Cats are not dogs with an CATTITUDE

Some might think I like dogs more than cats because I spend more time sharing information about dogs than I do cats, especially regarding feline behavior vs canine behavior.  I have two inside cats, Otis and Claws, each with their own cattitudes.  I have shared many Otis and Claws stories with my clients during their cat visits in the clinic.  The main reason that I haven't discussed any cat behavior issues is because frankly I haven't taken the opportunity to teach myself a lot about feline behavioral issues beyond litter box issues.  Behavioral topics among cats and dogs was not something they taught in vet school, at least not when I was attending and I am pretty sure I didn't sleep through that class (because behavioral learning is a favorite topic of mine, two and four legged).  So I have been trying to enlighten myself about cat behavior.  Like dog behavior you have to start by thinking the way cats think; contrary to popular belief and rumors cats are not human (having human thoughts) or dogs (not pack animals or think terms of dog-hood).

So I start watching my cats and their normal behaviors at home...what do they do, when they think you are not looking, and question why do they do that?  For example, why does my cat face away from me, butt in my face, when she lays with me on the couch or sleeps with me in bed?  Just the view I like to see on my cat...her butt!  I have learned that this is a very normal behavior and a positive one.  Sitting or laying with their backside to you shows ultimate trust, a source of security.   Cats are also always on the look out for potential threats, (cats are hunters) so if he watches one direction (making sure nothing evil is approaching-his primary sensory receptors facing forward), they are trusting that you are watching his back from the other direction!  One more thing, in the cat world, a little nose to nose sniffing followed by a little butt sniffing is proper etiquette for introductions (much like the dog world), scent is very important in communication and social structure.

I will try to keep you updated on my learning process and hopefully help you learn more about your cat and it's cattitudes!

Apples and Oranges

Often veterinarians borrow medical information and techniques from our human counterparts in order to explore, learn and provide better care for your critters.  While how your Fido or Fluffy may respond/react to some drugs are certainly different from humans, basic anatomy and how the body works is very similar, which is why we use many human based drugs and procedures in our care for animals.  I am ultimately convinced that my dogs and cats think they are human!  Along with medical drugs and procedures being borrowed, we also often adopt human medical practices and protocols.  Example:  when I was growing up there weren't a lot of speciality doctors in the veterinary world, most veterinarians were general practitioners like myself, tending to every aspect of an animal veterinary needs.  Even speciality MD's were few.  As technology and medical knowledge advanced, it became more difficult to stay abreast of all the information and the birth of more speciality fields such as cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, etc, became more common place in the MD world and in the DVM world.

HOWEVER-- there are some things I am most glad that I have not mirrored from the human medical field.

My 76 year old mother-in-law has been suffering from digestive pain for several months.  After a period of treating the symptoms for the most common digestive maladies by her general practitioner with no improvement, she was referred to a internal specialist (all very logical).  The internist (keep in mind the speciality clinic is 2 hours from home) could not find room in their schedule for at least 30 days and my mother-in-law (ML) waited and suffered quietly until she could be seen.  Once at the internist,  a variety of diagnostics were repeated (blood work already performed by her GP) and a MRI was scheduled to rule in/out a variety of potentials (ulcers, gallbladder, cancer, etc.) however once again the appointment for the MRI was weeks away.  Another trip to the MRI lab (2 hours away) and another wait for the radiologist to read and report the information to the internist.  Then another repeat trip to the internist to learn what the radiologist reported, which was gallbladder disease.  Are you sitting down?  The internist now refers my ML to a surgeon...another wait for several weeks and another 2 hour trip.  Luckily my ML has a lot of patience and endurance.

Last week, we got a phone call that ML was being sent by ambulance to the hospital because she lost consciousness and was blue!  The consensus from her visit to the ER was that somehow the gallbladder is causing an obstruction blood flow that caused her to pass out.  Hmmm...that had me thinking.  In the mean time they instructed her to eat small meals and avoid fatty meals...(something I hope that her internist had already done).

This week, my husband drove his mother to the surgeon's appointment for the purpose to review her records and perform a physical examination, repeat blood work and they scheduled an appointment with the cardiologist to be sure that she had no special heart needs prior to surgery.  So guess what?  Another trip in a couple of weeks for EKG, etc.  Now...while my ML is being patient....I am starting to get frustrated.  The necessity for heart evaluation in a 76 year old woman, prior to surgery, is certainly not unwarranted.  However, I am thinking....the surgeon or the internist had to have considered her overall health prior to surgery at some point before now.  For convenience, time and expense wouldn't it have made sense to have made her appointments for both the surgeon and the cardiologist on the same day!  Make a full day of it!  Let's get this woman to surgery and fix her problem for Pete's sake!

So...there will be another trip to cardiologist, testing, waiting for results and sharing of information with the surgeon, another appointment with surgeon to discuss results and go over procedure of surgery and to set appointment date for surgery (probably weeks away).

I am thinking....a anorexic, vomiting, diarrhea dog comes into my office.  What would my client do or say if after my initial examine of their pet and preliminary evaluation and ruling out the most common, such as garbage gut, I told them they had to come back next week for x-rays, the following week for an ultrasound (luckily I have one so I wouldn't have to send him to a specialist yet) and finally diagnosed the dog with gallbladder disease and would made them an appointment in a week (or more) for surgical removal.  In the mean time the dog is still miserable, still vomiting and has diarrhea (something that is as much fun for the client as it is the dog).

