Therefore I counsel my clients to feed their cats a good quality canned food. Dry food tends to have less available animal protein sources necessary for proper cat metabolism. Canned food also comes conveniently packaged in cat meal portions that are almost human proof.
Moonshine’s Success: From Fat Butt to Cat Walk
March 19, 2009 by catvet8580
Filed under Cat Care, In Purrfect Health, Uncategorized
By Cassandra Kelley DVM-Cat Clinic of Plymouth
Obesity can cause all kinds of medical problems, from arthritis, diabetes and liver disease. It’s estimated that over 40% of cats in the United States are overweight. How did Jan and Moonshine beat the odds?
Gradually.
The Story of “Fat Butt”
March 6, 2009 by catvet8580
Filed under Cat Care, Columns, Home Pet Care, In Purrfect Health
By Cassandra Kelley DVM
The Story of “Fat Butt”– How Obesity Led To A Close Call With Death
Moonshine was without question a morbidly obese cat. Her owner, Jan, loved Moonshine and really wanted to help her feline friend. During a yearly exam, I warned Jan that unless we could make some changes in Moonshine’s life, she was going to become sick due to her size. Jan agreed that Moonshine was rather robust, as she herself affectionately referred to her cat as “Fat Butt” on occasion, but worried that Moonshine couldn’t exercise safely at her size and she didn’t want to starve her cat in order for Moonshine to lose weight.
