ASK THE VET                                     SPRING 2010

By Anne Sinclair, DVM, Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practicioners (Certified in Feline Practice)

Q: My cat has not eaten in a few days.  When should I get concerned?

A:  You should be very concerned now.  In general, cats not eating for 24 hours, or those consuming less than 50 percent of their normal intake for more than 2-3 days, are of concern to me.  As in many things, cats have to be different than humans or dogs.  Because cats are true obligate carnivores who were designed to have multiple small meals of birds and rodents, their livers are designed to metabolize high levels of protein all the time.  When a cat doesn't eat for a few days, or when it is not taking in enough calories over period of time, they try to use their fat stores for energy needs and the fat can overwhelm the liver's capacity to metabloize it, clogging up the cells and causing the liver to fail.

     If you notice that your cat hasn't eaten for 24 hours or your cat's appetite has been significantly decreased for 2-3 days, it is important to bring your cat in for us to examine and see if we can determine why they aren't eating.  We will also need to start nutritional support to prevent fatty liver failure (hepatic lipidosis).  Depending upon your cat's condition and length of time not eating, this may involve starting on an appetite stimulant, syringe feeding, or placement of a feeding tube.

     Wait!  Before you say you would never have a fedding tube placed in your cat because you have seen people have their lives unnecessarily prolonged with extraordinary measures,  you need to know that for cats, a feeding tube is a temporary life saver.  Many cats are not amenable to being syringe-fed when they are not eating on their own and the process of syringe feeding can create a condition known as food aversion-where just the smell of food can make them drool, become nauseous, and prolong the anorexia.  There are several types of feeding tubes and many are well tolerated by the cat.  Many of these tubes can be used not for only administering their food but also their medications (which can be a wonderful added benefit for their owners!).  Once the cat is eating well on it's own, the tube can be removed.

     Cats can stop eating for many different reasons.  It is one of the few signs that cats will give you that something is wrong (please refer to the Topics of Interest page on this website).  Cats are designed to be very stoic animals and they maintain a facade of normalcy for as long as possible.  Bloodwork, x-rays, and possibly other tests such as abdominal ultrasound may be needed to determine why a cat is not eating.  Sometimes the reason for the initial anorexia cannot be found but they still need to be nutritionally supported until they start eating again - this may be as few as 1-2 days or it could be several weeks.

SAVING MONEY ON PET CARE

Due to the current economic climate, it is important to look for savings wherever you can.  Below are some ideas to save a couple bucks, without compromising the care of your pets.

$  Coupons/Online Coupons: Various retailers suchas Petsmart and Petco offer online coupons, as well as specific manufacturers (Whiskas, Hills, Purina, etc..)  Googling "cat coupons" or "dog coupons" will bring up sites such as coupon cat.net.  As with anything on the web, be sure that the sites you are visiting are reputable.

$   Pet Insurance: VPI and ASPCA offer pet insurance policies that can sometimes only cost $20 per month (per cat).  Like human insurance, these policies are often tiered and you can purchase as little or as much coverage as you want (and like human poicies, they will check for pre-existing conditions).

$   Care Credit: Some clinics offer this short term credit to clients, especially if a large, unexpected health cost has occurred.  Beware of significant interest rates if the balance is not paid in the requisite amount of time.

$   Annual/Semi Annual Exam:  Catching health problems before they have a chance to develop into something more serious saves money in the long run.  Younger cats should be seen on a yearly basis for wellness exam and vaccinations.  Senior cats should be seen every 6 months.

$   ER Fund:  Start saving now for future veterinary health care.  Put aside a ittle bit each payday, just like the Christmas Clubs in the past.

$   Discuss Cost Upfront with Your VET:  Ask for an estimate.  Discuss what procedures are imperative and what may be able to wait.

$   RX Programs:  Target, Walmart and Walgreens offer prescription programs.  Fallston Pharmacy has a $5 off new prescriptions coupon on their website.  Ask your veterinarian if generics are available/appropriate.

$   Keep Your Cat Indoors:  Average life expectancy for an outdoor cat is 3-5 years and for an indoor cat, 12+.

$   Pet Proof Your Home:  Be sure that any plants brought into the home are non-poisonous.  Keep small items put away (i.e. rubberbands, hairties, ribbons...)  Be careful with table food, especially bones.

$   If you find yourself in real financial difficulty, many shelters have recently opened "Pet Food Banks".

