Happy Cat Month

As September and Happy Cat Month draws to an end, I am hoping that a few of you discovered new ways to promote the happiness of your own cat.  In case you didn't, you still have a few more days left to celebrate the cat in your life.

A happy cat is parasite free.  I am still seeing lots of fleas on our furry friends.  There are a good many topical flea control products available to help you keep your cat happy.  When making decisions about which product is best for your cat, consult your veterinarian or their staff.  Not all products are the same.  Remember, these products are insecticides and their use and application should be respected.  Always read the label before applying.

Interact with your cat by teaching it new skills. Cats are smart and can be trained to do fun tricks just like dogs, and the mental and physical stimulation is great for felines. Teaching your cat to sit, for example, is easy, and training your cat to sit on stools instead of counters will make you and your cat much happier. An added bonus is that training will strengthen the relationship between owner and cat, which will certainly make a cat happy. This video from Dr. Sophia Yin, veterinary animal behavioralist, can help.  How to Train a Cat to Sit

Cats are hunters by nature.  Indoor cats often do not get the opportunity to practice or use their hunting skills.  One way to enrich their environment and decrease the incidence of obesity is to have your cat work for food. Food toys are available to channel a cat’s natural hunting drive and release kibble in small amounts. Petsafe's Slimcat interactive feeder is a popular food releasing toy, or simply make your own by purchasing a package of Gladware mini-round 4 oz. container, place food in the container, screw on the lid, and puncture a few holes in the bottom and sides of the container large enough to allow a few kibble fall out when shaken or rolled around on the floor.  Another option is to hide a cat’s food in different places so that they have to find it. (This doesn't work well if you have dogs!!) Working for food makes a cat happy because it’s great physical and mental exercise.

My final word of advise, visit your veterinarian annually for a physical examination with your cat.  Healthy cats are happy cats and happy cats live longer.  Your veterinarian can help you and your cats enjoy a long life together.

World Rabies Day

Tomorrow, September 28th, is World Rabies Day.  During 2010, 48 states reported 6,154 rabid animals and 2 human cases to the CDC, representing an 8% decrease reported in 2009.  Approximately 92% of reported rabid animals are wildlife, with raccoons, skunks, bath, foxes, cats, cattle and dogs making up those cases, the majority in that order.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease (transmissible from animal to man) and has the highest case fatality ratio of any other infectious disease.  Rabies is passed through saliva and an open skin would such as from a bite or a scratch.  Our cats, dogs, horses and cattle are usually contract the disease from wild animal bites, either through hunting, or accidentally through natural curiosity about a wild animal in your yards.  Vaccinating your pets, even indoor cats and dogs, not only prevents them but also protects you, your family and community from the potential risk of rabies.

This week I received a phone call from a client whose daughter was bitten by a dog that was not vaccinated.  The client had questions about how the offending dog should be monitored for the potential of rabies.  Of course, the local law enforcement was contacted and according to law the dog is now under quarantine by the owner for the next 10 days.

How can you prevent rabies?  Arm yourself and educate your children about bite prevention, report all bites to your local authorities and vaccinate your pets.  Please take the time to watch this video, UNDERSTANDING RABIES provided by the world rabies day organization.  At this website are additional videos about what animals are most likely to be rabid, symptoms of rabies, diagnosis of rabies and preventing rabies.

Educating ourselves is the key to prevention.

A horse is a horse of course

That's my daughter, Andrea and her son, Brayden on our good buddy and faithful friend, Levi.  Actually his name was 'He's Foxy in Levi's'.  My two girls, Andrea and Sierra, showed Levi in 4-H for several years, then he became my buddy.  He and I rode miles around Fort Scott Lake, Rock Creek and Slick Rock.  A few years ago, I diagnosed him with Navicular disease.  A year later after a 2 week bout of colic, I was forced to put him down.  It was a cold night in January, that I lay on the ground with him, sick that I could not fix what ailed him.  My daughters and I lost a good friend that night.  Levi was 20 years young.

This being Senior Pet Care Month, I thought it only fitting to include information about our Senior horses.  For many of us, our horses are not just recreation and  working animals, they are our pets and a member of our family.  Over the years I have spent a great deal of time in the barn, talking to my equine buddy about my worries, troubles and joys.  Ever good listeners and never judgmental, I have received good therapeutic and emotional support from my horses.

