By Angela Ohm A little over a year ago, the night before Thanksgiving, my father passed away. He and my mother had been married 63 years: my sister and I grew up on a farm loving all animals but didn’t have a cat until one wandered out of the woods when I was in my twenties and turned the whole family into cat lovers. Mom and Dad had been thinking in his last years about getting a cat, but never did. When Mom was planning to move to her own place (a retirement community that allowed pets), she began to think about it again. My 14-year-old niece decided swift action was called for so when one of her friends found some dumped kittens, she immediately conned my mom into driving over to their home after school. While mom waited in the car, Janey triumphantly came out to the car with a box: “Pick two Ma—whichever ones you want.” Mom was in shock and not sure if this was the right time to get cats (she hadn’t been moved in very long), but she did as instructed and picked out one beautiful brown tabby and one beautiful grey kitty. Janey named them Mr. Pickles and Ms. Cupcake. They promptly went home to live with my sister, and her family’s two cats, while she arranged for vet visits and supplies. The pair grew like weeds and got along with my sister’s two other cats, and had the approval of my sister’s husband who is the main cat caregiver in the family. You probably have guessed it by now, but my mom still doesn’t have those cats in her home. As Janey put it: “We love them now!”. My mother is currently with me for several weeks helping me recover from surgery and,…
By Ken Byrer Every pet owner knows they have a responsibility for the happiness and health of their furry companions, and how the first often relies on the second. As much as the fuzzballs may panic or protest a trip to the vet, regular medical checkups are as essential to their health as going to the human doctor is for ours — or more so, given the differences in our lifespans. Yet many aspects of human and animal health parallel each other. For example, there may come a time when a general practice vet cannot address a complicated medical condition or does not feel comfortable doing so. Just like when people encounter that problem, pet parents may need a specialist. What Does “Specialist’ Mean, Exactly? Humans typically have a general practitioner (GP) do routine maintenance and monitoring. When the GP spots something worthy of more attention, they often send us to specialists. Veterinary medicine works the same way. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) describes the situation. “Veterinary specialists have had additional education and training in a specific field of veterinary medicine,” explained Paige Andersen, DVM, Managing Partner of TimberCreek Veterinary Hospital. “They have the knowledge, skillset, and specialized equipment to handle complex cases and procedures that may not be available in general practice.” A Texas A&M discussion of this topic notes that bringing in a specialist is not the end of the regular vet’s job but an extension of it. “Board-certified veterinarians collaborate very closely with the primary care veterinarian, who saw the animal first and, therefore, has a deeper understanding of the pet’s history and diagnostics and treatments already performed and response to that treatment,” Dr. Stacy Eckman, associate dean for hospital operations and chief executive officer for the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Veterinary Medical…
By Cindy McGovern Don’t want to start the New Year with a cat not using the litter box? Things to Consider…Besides Panic! Cats are known for being clean and fastidious creatures. Sure, you may have one that throws kitty litter all over as they dig, but generally, they use the litter box for its stated purpose. But what happens when they don’t? Going outside the litter box or house soiling is the most common behavioral problem seen in cats and can cause stress for all involved. Finding a solution may take time to find and will depend on the cat and owner. The first step anytime you notice a change in litter-box behavior is to consult your vet to rule out health issues. Inflammation of the urinary tract or crystals in the urine can make urinating painful and the cat can associate the litter box with pain as a result. Kidney and thyroid diseases as well as diabetes are also considerations, as cats often drink more water with these conditions and in turn urinate more often. I had a diabetic cat who drank copious amounts of water and not surprisingly urinated a copious amount as well. I had to change the litter more frequently to keep up. Stomach or digestive issues may similarly make it painful for a cat to defecate or even decrease their bowel control. Mobility issues or cognitive decline can affect the cat’s ability to get to the litter box in time. And finally, stress from changes in daily routine, like a new work schedule; a new baby; or adding a new pet to the home can cause litter-box problems. Another consideration is what’s going on just outside the home that may be causing stress. Is there a stray cat or fox hanging around that your cat can see or…
