Tag Archives: cat

Is your pet due a trip to the vet?

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We want your pet to be as happy to see us as we are to see them!

  • One of the first things to help create this trust is to drop in, particularly when your pet is young. If you need a reason, our nurses and reception team love cuddles with your puppies and kittens and usually have a spare treat or two for them. We also offer free weight checks, this allows us to keep a record ensuring they’re growing up and gaining weight as they should be.

  • If you are nervous about the visit don’t be! Our staff are highly experienced and have seen and heard it all. If it concerns you then please ask us , no question is too silly. Remain calm and ‘normal’ as your pet will pick up on any anxiety you may be feeling. 

  • When visiting with cats we strongly recommend travelling your cat in a secure carrier not in your arms, even the calmest of cats can get stressed. If you have time, leave your carrier out a few days before your appointment, so your cat can climb in without being rushed. Try leaving a few treats and toys inside to tempt an investigation! Placing a towel over your carrier in the waiting room can help anxious cats  if you need one just ask us.

  • When travelling with dogs Invest in a doggie ‘seat belt’ or secure caged area of your car. If your dog suffers car sickness travel them on an empty stomach. Allow plenty of travel time so you are not rushed or late. Please keep your dog by your side in the waiting room. A vet practice can be a stressful place for pets and your laid back family dog could become stressed and snappy towards other.

  • Practice ‘vet checks’ at home. Your pet is never to young or old to do this training: Gently look inside your pets eyes and ears, teeth and mouth, practice lifting each paw in turn and nail clipping this is something that can be done at home. Read out our free guide on nail clipping> Cats and Dogs. Feel your pet all over from toe to tail. Spend 5 minutes a day practising the ‘all over’ handling and your pet will find an examination ‘normal’, when they come to us.

  • If you are coming in for a specific problem i.e. behaviour or tummy troubles write a diary of events and problems. Try to include what foods they’ve eaten, treats, where they have been park , swimming, times of day all of these things may be useful when finding a diagnosis.

  • Please ask our vets to write notes for you to take home if you are concerned you may not remember something that was mentioned or bring a friend or family member for help and support.

 

We do our very best to ensure that you are seen on time at you appointment time but emergencies and unpredictable cases can happen so please bear with us. Our reception team will endeavour to keep your updated if the consultations are running a few minutes late.

Help your pet cope

How to help your pets cope with fireworks

fireworks dog

 

 

  • Every year we receive a number of requests for help from owners who are worried about how their pets react to fireworks. Both cats and dogs can suffer from noise related phobias around this time and it is important to plan in advance if you want to tackle this problem.

 

 

  • After the fireworks begin, your pet may begin to show odd behaviour such as restlessness, making excessive noise or hiding away in a corner. If you have noticed any of these signs in the past, there are a few things that you could do to reduce their stress this year.

 

 

  • Keep all of your pets inside during firework displays. Ensure that any windows or cat flaps are shut and that the curtains are drawn.

 

 

  • Take your dog for a walk before the fireworks begin so that they are not startled whilst they are outside

 

 

  •  It is important for you to remain in the house with your pet during any firework displays, but try not to act any differently towards them. If you act normally, your pet will feel calmer.

 

 

  •  If your pet prefers to hide somewhere in the house, just let them hide and they will come out when they feel safer.

 

 

  •  Try offering your pet a distraction. Treats or a toy can help them to feel more relaxed, but do not try and force them to play.

 

 

  •  Do not punish your pet for their behaviour during firework night, as this can lead to worsening anxiety.

 

 

  • It is important to stress again that if your pet prefers to hide, do not try to force them to sit with you. If you have enough time, try creating a safe place for them to hide in before the fireworks begin. You could use your dog’s crate or bed if they have one, or if you have a cat, a large cardboard box will do. Try and line them with blankets or towels that your pet is used to sleeping on, as these will smell comforting. Do not force your animal into the safe place, as again this can make them feel uneasy.

 

 

  • Ensure that each pet has a separate hiding place and that cats have an opportunity to hide away from each other. Note that some cats actually prefer hiding somewhere high up, like on top of a wardrobe. Never shut your animal in a cage, or inside one room, as they will feel trapped.