In general, most people consider a horse a senior citizen around 18 years.  Some individuals age more quickly than others; genetics, degree of preventative care, good nutrition, etc., all influence how a horse ages.  As a horse ages, their bodies go through a number of physical changes as do other creatures, even us.  The gastrointestinal tract, heart, immune system and other body systems may not function as well as they did when your horse was young.

 Often one of the first signs of aging is a dip in the back, with the withers more prominent, due to a weakening of the supraspinous ligament that supports the back.  Some will loose muscle mass as well, even in the face of good nutrition.

Weaker muscles, tendon and ligamental strength, along with poor hair coat, slower shedding of winter coat could be a sign of equine Cushing's disease, which can predispose your horse to laminitis (founder).

One of the most common problems I see in aging horses is poor teeth.  Horse's teeth continually push up form the root to make up for wear from chewing.  They also elongate and angle forward with age.  Molars may develop hooks and ridges with sharp points that can interfere with their ability to grind and chew food.  Weight loss may result from your horse's inablity to properly chew his food.  It is important to have your horse's teeth checked by a veterinarian 1-2 times a year.

Another common problem with older horses is orthopedic problems such as arthritis, especially if they have had an very athletic career.  Wear and tear on joints and cartilage and ligaments can be problematic.  Good farrier care can help reduce stress on joints and alleviate some of the strain.

Most of us think of arthritis in the feet and legs of horses, but arthritis can occur in the neck as well and may cause secondary problems of the back and spinal chord.  Pinched nerves of the neck and back can be noted clinically as muscle atrophy along the back, and neurological signs such as difficulty walking or picking up their feet.

Another common problem I see are horses that are impossible to keep weight on.  Teeth could be an issue, but it can also may be poor gut effeciency.  Often we add a higher fat content to their diet, however for some this is not enough.  Some may no longer be able to handle high forage diets and develop chronic diarrhea.  Chronic parasitism from intestinal worms can also be an issue, which is why you should have a good de-worming protocol established for your senior horse. It is good practice to submit a fecal sample to your veterinary lab for a fecal count exam, so that your veterinarian can recommend the proper de-wormer for you horse.

Poorer nutritional absorption, a more sluggish gut motility, insufficient water intake, increased parasite load and g.i. tumors can all predispose the older horses to colic.  Motility issues may cause impactions, especially in the lower gut.

As your horse ages, his immune system is often not as efficient at protecting him from disease.  As with all viruses, the animals most affected are the very young and the very old that have poorer immune systems.  Even if your horse never leaves the farm, he is still susceptible to many common bacterial and viral infections, many of which we vaccinate for regularly, such as tetanus, Equine encephalitis and West Nile.  Talk to your veterinarian about which vaccines you should be providing your horse.

Your keen observations are vital to your horses welfare, but in addition to this a good physical exam and blood chemistry work-up will go a long way in insuring your horse lives a long and comfortable life.
 

What to Feed an Old Cat

There are many physiologic changes that occur with aging that compromise the ability of the body to respond to stress or change.  Dietary management is critical to the outcome of some disease (chronic kidney disease, obesity, diabetes, hyperthyroidism--commonly seen in cats).  The aging process is  not uniform and affects each cat differently.

Researchers are only just beginning to explore the ptential impct of nutrition on the physiology of normal aging in companion animals.  In dogs, there is a huge difference among breed types; breed related differences have not been reported in cats.  Studies in humans and dogs have shown a decrease in needed calories with age.  There is evidence in cats that there is a gradual decline in needed maintenance calories until 10-12 years of age.  After this, an increase in needed calories is generally experienced.  Altered digestive capacity may be a factor, along with decrease activity by the cat.

Recent studies have shown that dietary supplements of antioxidants, fatty acids and a prebiotic fed to senior cats can potentially increase their lives by an average of a year.  Other significant findings includes a higher blood level of Vitamin E and improved red cell counts (less anemia), improved body weight and skin thickness.

Bottom line..older cats should be addressed as individuals, including an assessment by your veterinarian. I recommend a physical examination in all older cats (dogs too!) every six months with blood work for assessment of body organ function, every 6 - 12 months depending on the individual and their specific general health concerns.

As we increase our understanding of the aging process, we gain greater insight inot the nutritional needs of our older pets.  Cats have unique nutritional requirements no matter what age they are, but older cats are especially challenging.  Antioxidants, essential fatty acids and prebiotics all seem to have some benefit to the older cat.