Buying Flea and Tick Medicine for a Dog? Read This First!With so many brands and types of flea and tick medications being sold today, it can be rather overwhelming choosing what's best for your dog. Here are a few important things to consider before grabbing the first flea and tick control product you see. 1. Usage Flea and tick control products come in a variety of forms, including foggers, wipes, dips, shampoos, spot-ons, collars and oral medication. Some products repel fleas and ticks; some attack the immature forms of the bugs so that they never have a chance to develop and reproduce; and others kill the adult fleas and ticks. There are even some products that do all three. Read the label carefully to select the best product for your situation, and consult your veterinarian if you have any questions. 2. Flea/Tick Species Effectiveness It may be a bit overwhelming to think about, but there are hundreds upon hundreds of flea and tick species worldwide! The dog flea, black-legged tick (pictured above), American dog tick and brown dog tick, just to name a few. Discuss with your veterinarian what type of fleas and ticks are found in your area and confirm that the flea and tick medicine you're considering is effective against those species. Look for medications labeled "broad spectrum," which are effective against several species in one easy-to-use form. 3. You and Your Dog's Preferences Another important consideration is you and your pet's preferences and lifestyle. Perhaps your dog isn't very fond of having spot-on flea and tick preventives and won't stay still during application. Try a flea and tick collar. What if you have a busy lifestyle and want something that is both effective for long periods and that isn't visible on your pet? Check out oral flea and tick preventives (i.e., pills or tablets), as some are effective for up to 12 weeks. There isn't necessarily a right or wrong choice when it comes to choosing flea and tick medication. Just choose what is best for your situation. 4. Intended for Dogs or Cats? There are times when dogs and cats can take the same medication, under a vet's supervision, to resolve an issue. This is definitely not one of them. Not only are some flea and tick medications specifically formulated to be effective for dogs (or vice versa); there are certain ingredients that can actually be harmful, even deadly, to cats. "Cats should never be given products designed for use on dogs," says Dr. Jennifer Kvamme, DVM, "nor should you use your cat products on your dog." Always read flea and tick control products labels carefully and only use as directed. If you have any doubts, ask your veterinarian. A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
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Many pet owners will tell you their bundle of fur is like family. So there’s no shame in feeling just a little guilty when you have to leave yours behind, whether it be for a quick errand or night on the town. (The adorable drooping face and sad eyes don’t make it any easier.) You might be tempted to try an age-old trick: turning on the radio or TV to keep your furry friend company. Turns out, though, neither may produce sounds he’ll actually enjoy. Cats, for instance, just aren’t that into human music (the classical kind at least), according to new research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The study, recently published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, compared how 47 felines responded to two different types of music at home, the first being classical melodies from the human world and the second dubbed “cat music.” That would be music composed specifically to appeal to cats using a particular pitch and tempo. “Their normal communication is at a much higher frequency range than humans,” says Charles Snowdown, PhD, the study’s lead author and professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. So the study’s two “cat songs,” created by University of Maryland composer David Teie, are an octave higher than regular human speech or singing voices, Snowdon says. Plus, the songs were formatted to match tempos cats might enjoy, such as purring and the sucking noises made during nursing. Snowdon and his former student, Megan Savage, played four sets of sounds for the cats, including two classical songs and two cat songs. The pair found that the kitties showed more positive behavior (like purring and rubbing against the speaker) when listening to the music created for them versus the human music. And they reacted to the cat music about a minute sooner, too. Though the researchers aren’t exactly certain how cats might respond to other musical genres like rock or country, one thing is clear. “From the cats’ perspective, they really don’t care about classical music,” Snowdon says. And what about dogs’ preferences? Those would be much trickier to pinpoint. “We chose cats [for the study] in part because they are fairly homogenous in body size,” Snowdon says. “Dogs range in size and voice, so we’re not sure whether there would be a universal music created for them or