What's Wrong With Scarlet?

I took Scarlet and her kittens to the vet today because Scarlet is just not gaining weight.  When I first got her, she weighed 4 pounds 8 ounces.  She got up to 6 pounds and I stopped weighing her, figuring she was well on her way to recovery.  Last week, my boyfriend noticed she was thinner after he had not seen her for a few days.  I weighed her and she had lost weight.  She weighed 5 pounds 6 ounces.  She should weigh 8 or 9 pounds, maybe more since she is still nursing a bit.

They took some blood and will have some results tomorrow and Thursday.  They are sending blood to two different places.  She did have Coccidia and Hookworms when I got her and I hope she doesn't have them still.  She finished the medicine but there is a possibility that it is still in her system.

Scarlet Vomited

Ugh.  I don't know what's wrong with Scarlet but she vomited twice today.  She hasn't eaten since 2 pm which is good I guess, if she is just going to vomit it back up.  She slept in the corner under my desk for awhile today.  If she isn't feeling better tomorrow, I will take her to the vet.

I hope she gets better.

Cat Risks Life to Save Owner

Kimberley was in her garden when, suddenly, she was confronted by a snake. Only inches away, hissing and shaking its tail, the viper was ready to strike when Sosa the cat interceded – lashing out at the snake and protecting Kimberley.


Kimberley was spared, but Sosa was bitten on the paw as a result. Amazingly, Sosa pulled through after just three days in an animal hospital.


Source: http://www.petcentric.com/article.aspx?C=1&OID=25# 

Scarlet is doing great!

Scarlet went to the vet today and is doing great!  Last Saturday, she weighed 4 pounds, 8 ounces and today she weighs 5 pounds 5 ounces!  She is eating a ton and feeling lots better.  She is still on medication for her hookworms and coccidia but I can tell she feels lots better.  I am so happy to see her change from a lethargic, sick kitty into a vibrant, energetic mama!

Her kittens are also gaining weight and doing great!  I have noticed that they are starting to smell things and they are definitely getting more curious about their surroundings.

Jonathon Had Three Molars Removed

Jonathon had dental surgery yesterday and had 3 of his 4 molars (the big teeth used for chewing) removed.  The vet said he will still be able to eat dry food.  His teeth were removed due to recurring infection in these teeth causing him pain.

Jonathon had periodontal disease...hopefully, removing these teeth will help his mouth become healthier.

As periodontal disease progresses, you may observe the following signs:

• Purulent exudate (pus) around the tooth
• Persistent bad breath
• Gums that bleed easily
• Sensitivity around the mouth
• Pawing at the mouth
• Gums that are inflamed (red), hyperplastic, or receding
• Loose or missing teeth
• Loss of appetite
• Stomach or intestinal upsets
• Drooling
• Difficulty chewing or eating
• Irritability or depression

Cats infected with feline leukemia virus, FIV or calicivirus have a much higher incidence of periodontal disease.


For more information, visit peteducation.com.

Update on Scarlet, the mama cat

I received the results of the blood work and stool sample for Scarlet. She has hookworms and coccidia. We started her on medication this morning.  She has been eating for the past two days-although not as much as we would like.  We gave her sub-Q fluids last night and we are instructed to do that everyday for at least a week.  I think the fluids are helping her feel better.  Of course, the medicine is too.  She is still being a good mama despite not feeling her best.    

Help! My cat has acne.

I have two cats that have white fur and I sometimes see dark spots on their chin.  This is actually feline acne.

The bowl below is perfect for kitties who are prone to acne.  It is wide and made of stainless steel.  Sometimes plastic and ceramic bowls get germs inside microscopic cracks inside the bowl, which are transferred to their chin when they eat.  Also, clean the bowls at least once a week or when they look visibly dirty.  That can help, if you don't want to go out and buy new bowls.

Also, while I was at the vet one day, I asked what I could do.  She told me to buy some Stridex pads, or a similar product.  I bought the kind with aloe and it worked well.  I used it every other day and after about a week, I noticed a decrease in the black spots.

Jonathon is Back on Insulin

The vet called with the results of Jonathon's Fructosamine Test.  His blood sugar was at the high end of normal.  So, now he is on one unit of insulin once a day.  Last night, his blood sugar was 344!  That is the highest it has been since this all started.  

So, we are back to daily injections and testing.  :(

Back to the vet...