 

 

  • There are also some supplements that you could try to help keep your pet calm.

 

 

  •  For dogs – ADAPTIL is a product that contains Dog Appeasing pheromone. It is a copy of a pheromone that a bitch releases to comfort her puppies and should help to reassure and calm your dog. It comes as a plug –in, a spray or a collar. Adaptil should be started 2 weeks before firework season for maximal effect.

 

 

  •  For cats – FELIWAY is a product that contains facial pheromones. These are pheromones that your cat will leave on an object when they rub their head against it, and will make them feel safe and secure. This comes as a plug-in or a spray. Feliway should be started 2 weeks before firework season for maximal effect.

 

 

  •  For both dogs and cats – ZYLKENE is a supplement derived from milk proteins that can help to make your pet feel more relaxed. These supplements should be started at least 1-2 days before any fireworks are expected.

 

  • If your dog is very anxious we do on occasion dispense tranquilizers, but we would advise that the above methods are tried if possible also.

 

  • It is possible to try to desensitize your pets to firework noises using a download available from itunes called ‘Sounds Scary’ although this may take some weeks to have  an effect.

 

 

Young Veterinary Partnership

www.youngvets.co.uk

TB in cats

You may have seen the recent articles about TB (tuberculosis) in cats, and people.This is a very rare occurrence, and the recent reports relate to an outbreak last year  in 9 cats in Newbury, Berkshire. The symptoms in the cats were varied, but included weeping infected wounds, pneumonia, loss of appetite and enlarged lymph glands. It is thought that the cats became infected from wildlife carrying the disease.  TB is spread by a bacteria (Mycobacterium bovis), which mainly affects cattle and badgers, which is why all milk is now pasteurised to remove the possibility of picking up TB from cow’s milk.  It appears that in this outbreak people became infected from their cats which makes it a zoonotic disease  (a zoonosis is a disease passed from an animal to a person), which is very unusual.

The risk of your cat being infected by TB is extremely low, but if your cat has non healing wounds, skin nodules or  has lost their appetite, you should make an appointment with the vet.

Click here for a BBC article about the outbreak.

10 Interesting cat facts !

The domestication of cats was based on mutual benefit. In the earliest days of agriculture, people were forced to deal with an unforeseen consequence: rodents devouring  crops and spoiling the grain. Following voraciously in their footsteps were predators like snakes and owls—and cats. The cats with the friendliest dispositions were eventually welcomed into human settlements, highly valued for their ability to destroy vermin. The house cat was domesticated from the African wildcat approximately 10,000 years ago in the Middle East and has rarely strayed from our side since.

10 Interesting Cat Facts !

  1. Sir Isaac Newton invented the cat flap
  2. It was once thought that the ancient Egyptians were the first to tame cats, but a pet cat has since been found in a 9,500 year old grave in Cyprus
  3. Cats have around 230 bones in their body, while humans only  have 203 bones
  4. According to the 2010 PAW Report there are 11.9 million pet cats living in the UK
  5. When cats run they can reach speeds of up to 30mph
  6. According to the Guinness World Records, the oldest cat lived to be 38 years and 3 days
  7. Chocolate is poisonous to cats
  8. A person that loves cats is called a ailurophile
  9. Julius Caesar was scared of cats, a condition known as ailurophobia
  10. Cats use their whiskers to judge if they can fit through a hole

Microchipping your cat

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Microchipping  your cat

reading a microchip

Microchipping is one of the most effective forms of pet identification, but too few cat owners have their pets microchipped. The 2011 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report has revealed that 54% of cats in the UK are not microchipped. That’s around 6.4 million cats without microchips.

If cats are microchipped, they are more likely to be reunited with their owners because microchipping is a permanent form of pet identification, unlike collars which can become lost. A cat’s microchip can be read in seconds by a handheld scanner at most veterinary practices or animal shelters.

Cats are naturally inquisitive creatures. Some inspect delivery vehicles and are inadvertently locked inside. There are stories of cats that have turned up hundreds of miles from home and are returned to their owners thanks to their microchips.

We offer cat microchipping at our surgeries in West London. The procedure is quick and often painless – your cat won’t even need to be anaesthetised. Using a syringe, the microchip will quickly be inserted under the skin between your cat’s shoulder blades. It takes no longer than giving a normal injection.