whether it would be different for each breed.” (Small doggies make noises that sound very different than big ones.) Still, entertainment isn’t a total wash for pets. Some dogs with separation anxiety may respond well to radio music or TV noise if used as a safety cue. “The whole idea is to get them to like something that doesn’t remind them of you,” says Jeff Werber, a licensed veterinarian and founder of Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles. To spot separation anxiety in your pooch, look for behavior problems such as destructive chewing, howling, or urinating without cause. Then, start by training Fido to associate the radio or TV with positive things, such as a treat or praise (you can also use a word or action as a safety cue, he says). “Now the dog is getting rewarded for listening to music and it’s taking attention away from you,” Werber says. The more you do that, eventually your lonesome pup will learn to keep his cool when you’re gone. Before you go, be sure to hide anything he could link back to you, like a toy you often play catch with, then turn on the radio or TV. This trick is especially great if your dog already likes sitting in front of the tube (dogs CAN see what’s on the screen, according to Werber), but it’s not guaranteed to win over every furball. In that case, you could try investing in soothing tunes for canines, like the Through a Dog’s Ear music series, he says. You could also set out a toy with hidden pockets for treats to keep your animal busy, Werber suggests. Cats, on the other hand, may not need a safety cue to feel better about being alone. “Cats have more natural instincts that allow them to find ways to take care of themselves,” Werber says. That said, there are still little things you can do to keep your cat distracted and happy, Werber says, such as setting out a maze of treats or buying a diffuser like Feliway which sprays natural pheromones in the air to reduce your cat’s stress levels. Lucky for your feline, the cat music used in Snowdon’s study is also available to purchase ($1.29 per song) through the composer’s website MusicForCats.com. So even kitties can have their own jam session while you’re out. The important thing to remember is that human music may not always be the answer to help your pet feel better when you’re away. “To assume that just putting on a classical music station will calm your animal may not be the case,” Snowdon says. “We know very little about what animals really like, and we hope people start thinking more carefully about that.” Source:news.health.com / Rachel Swalin A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
With Easter coming up here is a quick reminder that Easter Lily is poisonous to cats. Poisonous to: Cats Level of toxicity: Generally moderate to severe Common signs to watch for:
There are benign and dangerous lilies out there, and it’s important to know the difference. Benign lilies include the Peace, Peruvian, and Calla lilies; these contain insoluble oxalate crystals that cause minor signs such as tissue irritation to the mouth, tongue, pharynx, and esophagus. Clinical signs of drooling, pawing at the mouth, foaming, and vomiting may be transiently seen. The more dangerous, potentially fatal lilies are true lilies of the Lilium or Hemerocallis species. Examples of some of these dangerous lilies include the tiger, day, Asiatic hybrid, Easter, Japanese Show, rubrum, stargazer, red, Western, and wood lilies – all of which are highly toxic to cats! Even small ingestions (such as 2-3 petals or leaves) – even the pollen or water from the vase – can result in severe, acute kidney failure. Other types of dangerous lilies include lily of the valley. This type does not cause kidney failure, but can cause life-threatening heart arrhythmias and death when ingested by dogs or cats. If your cat is seen consuming any part of a lily, bring your cat (and the plant) immediately to a veterinarian for medical care. The sooner you bring in your cat, the better and more efficiently the lily poisoning can be treated. Decontamination (like inducing vomiting and giving binders like activated charcoal) are imperative in the early toxic stage, while aggressive intravenous fluid therapy, kidney function monitoring tests, and supportive care can greatly improve the prognosis. Intravenous fluids must be started within an 18 hour window for the best outcome. Poison type: Plants Scientific name: Lilium longiflorum Alternate names: Lilies, Easter lily, tiger lily, rubrum lily, red lily, wood lily, Western lily, stargazer lily, daylily, Japanese show lily, Asiatic lily, Asiatic hydrid lily, peace lily, calla lily, lily of the valley, Lilium longiflorum, Lilium tigrinum, Lilium speciosum, Lilium auratum, Lilium lancifolimu, Lilium umbellantum, Hemerocallis Source: http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/ A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Live with cats for long enough and you’re bound to find a hairball on the floor (or in your bed, if you’re really unlucky), but hairballs don’t have to be a regular part of cat