THE HARDEST DECISION

  One of the hardest things you may ever have to do as a pet owner is to make the decision to euthanize your pet.  While you may receive the counsel of many people at this time, ultimately the decision rests with you, and it should be a decision that you feel comfortable with.  Remember, you are the best judge of your pet's well-being and you will know whether or not the time is right.  Consult with your veterinarian and get her feelings on what your pet might be experiencing.  Think about quality of life.  Sometimes the question might not be "is my pet in pain?".  Animals who might not be experiencing pain, may still have a greatly reduced quality of life.  Is your pet still able to do the things he enjoys?  Does he still interact with the family in the way he used to?  If your pet seems to be having fewer "good days" and more "bad days", then it may be time to consider the poption of euthanasia.

   The process of euthanizing pet entails injecting the cat intravenously with an overdose of anesthetic.  The animal becomes unconscious within seconds and usually within a minute the heart stops.  Euthanasia is not painful to the animal.  The doctor may choose to lightly sedate prior to the injection.

     The process deciding to euthanize an animal is not so simple.  If you have made that decision and have the option of spending some time with your pet prior to the appointment, try to make that a time of closure.  Spend some special moments with your pet, feed them some special treats, brush them in all of their favorite spots.

     If you have children, be up front with them about what is going to happen.  There are many resources to help kids deal with the passing of a pet.  One book we recommend at Cat Sense is Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant.  Be prepared to deal with family members or co-workers who may not understand your grief.  To some people it is "just a cat", but the grief over losing a pet (who truly is a member of the family) can be very deep.  There are pet grief support groups available.

  If you have your pet euthanized at the animal clinic, compassionate staff will make your pet's final moments as peaceful as possible.  You are able to be present if you wish, but if you don't feel you can be there, the staff will be supportive in that decision as well.  Some may not wish to be present at the time of the euthanasia, but may wish to reenter the room after the pet has passed and spend some time.  If you wish to keep some fur as a memento, please ask a staff member to save some for you.  Another option is to have a mobile veterinarian come to your home to perform the euthanasia.

     There are many options regarding final handling of your pet's body.  If you decide to have your pet privately cremated, the ashes will be returned to you in a memorial box.  You may also opt to have your pet mass-cremated or to take the remains with you for private burial at home or in a pet cementary.  If you take your pet's body for home burial, please leave him wrapped in plastic and bury the coffin at leat 3 feet deep, as the euthanasia drugs would be toxic to any scavenging animal that happened upon the remains.

     Your pet has been an important part of your family and the decision to end his life is not one to be taken lightly.  You hav etaken care of him, loved him and letting him go peacefully is the final gift you can give.

HEARTWORM PREVENTION

With such mild winters in Maryland, it is a good idea to protect your cat from heartworms year round.  Heartworm infection occurs whan a mosquito carrying microscopic heartworm larvae bites your cat and transmits the larvae.  While heartworms do affect the heart in dogs, in cats they mainly affect the lungs.  Serious respiratory symptoms can occur including, but not limited to, vomiting, trouble breathing and even sudden death.  Since mosquitoes frequently get into your home, indoor-only cats are at risk of contracting heartworms.  Prevention is key as there is no cure for heartworm infection in cats.  this prevention ia as simple as a once-monthly chewable (Heartgard) or a once-monthly topical (Revolution).  Please see a Cat Sense staff member about starting your cat on a preventative today.

RABIES: A VERY REAL CONCERN

Harford County is not immune to the threat of rabies.  A dead fox found at Eden Mill recently was found to be positive for the rabies virus.  This fox had attacked a dog the previous day.  Please take proper precautions to protect your pet(s) from this 100% deadly disease.  All pets should be vaccinated against rabies.  This is Maryland State Law.  Even cats that are indoor-only need to have current vaccinations.  Bats are able to squeeze into your home through the tiniest opening and other animals, under the influence of the disease, may become aggressive and try to gain entrance to your home.  If your pet is attacked by an infected animal, you can potentially become infected by coming in contact with the saliva that may be on your pet's fur.

NEW PRODUCTS

Cat Sense is now carrying several models of Drinkwell Fountains.  We have both the Plantinum Drinkwell and the Traditional Drinkwell in stock.  The traditional fountain holds 50 oz of water and comes with an additional reservoir that holds an extra 50 oz. (a larger reservoir that holds 70 ounces is also available).  The Plantinum Drinkwell holds 168 ounces of water and has a very quiet operation.  This model is dishwasher-safe.  Brand new is the Drinkwell 360.  This unit is especially nice for multi-cat households.  It provides 360 degrees access and has an adjustable spout that you can change from 1 to 5 streams.  The Drinkwell 360 holds 128 ounces.  Filters for all units are also available at Cat Sense.  Also available is the AquaGarden, a hydroponic kitty grass growing system that attaches to the edge of the fountain.