By Kristen Koirtyohann Now that the autumn leaves have fallen from the trees and twinkling holiday lights have taken their place, it’s safe to say that winter is here to stay. While this time of year can be magical for some, it’s also difficult for others, such as our local outdoor community cats. What are Community Cats? The Animal Welfare League of Arlington defines community cats as “unowned, free-roaming cats who live outdoors.” These cats can range in age from kittens to adults, can be friendly (or less so), and can be altered or unaltered. They do not have a specific owner or home, but they’re cared for by people in the neighborhood. Types of care include giving fresh food and water, offering an outdoor shelter safe from predators, and providing veterinary care through a Trap-Neuter-Return-Monitor (TNRM) program. What is a TNRM Program? The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) defines TNRM as “the method of humanely trapping community cats, having them spayed or neutered and vaccinated against rabies, and then returning them to their managed location to live out their lives. TNRM also involves a cat caretaker who provides food and monitors the cats’ wellbeing as well as identifying and quickly trapping new intact cats.” Cats that have been through a TNRM program are marked with an ear-tip (i.e., a tiny portion of their ear tip is painlessly removed under anesthesia, usually in conjunction with their spay/neuter surgery). This shows the community that the cat has already been through a TNRM program and is spayed/neutered and vaccinated. The ASPCA studies’ have shown that “by sterilizing at least 75% of cats in a group within a six-month period (and continuing to sterilize at least 75% of the remaining intact cats), TNRM helps stabilize the population of community…
By Alberta Frost As most families are putting together their Thanksgiving shopping lists, let’s take a few minutes to contemplate how we are feeding the most important members of our families—our pets. Pet owners/guardians are faced with a dizzying array of food choices at the store, on line and through many very entertaining marketing campaigns. How do I decide what are the best choices for my furry companions? According to Dr. Graham Brayshaw, Chief Veterinarian at the American Humane Society, you should first understand your pet’s digestive system. (www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/choosing-right-food-your-dog-or-cat ) For example, cats are carnivores. They need food that is 40-45% protein, high in fat, has few carbohydrates and contains taurine which is a critical amino acid. Dogs, on the other hand, are omnivores. They have gastrointestinal tracts similar to humans and can eat meat, greens and grains. The two main canine ingredients to look for are protein (at least 18%) and fat. Appropriate fat levels can vary with the breed and lifestyle of the dog so read the label and/or check with your vet on that subject. Be aware that each species of pets has its own unique nutritional needs. When selecting the appropriate diet for pets, you also need to consider their age, special medical needs, your time/lifestyle, cost, and Association of American Food Control Officials (AAFCO) certification. (www.aafco.org/consumers/understanding-pet-food/selecting-the-right-pet-food/) Each life stage (pregnancy/lactation, kittens/puppies, adulthood, seniors) has its own needs. Medical conditions that can impact dietary needs include diabetes, kidney disease and food sensitivities/allergies. In dogs and cats, food sensitivities frequently manifest in skin related conditions. If you see hair loss or infection, you can try switching protein sources or to hydrolyzed food, but your best course is to consult your vet when any special circumstances present themselves. One thing is certain. When picking pet food always look…
By Cheryl Burns Back when I was dating, I had one hard-and-fast rule: no pets. It wasn’t that I didn’t love animals. Quite the opposite. I adore them. I can’t pass one without quietly whispering “Hi puppy” or “Hi kitten.” (Can we agree that those words apply to furballs of any age?) But I also vividly remember my mother standing over my eight-year-old self and asking allergist what the REALLY big, swollen, terribly reactive spot was testing. His reply? Dog. He made it clear that any sort of furry friend was simply out of the question. Forever. So, when I was dating, I not only worried I’d fall in love with a pet more than their person, I also worried about the endgame. If things went well, it seemed it would come down to me or the pet. And there’s no way I could ask anyone to make that decision. Pet-free partners, please. Taking the Risk and Becoming an Allergic Owner I found a pet-free guy. We happily enjoyed fish and fully aquatic frogs (an article for another day!). It helped that he was allergic too. But less than six months after our wedding, his beloved mother passed. She had recently adopted a cat, a sweet gray tuxie who’d accompanied us to hospice in the final days. I knew it was coming. And how could the answer be anything but “of course” when he looked at me with sad eyes, furball in hand, and said “I kinda want to take the cat.” A hospice staffer—one who hadn’t realized a cat was quietly sitting with me in the corner of the couch until she saw the litter in the bathroom—had offered, but we knew the real answer. Besides, Smoky Tiggs had already chosen us, frequenting our laps more than those of…
By Steph Selice Recently I talked with Steven Fiore, MD, of CannabisMD TeleMed about cannabidiol (CBD) products for pets. Dr. Fiore, a Virginia orthopedist specializing in medical marijuana for humans, is often asked how CBD could benefit pets. He shared a concise overview of CBD and some relevant veterinary research. CBD Legality for Virginian Pets CBD is derived from hemp. It is not tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance in marijuana that produces a high in humans but is toxic to dogs. CBD hemp-derived products that contain less than 0.3% total THC derivatives are now legal in Virginia, but not all hemp products are regulated alike (see Resources). CBD is not suitable for animal feed. However, it’s legal in products such as treats, oils, and tinctures available through specialty stores, hemp companies, and online retailers. CBD products won’t get humans or pets high but have other sought-after effects. In Virginia, producers (but not retailers) of CBD products for pets must be licensed through the Agricultural Commodities Program of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VCACS) Office of Plant Industry Services. Hemp-derived pet products are not regulated through Virginia’s Hemp Enforcement Program, but are held to strictly enforced state standards for animal safety. CBD Product Safety and Veterinary Prescribing Dr. Fiore stressed that CBD users need to ensure products they give their pets come from brands that source quality plants; conduct independent lab testing for quality, purity, and potency; and promote clear ingredient listings and dosage guidelines. Dr. Amy Savarino, veterinary pharmacist at Texas A&M, recommends asking CBD product suppliers for a current certificate of analysis (COA) about ingredient quality and composition. Reputable companies will likely share COAs. Dr. Savarino has compared a COA to a birth certificate for a product. Above all, as with anything else humans give their…