ownership. Cats bring up hairballs frequently enough that it’s easy to think of them as being normal, but they really are a symptom of gastrointestinal dysfunction or a skin disease that is causing excessive hair loss. I regard hairballs in the same way that I do diarrhea. Are the conditions normal? No, but they are something that everyone has to deal with from time to time. That said, once you’re finding hairballs more frequently than once a month or so, it’s time to go on a search for what’s wrong. A complete work-up from chronic or severe hairballs could include some combination of patient history, physical exam, skin scrapings for mites, tests for ringworm, skin cytology looking for bacterial/yeast infections, abdominal imaging, blood work, a urinalysis, fecal examinations, and sometimes biopsies of the gastrointestinal tract or skin. But now let’s say you are only finding the occasional hairball and want to try something at home to reduce their frequency. In these cases, dietary management is the best way to limit hairballs. Undiagnosed food allergies or inflammatory bowel disease often play a role in the formation of hairballs. These conditions cause the gastrointestinal tract to become inflamed and that inflammation interferes with the cat’s natural ability to deal with hair that is swallowed (in other words, keep it moving in the right direction). Limited antigen diets are available at pet food retailers. You will need to feed one of these foods (and nothing else!) for about eight weeks before you can say definitively if it is helping or not. If you’ve tried a couple of over the counter limited antigen foods with little success, keep in mind that the diets available through your veterinarian might still be worth a try. The veterinary diets tend to be significantly less allergenic than are over the counter limited antigen foods. A high fiber diet will also help some cats with hairballs. Different types of fiber can either sweep hair through the intestinal tract or promote the overall health of the gut. Some pet food manufacturers have added fiber to their formulations creating “hairball” diets that work well for some individuals. If you are looking for a way to add fiber to your cat’s current food or want to try a limited antigen and high fiber diet, try mixing in a little canned pumpkin or unflavored psyllium. Lubricant gels that contain petroleum jelly, waxes, or oils are another option. They coat hair in the GI tract and prevent it from forming clumps. Cats should not be forced to eat a hairball lubricant (the stress and mess outweighs any benefit), but try adding it to the food or putting a little on the cat’s paw for her to lick off. Do not give your cat a flavored hairball lubricant if you are also feeding a limited antigen diet. And don’t forget this simple, non-dietary hairball remedy… brush your cat (assuming it’s a pleasant experience for the two of you). Any hair that you can toss in the garbage is hair that won’t be swallowed and eventually redeposited on your floor. Source: Pet MD A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
With the New Year in full swing many of us think about our waistlines and dieting. Some will start dieting before the holidays to fit into those party clothes. Others will contemplate strategies for eating during the holidays to minimize gain with the goal to lose those extra pounds after the holidays. You know, the proverbial “New Year’s Resolution.” We should not forget about our pets' waistlines either. Since cats often pose the greatest challenge when it comes to weight loss presentations at the 2014 Academy of Veterinary Internal Medicine Symposium in Nashville, Tennessee, highlighted the following weight loss strategies for cats. Chronic Calorie Reduction Chronic calorie reduction is a weight loss strategy based on restricting calories at a calculated level and maintaining or reducing that level of calories until a cat achieves its ideal weight. In this particular study, 32 client owned, obese cats were evaluated by a sophisticated X-ray technology (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry or DEXA) to determine their ideal body weights (IBW). The cats were then put on a diet that delivered 80% of the calories necessary for their resting energy requirement, or RER. RER is the absolute minimum number of calories necessary for body function at complete rest; not the amount of calories needed for maintenance energy requirement (MER) that includes normal, regular daily activities. The cats were fed this way until they reached their IBW, or until 104 weeks (2 years), whichever came first. Twenty-six percent of the cats left the study early due to owner non-compliance. Owner relocation, cat aggression to researchers, and other medical reasons caused another nine cats to drop from the study. Of the seventeen cats that finished the study, thirteen (76%) achieved their IBW within the first year. Three other cats achieved IBW in the second year, and one cat did not achieve IBW in the time period. Calorie adjustments during the testing period varied from as low as 40% of