6 Common Cat Health Problems

Cats are good at self-maintenance, but even your fastidious feline can't prevent some of the more common cat diseases and health issues. To help you care for kitty, here's a brief overview of six of the most common cat health problems. Common Cat Health Problem: Vomiting Vomiting is a very common cat health problem, with causes ranging from eating something poisonous or inedible (like string), to infection, urinary tract disease, or diabetes. Symptoms are usually obvious, and include drooling and abdominal heaving. Vomiting can quickly leave your cat dehydrated, so if kitty continues vomiting or acts ill, call your vet right away. And, because it's hard for a pet owner to tell the difference between vomiting and regurgitation, collect a sample of your cat's vomit and take it with you to the vet. Common Cat Health Problem: Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD) About 10% of cats brought to the vet have feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is actually a group of feline diseases with multiple causes. Female and male cats can get FLUTD, and it often occurs in cats that are overweight, unfit, or who eat dry food. Stress, a multi-cat household, and sudden changes can all raise a cat's risk of FLUTD, and treatment depends on the type of FLUTD your cat has. FLUTD symptoms include: •Straining to urinate •Bloody urine •Urinating in unusual places •Crying when urinating •Licking around the urinary area (often because of pain) •Depression •Dehydration •Lack of appetite •Vomiting It's always an emergency if your cat can't urinate. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your cat has a urinary tract problem. Common Cat Health Problem: Fleas Fleas are a very common external feline health problem, but one you can treat easily. Signs your cat has fleas include: •Flea dirt on their skin (they look like tiny black dots) •Constant scratching •Frequent licking •Red or irritated skin •Hair loss •Skin infections or hot spots Fleas can live for more than a year, and your cat risks anemia if the problem becomes serious, so be sure to treat your cat's flea problem and prevent future infestations. Talk to your vet about which flea control would be best for your cat. Treatments include oral medication, powders, foams, and topical medication. Common Cat Health Problem: Tapeworms One of the most common feline health problems inside your cat, tapeworms live in kitty's small intestine, sometimes growing as long as two feet. Symptoms of a tapeworm infection can be subtle, but may include vomiting and weight loss. The easiest way to tell if your cat has tapeworms is to look at its feces and around its anus. If you see small white worms, or what look like grains of rice or sesame seeds, your cat likely has tapeworms. Treatment options include injection or oral medication, but because cats almost always get tapeworms as a result of swallowing a flea, be sure to handle any flea problems your cat has before tackling tapeworms. Common Cat Health Problem: Diarrhea Many things can cause diarrhea in cats, including hairballs, spoiled food, allergies, infection, liver disease, cancer, and more. Symptoms of diarrhea are loose, watery, or liquid stool. Depending on its cause, diarrhea can last for a day, a week, or even months. If your cat has diarrhea, offer kitty plenty of fresh, clean water to prevent dehydration, then remove kitty's food for no more than 12-24 hours. Take your cat to the vet if he or she still has diarrhea after a day, or immediately if you notice vomiting, dark, or bloody stools, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, or if you cat is straining to defecate. Common Cat Health Problem: Eye Problems Eye problems in cats can be caused by a number of things, including conjunctivitis, cataracts, glaucoma, trauma, viruses, inflammation, and retinal disease. A few symptoms that may mean your cat has eye problems include watery eyes, tear-stained fur, cloudiness, red or white eyelid linings, gunk in the corners of the eye, squinting, pawing at the eye, or a visible third eyelid. Unless you know what's causing your cat's eye problems, there isn't much you can do other than wipe away any gunk with a damp cotton ball. After that, call your vet. SOURCES: American Veterinary Medical Association: "External Parasites," "What is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease?" Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County: "About FLUTD. "Veterinary Partner: "Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)." "Vomiting and Diarrhea." Suevet.com: "Cat Vomiting." ASPCA: “Fleas," “Worms," “Diarrhea," “Top Tips for Keeping Kitty's Eyes Healthy.” ©2011 WebMD, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Source: WebMD.com http://pets.webmd.com/cats/6-most-common-cat-health-problems

Pet Treat Recipe: Pumpkin Ice Bites

Want your dog to have a delicious and safe holiday treat? Here's a simple recipe you can make at home:

Blend 1 cup of canned pumpkin with 1 cup of plain non-fat yogurt and freeze in an ice tray. Dogs can be given these one cube at a time (outside, because they can be a little messy for carpet!). 

This mixture can also be stuffed into a Kong or rubber stuffable toy and frozen. That will allow hours of dog entertainment!

