Monthly Archives: March 2016

Cats

How to make your cat’s trip to the vet less stressful

Cats 19 - How to make your cat s trip to the vet less stressful
For many cats the trip to vet is not a pleasant experience and it is not hard to understand why. From the cat’s point of view, going to the vet usually means going for a car trip inside a cat carrier, to an unknown environment filled with potential threats such as unfamiliar humans, cats and dogs, only to be handled by a stranger and possibly go through even more unpleasant experiences such as taking pills or being vaccinated.

Many cats are not comfortable with the whole process but with a little help from their owners the trip to the vet doesn’t have to be so difficult for them.

A good starting point is to help your cat or cats get used to and even enjoy spending time in their carrier. Leave your carrier out, open it and place comfortable bedding inside to invite your cat to go in and take a few naps there on its own. You can also leave a piece of clothing from someone who is familiar to him or her inside the carrier, leave a couple of treats or toys around, spread some catnip and you can also spray synthetic cat hormones to encourage your cat to feel secure and comfortable inside it. Don’t forget to give your cat a few cuddles when he or she is inside the carrier to reinforce and praise this positive behaviour.

When cuddling your cat at home touch your cat’s face, ears, feet and lift its lip to have a look at their teeth so all this will be familiar to them when they need to be examined by a vet.

You can also take your cat for short car rides every now and then so he or she can get used to the experience and use a towel to cover the carrier to reduce motion sickness. If your cat tends to feel sick with car trips try not to feed it for a few hours before going for a car ride. You can also mention this to your vet since there are medications that can help your cat with motion sickness. Catnip and synthetic cat hormones are also great options to make the car trip more appealing. Always carry your cat’s carrier gently and reward your feline companion with attention and treats after each successful car trip.

This issue is taken very seriously by veterinary practices and nowadays most practices do their best to ensure vet trips are more positive experiences for their feline patients. Many practices have separate wards for cats, separate consulting rooms and even separate receptions areas for cats with pheromone diffusers to make the environment more welcoming.

It can also be helpful to wash your cat carrier after a visit to the vet to remove any smells that might upset your cat.

The sooner you start getting your cat used to these procedures the better. Kittens are a lot more open to new experiences so ideally owners should start getting cats used to their carrier, to car trips and to trips to the vet as early as possible.

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Dogs

Canine Babesiosis diagnosed in the UK for the first time

Dogs 43 - Canine Babesiosis diagnosed in the UK for the first time
Babesiosis, a tick-borne disease that can be fatal for dogs, has been recently diagnosed in Essex. Two of the infected dogs did not survive and three other dogs needed intensive support treatment and blood transfusions.

It’s the first time this disease has been diagnosed in the UK and the affected dogs have not travelled outside England. New outbreaks are to be expected from now on since each female tick can produce up to 1000 eggs and it is likely for the disease to spread. The situation is causing a wave of concern all across the UK.

Babesiosis is caused by single-celled protozoan parasites that are transmitted by ticks. They can also be transmitted through blood transfusions and biting although it is less common. Dogs of any age or breed can be affected. These parasites can be found inside our pet’s red blood cells and cause the immune system to destroy its own red blood cells, leading to a severe anaemia.

Affected dogs can show a wide range of clinical signs and the disease can go from mild to acute with some dogs deteriorating quickly. Clinical signs include lack of energy, lack of appetite, weight loss, fever, pale gums, red or brown urine, an enlarged abdomen and yellow or orange skin (jaundice).

The best way to avoid this disease from spreading and to protect your pet is to keep your dog’s tick control treatment up-to-date and make sure you are using products that are effective against ticks. Consult with your vet so he or she can recommend an adequate product to protect your dog.

It’s unlikely for a tick to transmit diseases if it has been attached for less than 24 hours. For this reason it might be worth checking your pet for ticks after walks and remove them as soon as possible. Ticks can attach anywhere on the dog’s skin but they tend to be found on their face, on their tummy and on their feet.

When you come home from walks smooth your dog’s fur all over, go through your dog’s hair brushing it back and look for ticks. If you find any, use gloves and please remember to use a tick hook to make sure the whole tick is removed and that there is no head or any mouth parts left behind. To avoid the possibility of any removed ticks to re-attach themselves to other dogs or laying eggs, ensure they are safely disposed of. You can flush them down the lavatory with hot water for example.

A good outcome is more likely to occur if treatment is started in the early stages of the disease, so if your pet is showing any of the signs mentioned earlier do not hesitate and bring him or her to the vet!