RER calories to as high as 100% of RER calories based on periodic weight monitoring. Periodic blood testing ensured the safety of the diet for the cats. Intermittent Calorie Restriction Intermittent calorie restriction is a weight loss strategy where animals are calorie restricted part of the time and fed normally the other times. In this study, 28 laboratory cats were divided into two equal groups. Fourteen cats were fed 75% of their estimated MER for six months. The other fourteen cats were fed 75% of their MER for the first two weeks of the month and then 100% of their MER for the second two weeks for twelve months. These cats were fed longer so that their calorie restricted period matched the period for the group that was chronically restricted for six months. Weekly body weights and monthly body scans for body fat were performed on all cats throughout the study period. The researchers found that the intermittent group lost more body fat than the chronically restricted group. They also found that 82% of the intermittent group achieved IBW in the time period versus only 36% of the chronic restriction group. The Bottom Line The intermittent strategy may prove to be a more effective program for two reasons: It has the potential for decreasing the metabolic changes that occur during dieting that promote weight regain after dieting. This may mean that cats can be fed a more satisfying amount of calories after dieting. Presently, those cats and dogs that lose weight on chronic calorie restrictions are only able to ingest 10% more calories after their diet (anecdotal evidence from researchers and my own clinical experience). More importantly, owner compliance may be better if there is not the perception of starving their babies. Certainly more research is needed to address these concerns. Some human research has yielded the same results with intermittent calorie restriction. Perhaps this is the way we should strategize for the holidays for ourselves and our pets. Happy Holidays! A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
When cats feel poorly, they stop eating. When they stop eating, they feel worse and are even less likely to eat. This is a vicious cycle that needs to be stopped as soon as possible if a cat is to heal. The first step in the process is determining why a cat is no longer eating. Sometimes you can figure this out by remembering that most cats hate change. Anything different in the home could be responsible. Visitors, new pets, different foods, a new food bowl, an altered schedule, a different feeding location — you name it and it might be to blame. As much as is possible, return your cat’s diet and environment back to what is “normal” for him or her and see what happens. If this doesn’t work or you are noticing other worrisome symptoms, it is time for a check-up with your veterinarian. Virtually every disease that cats can get has the potential to turn them off their food. The fix may be straightforward. For example, a cat with dental disease will usually start eating again once doing so isn’t painful anymore. Sometimes, however, we need to encourage a cat to eat while we figure out what is wrong or wait for treatment to take effect. While I have just said that cats hate change, it is possible to tempt them into trying something new so long as that something is darn near irresistible (from a cat’s point of view). Try buying a few types of canned food (pate-style, flaked, etc.) in different flavors. Place some on a small plate and warm it slightly. If your cat shows no interest, try adding a little fish oil, chicken broth, tuna juice, or cooked egg. Check out this video for another idea. Those wiggling things are bonito flakes — thin shavings of tuna — that move when placed on top of warm, wet food. I think a cat would have to feel really awful not to be intrigued by that! Make feeding time a social and pleasant experience. Take your cat to a quiet part of your home, ideally with a diffuser emitting feline facial hormone, a natural signal to cats that everything is “okay.” Try hand feeding him or put a small amount of pate-style food on your finger and touch it to his lips. Pet your cat and praise him. If your cat is willing, try dribbling a thin slurry of food into his mouth using a syringe. Do not force the issue, however. Force-feeding is stressful for cats and potentially dangerous for you. If none of these tricks are successful, your veterinarian may prescribe an appetite stimulant (e.g., mirtazapine or cyproheptadine) or even recommend placement of a feeding tube. While owners sometimes balk at the thought of a feeding tube, most who have agreed to the procedure are thrilled with the results. Feeding tubes make giving cats all the food, water, and medications they need incredibly simple. One of the biggest mistakes owners make is waiting too long to make a veterinary appointment for a cat that has stopped eating. The adverse effects of poor nutrition start within just a few days, and the longer you wait the harder it will be to get your cat eating again. A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