By Jane Koska Roughly 1 in 3 pet owners will experience the scary event of a missing pet during their pet’s lifetime. Pets can slip out an open door, jump out of a car, wriggle out of their collar and leash, or jump out of their person’s arms. Pets can be stolen, too. During natural disasters animals that are always indoors can end up outside and scared and run off. One of the best ways to find a missing pet (in addition to a collar and ID tags) is to have your pet microchipped. According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), research shows that microchipped pets are three times more likely to be reunited with their families. Similarly, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) cites research showing that animal shelters were able to find the owners of almost three-fourths of stray pets with microchips. For anyone concerned about the microchipping process, rest assured that it’s a safe and routine procedure that can be done during a general vet visit. The vet uses a needle to place the microchip—about the size of a grain of rice—under the pet’s skin. Although the needle is slightly larger than needles used for injections, no surgery or anesthesia is required. If your pet is already undergoing anesthesia for a procedure, such as neutering or spaying, the microchip often can be implanted at that time. Or you might opt for a low-cost vaccine and microchip clinic, like the one offered by the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) on the first Wednesday of every month. By the way, your adopted pet often came to you with a microchip. Many shelters, including AWLA and King Street Cats, microchip animals before adoption. The research shows, however, that not all microchipped animals can be returned to their owners. Why? The…
By Jaime Stephens Many people are familiar with Garfield, Felix the Cat, Tom of Tom and Jerry, and Sylvester, The Cat in the Hat, Grumpy Cat, and other fictional, cartoon, and even famous cats on the internet, but how many people have heard of Felicette? Or Crème Puff? How about Choupette? Or Room 8, Scarlett, or Oscar? The first, and only, cat ever sent to space was Félicette, a tuxedo Parisian stray who was launched into space on October 18, 1963, by the French space program. She was part of a French mission to study the effects of space travel on living organisms. Electrodes were implanted in her brain before the flight to monitor her neurological responses to the flight. She came through the flight with flying colors but, unfortunately, was euthanized shortly thereafter so her brain could be studied by scientists. On a personal note: I might name my next female cat Felicette, after the first female astronaut, in her honor. Who’s heard the story of Room 8? Hundreds of school children living in Echo Park, California, have. In 1952, a skinny, gray, stray tabby cat wandered into Room 8 at Elysian Heights Elementary School. Named Room 8 by the schoolchildren, he barely missed a day of school for the next 15 years. Living in the school throughout the school year, he would leave each summer when the children did and, like clockwork, return each fall. No one knew what he did or where he went during the summer break. Estimated to have been five years old when he first attended the school, he died from kidney failure at the age of 21, while attending a summer school class. His obituary was published in The Los Angeles Times and other papers around the country. In his heyday, he received up to 10,000 fan…
By Ken Byrer From Aesop’s Fables to Doctor Doolittle, people have dreamed of speaking with animals as they speak to each other, asking our animal friends their thoughts on life. While such an exchange remains a prospect for the distant future hinted at by new technology, we have learned a great deal about how our companion animals communicate with us without shared words. Us Talking to Them: “Who’s a good boy? Who’s a good boy?” When humans speak to their pets, they usually use a modified version of the speech patterns they use for infants. An article in describes the approach as “speech directed towards pets and kids usually consists of shorter utterances, more repetitions, elevated pitch, and hyper-articulated sounds” and found dogs more responsive than cats. Dogs often reacted to any human speech, but cats only to their owner. Throughout the communication puzzle, dogs and cats come from very different places and retain the features they brought to the relationship. Social, pack-hunting canines appear more interested and suitable for communication than solitary, lone-hunting felines. “As much as we bark, meow, or pspspsps at animals, they probably miss most of what we’re trying to tell them,” according to a pet communication overview. To understand our pets, we need to pay attention to what they’re trying to tell us. Them Talking to Us (and Each Other): “People have to realize that dogs and cats don’t necessarily have a specific language that’s geared towards people. They use their own inherent language just like I would use English or a French person would use French. A lot of their communication is body signals or body language,” says DVM Leslie Sinn. However, cats seem to have adapted the meow vocalizations made to kittens in order to speak with us; adult cats rarely meow at…
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