Frankly, I know what my client would do.  I would be questioned about my abilities as a doctor, I would be told that they would not be back and they would be seeking another veterinarian who could take care of their dog's needs in a more expedient manner.

One of the many things I take pride in at my clinic is our compassion and empathy for our clients and their pets, and our organizational skills in trying to expedite testing, care, treatment therapies to service to save time and expense for us and our clients.  We realize that your time is as valuable as ours.  Thank God I am a VETERINARIAN!

Could Mr. Ed really be slaughtered for eating?

I'm a horse lover.  When I was five years old I wanted a horse; I begged and pleaded for one.  Although my father was a farm boy, he didn't really have a love for horses.  He grew up during times when horses were only needed for the purpose of farming. As tractors became more common place, the horse was not a necessity.  Horses cost money to feed and care for; if they didn't pay their way by working, you didn't need one.  I was persistent.  At 7 years of age, I got my first horse (Sonny-a mean little Shetland pony).  I've been on horseback ever since.  I cannot tell you why I love them; it's not because of some grandiose ideal of saving the Old West or that the horse is an iconic figure of those times, I suppose, it is because I love their beauty, the feel of their muscles under me when I ride and the companionship I have received from them over the years.  I still get goosebumps every time I watch any horse at work, whether it be cutting cattle or racing on the track.

In 2006, the federal government cut off funding for horse meat inspections, after years of lobbying from animal rightists and animal humane society activists had worked to outright ban the slaughter of horses for meat consumption.  The horse industry saw immediate effects to this governmental legislation, as the last horse slaughterhouse closed in 2007.

For the horse producers/breeders, the market on horses for sale saw a gradual decline in the value of their horses for sale, as the prices to maintain them began to increase.  The decline in value became more obvious as the numbers of U.S. horses increased due to the inability to sale these horses through the meat/slaughter industry.  Simple economics of supply and demand.  The demand decreased (no more meat outlet) but the numbers of the horses available did not.

In addition to the decrease in demand, the economic structure of our nation began to suffer and horse owners found themselves unable to keep and feed these large animals, it became necessary to sale these horses out of necessity.  Bottom line for many was 'do I want to eat, pay my rent/mortgage, utilities, clothes on my family's back, or pay for food and pasture/stable expenses for an animal that can live for 20-30 years.  A realistic decision has to be made, and taking care of one's self will also be a priority over that of the animal.  The horse industry hasn't been the only animal to suffer during these harsher economic times.  I have seen the similar effects in the small animal pet world.  Many pet owners forego vaccinations, heart worm medications, emergency care for their pets in order to feed their family and put a roof over their head.    Many animals, large and small, are literally being turned out in the streets, shelters and rescue centers because of people's inability to maintain them and keep them healthy.

Anti-slaughter activists claim it would cost taxpayers $3-5 million dollars a year for federal inspections for slaughter facilities, a hard thing for many to accept with our current economical state of affairs.  However, what they fail to share with the public is that local animal welfare organizations and State Animal Health inspectors have had an increase over 60% reports and investigations into horse neglect and abandonment since 2007.  The cost to investigate, confiscate and possibly destroy these horses also costs the government and you the taxpayer money.

Anti-slaughter activists make claims that slaughtering practices are inhumane.  These organizations only cite examples of inhumanity against the horses when there are exceptions to the rule.  If one slaughter house would not follow governmental requirements for slaughter, it gets spread all over the news and the public makes assumptions that all slaughter houses practice in the same manner.  Federal inspectors of these facilities are veterinarians, with specific guidelines that must be met.  Meat slaughter and packing facilities must follow these rules for the protection of the humans that consume these products, be it chicken, beef, pork or equine.  To think that all slaughter houses are evil, takes on the same mentality as all human doctors are bad, just because one is (i.e. Dr. Conrad Murry).  If one member of your family is a their, then surely the whole family are thieves.

When the slaughter houses closed in the U.S. These horses were then taken to Mexico and Canada for slaughter, where in some cases they were treated inhumanely.  Government officials determined that approximately 138,000 horses were slaughtered in these countries during 2010, approximately the same as were killed in the U.S. before the ban took effect in 2007.  The meat from these horses is exported to Europe where they eat horse meat.  This market not only provides jobs for U.S. citizens but monies are generated for our country in the form of taxes received from European markets.

For me and many of my sane horsemen friends, re-opening U.S. slaughter houses will be a blessing.  It can not only relieves suffering of the unwanted, unfit and neglected, but also gives our country an opportunity to regain lost jobs and revenues to our country.  Horses can be an agriculture crop, just like raising cattle, pigs and chicken for human consumption.  While I don't have an interest in eating horses, I cannot condemn those who wish too.

A few years ago I lost one of my best friends, Levi.  He had cancer and I had to put him down.  It was an emotional time.  He is buried on my farm.  The Levi's and Mr. Ed's will not end up in slaughter houses.  But there are many that will never become Levi's or Mr. Ed's and there must be a venue available that will give these horses better lives than being starved, abandoned and neglected.