FIP is a viral disease of cats that can affect many systems of the body. It is a progressive disease and almost always fatal. It is found worldwide and affects not only domestic cats, but many wild ones as well, including cougars, bobcats, lynx, lions, and cheetahs. What causes FIP? FIP is caused by a virus. Cats can be infected with feline coronavirus (FCoV). There are two types of this virus which cannot be distinguished from each other in laboratory tests. One is avirulent (does not cause disease) or only mildly virulent and is called feline enteric coronavirus (FECV). Infection with this virus does not produce any signs other than maybe a very mild diarrhea. The other type is virulent (produces disease), is the cause of FIP, and is called feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV). It is believed that FIP occurs when FECV mutates to FIPV in the cat and starts to replicate in the cat's cells. What causes this mutation is unknown. How common is FCoV infection and the development of FIP in cats? Studies have shown that approximately 25-40% of household cats, and up to 95% of cats in multi-cat households and catteries are or have been infected with FCoV. The development of fatal FIP occurs in 1 in 5000 cats in households with one or two cats. In multi-cat households and catteries 5% of cats die from FIP. How is the virus transmitted? Cat-to-cat contact and exposure to feces in litter boxes are the most common modes of infection. FCoV can be found in the saliva and feces of infected cats. Therefore, cat-to-cat contact and exposure to feces in litter boxes are the most common modes of infection. Contaminated food or water dishes, bedding, and personal clothing may also serve as sources of infection. FCoV may possibly be transmitted across the placenta. The significance of this is unknown. FCoV can live in the environment 3-7 weeks. After 3 weeks, however, the number of virus particles present is probably too small to cause infection. Many disinfectants will kill the virus, including household bleach diluted 1:32 in water (1/2 cup of bleach per gallon of water). How does the virus cause disease? When a cat is exposed to FCoV, four things can happen, depending on a number of factors including age, health status, and strength of the cat's cellular immune system. The strain and dose of the virus can also influence the outcome. Mammals' immune systems can be divided into two parts: the antibody-producing part, and the part in which cells kill invaders through direct contact or chemicals they produce. It is this second part of the immune system, the cellular immune system which plays a very important role in determining the result of exposure to FCoV.
Which cats are more likely to develop FIP? As you would imagine, the cats most likely to develop FIP are those with the weakest immune systems. This includes kittens, cats infected with feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and geriatric cats. The largest number of FIP cases occurs in young cats. Kittens are often infected when they are 4 to 6 weeks old, when the antibody protection they received from their mothers through the milk is declining. Kittens usually start showing signs of FIP when they are between 3 months and 2 years of age. Most of the kittens with FIP die between 8 and 18 months of age. When infections with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) were more common, infections with FeLV and FIPV were often seen together because FeLV suppressed the immune system. Now that FeLV is less common only 5% of cats with FIP are also infected with FeLV. We rarely see FIP in cats between 3 and 10 years of age. However, starting at 10-12 years of age, the immune systems of these older cats apparently decline, making them more susceptible. FIP has been shown to be more common in certain breeds and lines. It appears to be more common in Persians, for example. It is unclear whether these breeds are more susceptible because of their genetics or whether they are exposed to FCoV more often since many of them live or come from catteries. What are the clinical signs of disease? Although we separate FIP into 2 forms, wet and dry, there is really a gradient between the two forms, and we may often see signs of both forms. Dry or Noneffusive Form: Dry FIP occurs in approximately ¼ of the cats with FIP. Generally, the signs of the dry form come on more slowly. Nonspecific signs such as chronic weight loss, fever, loss of appetite and lethargy appear. Other signs occur depending on which organs are damaged by the granulomas. Ten to twenty-five percent of cats will have neurological signs. When granulomas occur in the central nervous system we see paralysis, disorientation, loss of balance, tremors, convulsions, behavior changes and urinary incontinence. The liver and kidneys are often affected, and this is reflected in chemistry tests that evaluate these two organs. Granulomas can occur in the chest, as well. Sometimes the eye is the only organ affected. The pupil may appear irregular and the eye may appear discolored because of the