It's National Cat Week

It's National Cat Week! As the days start getting shorter and cooler, your outside cat, as well as other cats in the neighborhood, may be looking for warm places to spend the night. A common place for cats to go for warmth is under the hood of cars, because engines retain their warmth long after the car has been driven. If a car is started under these circumstances, great injury, or even death, can occur for the cat. Protect your outside cat, and your neighbors’ cats, by knocking on the hood every morning before you start your car.

Halloween Pet Safety Tips

Attention, animal lovers, it's almost the spookiest night of the year! The ASPCA recommends taking some common sense precautions this Halloween to keep you and your pet saying "trick or treat!" all the way to November 1.
1. No tricks, no treats: That bowl of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems. If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, but they can produce stomach upset in pets who nibble on them.
3. Wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock. 4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.
5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume may cause undue stress.
6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, be sure to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana.
7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.
8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.
9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.
10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver, increasing the chances that he or she will be returned to you. http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/halloween-safety-tips

Halloween Safety

Halloween marks that most fang-tastic time of the year when leaves begin to fall, jack o'lanterns light up front porches, and kids of all ages take over their neighborhoods in costumes ranging from scary to silly. Many pet lovers enjoy including their best furry friends in the festivities, but this is one holiday that can cause animals more harm than good if you're unprepared. In this article, learn about four of the most common Halloween pet hazards and how to plan a spook-tacularly pet-safe All Hallows' Eve. Trick or Treat Most pet owners know that chocolate is a big no-no, but for the most part all candies -- because they're choking hazards -- are harmful to any pet.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), even diet candy is dangerous thanks to Xylitol, an ingredient commonly used in sugar-free treats. This substance can lead to lowered blood sugar, which in turn causes a variety of serious complications, including liver failure in extreme cases. Candy wrappers are dangerous, too. If your pet ingests one, he could choke or have an intestinal blockage that will result in a trip to the animal hospital. To avoid a candy catastrophe, keep all treats in a container with a lid that seals tight, and don't leave it unattended. If you don't want to leave your pet (or your neighbors' pets) out of the fun, purchase some special dog or cat biscuits as a tasty and safe alternative. Devilish Decorations Although it might be fun to turn your house into a haunted one, several Halloween decorations are extremely unsafe for pets. Fake spider webs present a danger to pet birds, which can become entangled in them, as well as other animals, which can choke on them.

Candles pose a major fire hazard: An overly excited pet could knock one over or just get too close, allowing the flame to singe its fur. Consider using flameless candles, which you can purchase at most craft stores, instead. If you hang streamers, make sure your pets can't reach them, and avoid any noisemakers that might spook your furry companion. Finally, try to take down all decorations as soon as fright night is over. Stranger Danger Unless your pet is extremely social and has participated in Halloween activities before, it's probably best to corral him in a room where he'll be away from the chaos. To keep trick-or-treaters from ringing your doorbell all night, sit outside with the candy. If your pet enjoys tagging along on your own candy-seeking expedition, use reflective tape on his costume or collar so that he's easily visible to cars. Additionally, make sure you have a good, strong leash in case a pint-sized goblin should spook him.

As fun as the holiday can be, there's always the potential for trouble with ne'er-do-wells who could harm your pet if he's left outdoors. Make sure your pet is always leashed, accounted for and sleeping soundly inside your home after the festivities are over. Dressed to Thrill It's hard to resist getting your pet all dolled up for Halloween, but some animals just don't like it. If yours seems unhappy or uncomfortable, ditch the duds for a festive collar and leash, or a bandana, instead. If your pet relishes the chance to put on a show, take a few precautions to make his costume a safe one. Don't cover his eyes or extremities, and make sure he can always breathe, move and bark freely. Ensure the costume doesn't have any loose strings or embellishments that could be choking hazards, and always keep your pet's I.D. tags on his collar. With these safety tips, your pet can have a howlin' good time. Happy Howl-o-ween!

October is Dental Month at East Coweta Veterinary Hospital

 Dental disease is the most common disease in dogs and cats. Over 68% of all pets over the age of three have some form of periodontal or dental disease. Most pets will show few signs of dental disease. It is up to the pet’s family and veterinarian to uncover this hidden and often painful condition.

 With every Dental cleaning this month, we are going to be sending home a toothbrush, tooth paste, and mouthwash free of charge.

We are also going to be providing the following services at No cost during the month of October for patients receiving a dental:

v                       Nail trims   

v                       Anal gland expressions

v                       Ear cleaning and plucking

These items and services are valued at $100.00

Saturday is Responsible Dog Ownership Day

Saturday is the American Kennel Club’s “Responsible Dog Ownership Day,” reminding dog owners about the importance of proper pet care. We encourage every dog owner to do at least one extra special thing for your pet this weekend, whether that means getting them microchipped, scheduling a physical examination, or adopting a brand new family member from a rescue group! However you celebrate, we ask that you always practice responsible dog ownership!