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Cats

How can you encourage your cat to drink more water?

Cats-18---How-can-you-encourage-your-cat-to-drink-more-water

 Cats require plenty of fresh, clean water, especially the ones with certain health problems, like kidney disease and urinary tract disease, who need to drink more water than the average cat. There are many cats who don’t drink as much as they should so here are some tips on how to encourage your cat to drink more water.

  • Place water bowls throughout the house
    Keep clean water bowls in multiple spots around the house so that your cat doesn’t need to go far to find one. Place them especially in places your cat likes to spend time and in quiet locations but away from his or her litter box. This will encourage your cat to explore and remind him or her to drink water. Make sure the water is changed at least once a day.
  • Test different bowls
    You can keep several bowls out at all times and see which one drains the fastest. Find bowls of different types and materials and test a few out. In general cats prefer glass, metal and ceramic dishes to plastic ones.
  • Try running water
    Many cats would rather drink from a leaky faucet than an open bowl. Your cat may be excited and curious by the movement, making him or her want to drink. If you notice this behaviour, try running the faucet a few times a day. Make it your morning and evening routine, for example, so your cat knows when to expect it. You can also use drinking fountains. Your cat may love to stare at, play with, and drink from the fountain. Keep fountains and regular water bowls available allowing your cat to decide which one he or she prefers.
  • Consider feeding your cat wet food
    Wet food contains more moisture than dry cat food, so this is a good way of introducing more water into your cat’s diet. However, you can only make this change if your cat likes this kind of food and remember to talk to your vet about any diet changes.
  • Add flavour to your cat’s water
    Try adding a little water from a can of water-packed tuna, from wet cat food or adding chicken broth to your cat’s bowl of water. This extra flavour may induce some cats to drink. You can also crush up catnip in the water bowl. Let your cat see you crush it so he or she knows it’s there.
  • Add ice cubes to the water bowl
    Putting ice cubes in your cat’s water bowl can make the water more interesting. Some cats prefer cold water and the ice cubes also give him or her something to play with. You may also use flavoured ice cubes. You can freeze broth, water from boiling meat or clam juice into ice cubes and then place them in the water bowl. The ice will not only keep the water cold longer, but can also add a tasty flavour.
  • Offer bottled water
    Try giving your cat bottled water and see if he or she prefers that to the water of the tap.

Be persistent and gradual in making these changes. Helping your cat increase his water intake can be very beneficial for a cat’s health!

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Cats, Dogs

Seizures (fits) in pets

Dogs-42---Seizures-(fits)-in-pets´
Seizures in pets can range from mild to severe or violent and watching a beloved pet have a seizure can be very hard for a pet owner. Pets having fits can display muscle spasms or tremors, involuntary repetitive movements (shaking for example), vocalisation, excessive salivation, hallucinations, loss of bowel or urinary control and even loss of consciousness. These signs are the result of uncontrolled electrical activity in their brain.

Seizures are the most common neurological disease in dogs and cats and they can either have an identifiable cause or if one cannot be identified, pets are presumed to have primary or idiopathic epilepsy.

There is no cure for epileptic seizures but the condition can be managed and the number of seizures can be greatly reduced through medication. In general pets suffering from epileptic seizures have a good prognosis and can lead a normal life.

It’s very important for owners to be aware that when a pet is having a seizure he or she is mostly unware of what is happening and is not in any pain. Owners should also keep in mind that pets are not in control of their movement during a seizure which means they can bite. They are also very disoriented and un-coordinated afterwards.

We know it can be very difficult not to feel stressed on such occasion but if you do find your pet having a seizure do your best to remain calm so you can take the necessary steps that will help your pet.

Our pets’ bodies produce a lot of heat when they are having fits so please do not cover them with a towel or a blanket. Turn off the lights, close the curtains, turn off the radio or anything that might be noisy.

Register when it started, how severe it is and time the length of the seizure. If you realise there was any sort of trigger before the seizure or any unusual behaviour afterwards make note of that as well so you can share that information with your vet. If possible try to film what is happening with your phone.

Give your pet some space and some time to recover. We can understand that you will be eager to comfort your pet but do your best to wait until your pet has stopped actively seizing. The ideal time to cuddle is when he or she is less disoriented and comes to you for attention.

If your pet has a seizure for the first time please take your pet to the vet. Please remember that early treatment can provide a better long-term outcome. If it is not the first time follow your vet’s instructions. Contact your vet if your pet’s seizure lasts for more than two minutes, if your pet is showing recurrent twitching or if your pet has more than two seizures in a day.
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