inflammation that is present. Some cats with the dry form can live up to a year after first showing clinical signs. Wet or Effusive Form: Early in the disease we can see similar signs to the dry form including weight loss, fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Anemia with resultant pale mucous membranes (e.g., gums) is often seen. Constipation and diarrhea can also occur. The wet form of the disease progresses rapidly and soon the cat may appear pot-bellied in appearance because of the fluid accumulation in the abdomen. Generally, the cat shows no signs of abdominal pain. Fluid may also accumulate in the chest causing respiratory difficulties. Most cats with the wet form of FIP die within 2 months of showing signs of disease. What are the laboratory findings in FIP? Chemistry Panels: Chemistry panels are used to assess the function of the liver and kidneys. If the kidney is involved, or the cat is dehydrated, we can see elevations in creatinine and BUN. These compounds are eliminated from the body by the kidneys. If they are elevated, the kidneys are not adequately filtering the blood. Liver enzymes including alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase are elevated when liver damage has occurred, and bilirubin will increase if the liver is not functioning normally. One of the most common abnormalities is an increase in serum protein to levels over 7.8 g/dl. Most of the increase is caused by elevations in certain proteins called globulins (the other major serum protein is albumin). Spinal fluid also has an elevated protein level. The abdominal fluid in cats with wet FIP is high in protein (5-12g/dl), yellow, viscous, froths when shaken, and may clot when exposed to air. Complete Blood Count: A complete blood count may help to support a diagnosis of FIP. Many cats will have a mild to moderate anemia. Initially, the white blood cell count is low, but increases later in the disease. The increase is due to an increase in the type of white blood cells called neutrophils. These are scavenger-type cells. There is actually a decrease in the type of blood cells called lymphocytes. This can be important in determining the diagnosis. FIP Testing: A test that detects antibody to FCoV is available. This test can NOT differentiate between FECV and FIPV. The test result is reported as a "titer." A titer of 1:100 means we still get a positive reaction after diluting the serum sample 1:100. It has been found that a high titer alone does not mean a cat has FIP. A high titer could mean:
Because we can not rely totally on the antibody test for a diagnosis, we must combine the history, clinical signs, laboratory results, FCoV test result, and possibly radiographs to come to a "probable" diagnosis. The only way to be absolutely sure of an FIPV infection is to biopsy affected tissues and have them examined by a veterinary pathologist. As a result, most often the diagnosis is made after the cat has died, a postmortem examination has been performed and tissues have been examined. In an attempt to try to make the best diagnosis we can while the cat is still alive, we can follow these criteria for a cat with clinical signs of FIP:
If the cat meets all three criteria, the probability the cat has FIP is 88.9%. If the cat does NOT meet all three criteria, the probability the cat does NOT have FIP is 98.8%. In those cats who have fluid in the thorax or abdomen that can be analyzed:
How is FIP treated? There is no cure for FIP. There is no cure for FIP. A survivor of FIP is very rare. We can give the cat supportive care which will make her more comfortable and possibly extend her life for a short amount of time. Because the dry form of FIP progresses more slowly, cats with this form can sometimes live longer than those with the wet form. This is especially true if the eye is the only organ affected by granulomas. Cats who have an appetite, no neurological signs, and no anemia usually respond better to the supportive care. Supportive care includes:
Research is ongoing to find other immunosuppressive drugs that may slow down the course of the disease. Attempts are also being made to find antiviral drugs that will kill or slow down the replication of the virus. How is FIP prevented and controlled? Managing a Cattery or Multi-cat Household:
There is currently only one licensed FIP vaccine available. Primucell FIP, produced by Pfizer Animal Health, is a temperature-sensitive, modified-live virus vaccine that is given as an intranasal vaccine, and is licensed for use in cats at least 16 weeks of age. The vaccine appears to be safe; however, this vaccine has minimal if any effectiveness in preventing FIP, and it is not generally recommended by the American Association of Feline Practitioners Feline Vaccine Advisory Panel. Cat owners should consult their veterinarian to help them decide if their cat should be vaccinated. A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate in-home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Hearing the news that your pet has been diagnosed with cancer can be both devastating and terrifying