I took Jonathon to the vet today.  He gained a little more than 1/2 a pound.  His blood sugar was 323, which is the highest it has been since last Monday (the 16th), when it started getting higher.

He was eating Science Diet Adult when he got here and I continued that food because the vet did not want to change his diet.  Last week, after his blood sugar rose, I changed him over a few days to a high protein, low carb diet.  This diet, some say, can help control and even "cure" diabetes in cats.

I was really surprised that he gained weight because I thought that a high protein, low carb diet would cause him to lose weight.

He went in for a fructosamine test, we should get the results of that tomorrow.  He will need to be back on insulin but we are waiting for the results of the test. Depending on the results of the test, the dosage of insulin will be different.

The vet also gave me a different food to feed him, Purina DM.  I would rather keep him on the food I have him on now, but I am not a vet.  So, I am following the vet's advice.  She claims that this is a very low carb food, as low or lower than what I am feeding him.

Jonathon is diabetic again?

I just got off the phone with the vet.  She thinks that Jonathon is becoming diabetic again.  *Sigh*  Last night, his blood sugar was 314. That was the highest it has been since last Monday, when his blood sugar unexpectedly shot up.  Tomorrow, I am going to take him to have a Fructosamine test.  This is a blood test that is used to measure the average level of glucose control over the past few weeks.  

"Feline diabetes is not the natural fate of hundreds of thousands of pet cats world-wide. It is, rather, a human-created disease that is reaching epidemic proportions because of the highly artificial foods that we have been feeding our feline companions for the past few decades. Without the constant feeding of highly processed, high carbohydrate dry foods, better suited to cattle than cats, adult-onset feline diabetes would be a rare disease, if it occured at all."

Elizabeth Hodgkins DVM, JD

Benefits of giving your pets fish oil

I have a black cat and periodically, I have black foster cats. I notice that they look like they have dandruff sometimes. It is common in cats of all colors but it is more noticeable in black kitties. I have "cured" this dandruff by using a supplement containing fish oil, flaxseed oil and borage oil. (You can also use a supplement of only fish oil) According to the bottle, this pill contains Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA, DHA, ALA), omega 6 fatty acids (CLA, GLA, ALA), and omega 9 fatty acids (OA). Surprisingly, fish oil has many benefits for our pets.

Most commercially available fish oils are derived from coldwater fish, primarily menhaden, but also salmon and trout. Fish, in turn, obtain EPA and DHA from algae, making super green foods such as marine micro-algae an alternate source of EPA and DHA. Algae may become the dominant source of omega-3 fatty acids as fish populations continue to decline in the world’s oceans.

Fish oil supplementation may be helpful for pets with inflammatory diseases including allergies, arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, and cancers. These oils are rich in the Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Fish oil does not appear to raise blood sugar levels in pets with diabetes despite earlier concerns about this.

Flaxseed oil contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA,) an omega-3 fatty acid that is ultimately converted to EPA and DHA. In fact, flax seed oil contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids (ALA) than fish oil. It also contains omega-6 fatty acids. Unlike the case for fish oil, there is little evidence that flaxseed oil is effective for any specific therapeutic purpose with the following exceptions. Flax seed oil can improve the coat and skin of pets. Also, the lignans contained in flax seed oil may have anti-cancer benefits.

In pets with some types of cancer, fish oil appears to slow down the growth of the cancer. While more studies are needed on other types of cancer, the general recommendation is to add fish oil to the diets of all pets with cancer.

Higher-end pet food brands may state on their label that their food has omega 3 fatty acids in it, often in the form of fish meal. Even if the proper fish were used to make fish meal, EPA and DHA are too fragile to survive the shelf life of commercial pet food. The only reliable source of EPA and DHA is salmon oil in capsules.

I use capsules sold for humans.  They are of the same quality (maybe better) than the pet capsules and they are much cheaper. I put one capsule in about 3 oz. of wet food (you can also put it over dry food). I give it 2 or 3 times a week. It is cheaper for me to give it only a few days a week and I still get the same result as I did when I gave it everyday. To release the oil, I poke the capsule with a safety pin or thumb tack. Be sure to rinse off the thumb tack or whatever you use. The fish oil tends to stay on it and will pool underneath it and become a sticky mess after awhile. Don't use a pen! It won't work after you use it.