Some cats regularly lose their collars, so microchipping could be a cheaper option in the long run. A microchip will stay with your cat for its entire lifetime. Collars are also a potential hazard to cats as they can easily become snagged on things. Dextrous cats can even get their paws caught underneath a collar, which can lead to painful wounds.

If a cat is believed to be a stray and it is brought into our practice, we will immediately scan it to find out if it has a microchip. If the cat can’t be identified, then it could be rehomed, while its real owner is left forever wondering what happened to their beloved pet.

Call Young Veterinary Partnership today or drop into our practice to enquire about microchipping your cat.

Could 850,000 unwanted cat pregnancies be prevented?

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kittensNew research recently published in the Veterinary Record shows that high numbers of unwanted kittens may be caused by owners lack of knowledge.

80% of litters were reported to be accidental.

25% of owners  believed (incorrectly)  that cats could not get pregnant until they were at least 1 year of age.

Further 49% of owners believed ( again incorrectly) that a female cat should have a litter before being neutered. It is estimated that the number of unwanted litters being born could be reduced by 850,000 each year if owners did not believe this last point.

We have seen far more unwanted cats and kittens in the last 12 months than is usual, so responsible ownership  is needed more than ever.

We recommend female cats are neutered around 6 months of age or before if they start to come into season earlier (however it is unusual  for cats to come into season  before 6 months of age).  Male cats should also be neutered at the same age. Please phone the surgery if you think your cat needs to be neutered.

www.youngvets.co.uk

Firework related pet anxiety

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Image courtesy of Bill Longshaw; freeigitalphotos.net

More than 80% of owners say their pet is afraid of firework noises. Signs of stress in dogs include trembling, shaking, hiding behind furniture, barking excessively, and trying to run away. Cats are much better at hiding their anxiety, but symptoms may include excessive meowing, refusal to eat, hiding, or vertical scratching and spraying.

Often mild reactions to fireworks can be managed with a pheromone (scent) spray; called Feliway in cats and Adaptil in dogs. These products can be purchased from our surgeries.

More severe reactions in dogs may be managed with a combination of sound desensitisation, using CD’s such as Soundsscary, and Adaptil.  Occasionally tranquilizers may be prescribed after consultation with your vet, but these are generally used as a last resort.

Further tips for reducing firework anxiety include:
i. Provide a den or hiding place; this works best if it is a place previously chosen by your pet when they have been frightened before.

ii. Plug a Feliway diffuser or Adaptil diffuser close to the den at least a few days before the fireworks start.

iii. Try to ignore behaviour such as whining and crying, panting or pacing.   Pets can pick up on their owner’s anxiety, and if you try to soothe them it can reinforce the belief that fireworks are something to be afraid of.  It is also important not to scold them.

iv. Close doors and windows, close curtains and turn on music or the TV to mask some of the noises.

v. Keep cats indoors and have them microchipped in case they escape.

Please contact any of our surgeries in West London for further information or a consultation.  Please see www.youngvets.co.uk for contact details.

Pet Passport scheme changes

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As from 1st January 2012, the requirements for the pet passport scheme changes, for both dogs and cats. Pets will still need to be microchipped and have a rabies vaccination, but will no longer require a blood test for rabies. Pets will need to wait 3 weeks after the rabies vaccination before entering the UK. On return to the UK, pets need to be treated for tapeworm by a veterinary surgeon, 24-120 hours (1-5 days) before embarking for the UK (by ferry or air).

Grant Cochrane

 

Pets travelling to the UK from unlisted countries outside the EU will need to be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies, pass a rabies blood test and then wait 3 months in the country of origin. See www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/ for further information about the pet passport scheme and countries included.

Our vets can issue pet passports at our Hounslow and Ealing surgeries. Please see www.youngvets.co.uk for contact details.

Cat poisons

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The most common poisons encountered by cats are

  1. Lillies
  3. Dog flea products containing permethrin
  4. Aspirin and other salicylates
  5. Paracetamol
  6. Antifreeze- Ethylene Glycol
  7. Liquid Potpourri
  8. Glow sticks
Lilly Poisoning
Many people are not aware that a common plant such as the Lilly is extremely poisonous to cats. All parts of the plant, stem, flowers and pollen are poisonous.