at the same time. It is natural to have many questions about exactly what the diagnosis means, what might happen to your pet as the cancer progresses, and what options you have for treating the disease. One of the most common questions owners ask veterinarians when their pet is diagnosed with cancer is "What caused my pet’s cancer?" Unfortunately, this is a very difficult question to answer accurately, as in nearly all cases cancer is typically caused by a combination of genetic and environmental influences, many of which may have occurred years before the diagnosis was made. The fact that certain types of cancers occur more often in particular breeds of dogs and cats lends much evidence to the concept of a genetic cause for the disease. We do know that the genetic mutations that cause cancer can occur in the reproductive cells of male and female animals, and these mutations can be passed on to puppies and kittens, giving rise to a heritable predisposition to different types of tumors. Most cancers, however, arise from mutations that occur to genes during a dog’s or cat’s lifetime that were not present at birth. These mutations can result from internal factors, such as exposure to naturally occurring hormones, or external factors, such as environmental tobacco smoke, chemicals, or even sunlight. In people we know that up to one-third of all tumors are related to environmental and lifestyle factors. In veterinary oncology, we have discovered that nutrition, hormones, viruses, and carcinogens such as smoke, pesticides, UV light, asbestos, waste incinerators, polluted sites, radioactive waste, and canned cat foods can increase the risk of cancer in pets. Some examples of known causes of cancer in companion animals include: Increased risk of mammary cancer in un-spayed female dogs and cats.
Studies have shown conflicting information regarding the risk of exposure to herbicides and/or pesticides and the development of cancer in pets. For example, some studies have shown an increased risk for the development of lymphoma, which is a cancer of white blood cells, while other studies have refuted the risk. Because the results are inconclusive its is generally recommend that owners should strive to minimize their pets’ exposure to these chemicals and discuss any concerns they may have with their primary care veterinarian. It is important to remember that it is often difficult to prove "cause and effect" when it comes to cancer. This is true for even well designed research studies designed to look at those exact parameters, so one has to be careful when researching this topic and not over interpret the available information. There are so many potential interactions between genes and environment influences that could lead to the development of a tumor, and ultimately, we may never be able to know exactly what caused the cancer in the first place. A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate in-home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
With the holiday season approaching, many of us think about our waistlines and dieting. Some will start dieting before the holidays to fit into those party clothes. Others will contemplate strategies for eating during the holidays to minimize gain with the goal to lose those extra pounds after the holidays. You know, the proverbial “New Year’s Resolution.” All-in-all concerns about our weight create much angst during this joyous time of year. Here are the highlights from two presentations at the 2014 Academy of Veterinary Internal Medicine Symposium in Nashville, Tennessee, about weight loss strategies for cats: Chronic Calorie Reduction Chronic calorie reduction is a weight loss strategy based on restricting calories at a calculated level and maintaining or reducing that level of calories until a cat achieves its ideal weight. In this particular study, 32 client owned, obese cats were evaluated by a sophisticated X-ray technology (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry or DEXA) to determine their ideal body weights (IBW). The cats were then put on a diet that delivered 80% of the calories necessary for their resting energy requirement, or RER. RER is the absolute minimum number of calories necessary for body function at complete rest; not the amount of calories needed for maintenance energy requirement (MER) that includes normal, regular daily activities. The cats were fed this way until they reached their IBW, or until 104 weeks (2 years), whichever came first. Twenty-six percent of the cats left the study early due to owner non-compliance. Owner relocation, cat aggression to researchers, and other medical reasons caused another nine cats to drop from the study. Of the seventeen cats that finished the study, thirteen (76%) achieved their IBW within the first year. Three other cats achieved IBW in the second year, and one cat did not achieve IBW in the time period. Calorie adjustments during the testing period varied from as low as 40% of RER calories to as high as 100% of RER calories based on periodic weight monitoring. Periodic blood testing ensured the safety of the diet for the cats. Intermittent Calorie Restriction Intermittent calorie restriction is a weight loss strategy where animals are calorie restricted part of the time and fed normally the other times. In this study, 28 laboratory cats were divided into two equal groups. Fourteen cats were fed 75% of their estimated MER for six months. The other fourteen cats were fed 75% of their MER for the first two weeks of the month and then 100% of their MER for the second two weeks for twelve months. These cats were fed longer so that their calorie restricted period matched the period for the group that was chronically restricted for six months. Weekly body weights and monthly body scans for body fat were performed on all cats throughout the study period. The researchers found that the intermittent group lost more body fat than the chronically restricted group. They also found that 82% of the intermittent group achieved IBW in the time period versus only 36% of the chronic restriction group. A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate in-home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
A mild manner and a fondness for fatty treats like fish or meat scraps may have helped cats evolve into the tame yet independent-minded pets they are today, researchers said Monday. After that, it was people's preference for cats with certain appearances, like white paws, that played a key role in winnowing down the 38 species known today, said a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Using advanced genome sequencing technology, we were able to shed light on the genetic signatures of cats' unique biology and survival skills," said Wes Warren, associate professor of genetics at the Washington University School of Medicine. Domestic cats "only recently split off from wild cats, and some even still breed with their wild relatives. So we were surprised to find DNA evidence of their domestication," he added. By comparing domestic cat genes to other cat breeds, as well as wildcats and other mammals, certain differences stood out. For instance, tigers and domestic cats each have the uncanny physical ability to eat lots of fatty acids without the resulting heart disease and cholesterol that such a diet would have on humans. In fact, cats need meat in order to thrive, whereas most other carnivores can and do survive on a diet of plants, grains, and legumes. "The team found particular fat-metabolizing genes in carnivores such as cats and tigers that changed faster than can be explained by chance," the university said in a statement. "The researchers did not find such changes in the same genes of the cow and human, who eat more varied diets and would not need such enhancements." Senses and Genetic Selection Keys to Domestic Cats' Evolution Cats rely less on smell than dogs do when it comes to hunting, but they have better nighttime vision and hearing, the study found. Cats also have more genes related to the ability to sense pheromones than dogs, a trait that helps them to find mates even at a considerable distance. Pet cats showed clear signs of genetic selection in traits related to memory, fear conditioning, and stimulus-reward learning, suggesting that more docile cats were likely preferred as pets. Genetic selection for appearance was also evident, particularly in recent generations. "Unlike many other domesticated mammals bred for food, herding, hunting, or security, most of the 30-40 cat breeds originated recently, within the past 150 years, largely due to selection for aesthetic rather than functional traits," said the study. For instance, the Birman cat breed likely developed its characteristic white paws because humans chose to breed cats that looked the same. In the random population of cats, the genes that lead to the gloving pattern are only seen in about 10 percent of felines. Cats As Beneficial Rodent Killers About 600 million cats exist on Earth. The earliest archaeological evidence of cats living with people dates back 9,500 years to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Archeological evidence of cats as pets has also been found in China from as far back as 5,000 years ago. Cats are believed to have worked their way into humans' everyday lives during agricultural periods in history, when their work as killers of rodents and vermin would have been prized. "Most cats were likely bred for rodent control, and only later for pigmentation," said study co-author Michael Montague, in an email to AFP. "In a sense, tameness would need to be one of the initial behavioral differences between wildcats and domestic cats, and perhaps the ultimate driver of domestication." A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate in-home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
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For the LOVE of Pets The goal of this blog is to help educate pet owners by sharing pet health facts and pet news articles...and ... sometimes put a smile on your face with a cute or funny pet story! Categories
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