If your cat ingests any part of a Lilly plant you should seek immediate veterinary attention, as it can cause acute kidney failure.

After a cat has eaten part of a lily plant, signs of stomach upset (vomiting, lack of appetite, or lethargy) may be present. Clinical signs may be seen from 2 hours to 4 days after ingestion  of the plant, and  signs of kidney failure may begin which can include loss of appetite, depression, vomiting, and occasionally lack of urination.

With early treatment  (within 18 hours) with aggressive decontamination (making the cat sick and giving activated charcoal) and fluid therapy for 48 hours the prognosis can be good with  complete recovery.

Luckily lillies do not appear to be toxic to dogs or rabbits.

Dog Flea products containg pyrethrins

Cats are much more sensitive to pyrethrins than dogs.  Poisoning usually  occurs when a spot on dog flea product is administered mistakenly to a cat. These pyrethrin containing spot on preparations are the ones commonly found in pet stores and supermarkets.

Signs of toxicity are varied and include excess salivation, vomiting, weakness, excitability, tremors, seizures.

Treatment involves controlling seizures with phenobarbitone or gas anaesthesia,  (they are less responsive to diazepam),  intravenous fluids, maintenance of body temperature and glucose levels, and washing the product off the skin with washing up liquid.  Signs may persist for 1-4 days.

The prognosis can be good with early and aggressive treatment.

Occasionally cats may also show scratching at the application site , chewing feet or extremities, and nervous behaviour due to a problem called paresthesia. This is treated with decontamination of the site with washing up liquid, and application of vitamin E oil to the application site.

Aspirin and salicylates


Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is present in many over the counter analgesic ointments, as well as the common tablet form. Non aspirin salicylates are found in topical acne creams, lotions, sunscreens, facial masks, and make up, deep heat, Ralgex cream and Boots pain relief heat rub.

Toxicity to cats with aspirin is possible with ingestion of more than 30mg per kilogram weight of cat. Thus for an average 4kg cat 120 mg of aspirin may be toxic.

Signs of toxicity can appear hours to days after ingestion,  causing vomiting, diarrhoea and gastrointestinal ulceration with blood in the vomit or black faeces.  Collpase, fever, tremors seizures, bone marrow suppression and cerebral oedema may also be seen.

Treatment involves making the cat vomit or washing out the stomach, followed by activated charcoal. A course of gastro-intestinal protectants (sucralfate and h2 blockers) may be needed for 10-14 days. Intravenous fluids and regulation of body temperature may also be needed.

Paracetamol

Paracetamol is highly toxic to cats at  a dose rate of 45mg/kg or 180mg for an average 4kg cat), and symptoms include blue (cyanotic) mucous membranes (gums, or tongue) and difficulty breathing.  later symptoms include blood coloured urine and jaundice (yellow colouration of skin and mucous membranes due to liver damage).

Treatment includes making the cat vomit, or washing out the stomach, oxygen therapy, gastric protectants (activated charcoal),  intravenous fluids.

The prognosis is generally poor, even with treatment.

Ethylene Glycol   (Antifreeze)

Antifreeze products that are used in car radiators and  sometimes brake fluid, contain ethylene glycol that is highly toxic to cats. The substance has a sweet taste and may be drunk or the cat may get it on their feet and then lick it off.

It causes vomiting, a staggering walk and kidney failure. Treatment involves decontamination of the cat and hospitalisation and intravenous fluid therapy. Early treatment can give a full recovery but  unfortunately if kidney failure develops it can be fatal.

Liquid potpourri

Cats exposed to liquid potpourri can develop server skin , eye and mouth lesions. They contain essential oils and cationic detergents that are toxic to cats.

Treatment is usually successful but may require several days of hospitalisation and supportive care.

Glow sticks

Glow sticks when broken contain a substance that is irritating to cats and may cause excessive salivation, agitation and vomiting.  The symptoms are usually shor-lived lasting only a few minutes. Normally washing any part of the coat contaminated and giving milk or tuna juice to dilute the taste is all that is required.

For contact details of your local surgery see www.youngvets.co.uk