Sources:

http://www.petcarenaturally.com/handouts/fish-oil.pdf

http://www.spca.com/petcare/item/124

http://www.blakkatz.com/fat.pdf

Jonathon's blood sugar wasn't just a spike!

Jonathon's blood sugar has now been in the 200's for three days.  For the last month, it was between 73-131.  I called the vet Tuesday and she said that we might have to put him back on insulin.  We haven't done it yet, but I see it in our future.  Yesterday morning his blood sugar was 299, last night it was 306!  I feel bad for him because I have to test him frequently and his little ears are sore.

The vet said she is concerned but not overly concerned about his blood sugar because it fluctuates.  I don't understand how it can be so high after it was between 73 and 131 for the last month.  I looked online at a chart showing the blood glucose curves for humans.  It shows definite spikes in blood sugar after meals-but it goes back down.  It is not high for days.  He has been eating some of the other cat's food, which is high protein, low in carbs but the vet said he should not be reacting to it with high blood sugar.  He eats Science Diet, which is high in carbs.  (At night and when we are not home, Jonathon stays in his room, away from the other cats and their food.  When he comes out with the other cats, he sometimes eats their food.)  Hopefully, this is just a phase and it will stop.  I don't know if that is possible but it would be nice.

If he were on insulin still, these blood sugar levels would be good.  We would aim for them but because he is not on insulin, it is a little concerning.  

Jonathon's blood sugar spiked last night

I took Jonathon to the vet because he has a fairly large sore on his side.  For about a month, his blood sugar was between 70 and 131.  The vet told me that she considered him to be transient, meaning his diabetes had gone away.  This can only happen in cats and vets don't totally understand why or how it happens.  

So, for about a month, he was not receiving insulin.  When we were at the vet, the vet told me to stop testing him everyday.  I could now test him 3 times a week.  Last night, I tested him and his blood sugar was 235.  Two minutes later, I tested him again to make sure the machine wasn't malfunctioning and his blood sugar was 266!  I was concerned because it was so much higher than usual and because it went up so much in 2 minutes. 

I called the emergency vet and asked them what to do after the first two times I tested him.  They told me not to give him insulin because it could mess him up since he has been regulated for so long.   I tested him an hour later and it was 257 and I wasn't so worried anymore because it went down.  

He wasn't acting strange so I didn't think that the higher blood sugar was causing him too much trouble.  It was definitely a shock to me though, I have become so used to him having a low blood sugar.  I am going to call the vet today and see what they want me to do.    

Karma had her second surgery on Wednesday and is doing great!

Karma had another Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) done on Wednesday.  She was up and about the morning after her surgery and was able to come home just two days later!  For those of you who do not know about Karma, she was a stray who was hit by a car.  She needed two FHOs done on her back hips due to the impact of the car.  The procedures were done about a month apart.  Her first surgery was on January 20th, her second on Feb 18th.  The picture of her laying on the blanket is from today, the other two are from yesterday.

She is soooo happy to be back home!  She loves sitting on our laps and purrs any time we get near her!  She definitely feels at home with us.  

Jonathon, my diabetic foster cat

This is Jonathon, my newest foster cat who has diabetes and FIV.  I have had him since Tuesday and it was a rough couple of days.  I am now starting to get the hang of it, though.  He is very patient and doesn't complain when I have to prick his ear or give him an injection.

I test his blood sugar and give him an insulin injection twice a day.  That might change as he gets regulated.  He is a very sweet boy and I am happy to be able to take care of him.

Badly injured kitten healed herself!

Not many cats can give vets the kind of jaw-dropping double-take that C.C. pulled off. But then, C.C. is no ordinary girl. When C.C. was found as a stray kitten, she was injured badly. She couldn’t use her back legs, she had a fractured pelvis, and she was incontinent.
C.C. had been living as a feral kitten and learned to be afraid of people. Still, the folks who found her knew she needed help. They wouldn’t take no for an answer! She came to Best Friends for emergency care.


At Best Friends, she received all the medical help she needed. (Along with some TLC she didn’t think she needed!) It was obvious from the beginning that she would require long-term special care. A shelter specializing in incontinent cats heard about C.C. and offered to take her once she was healthy enough to travel. Until then, C.C. had a cozy bed and all the comforts she wanted right at Best Friends.


It’s amazing, though, what a determined kitten can do. That TLC worked wonders, even though C.C. resisted affection at first. Not only did she start trusting people, she began to feel better … lots better. In fact, as her body grew and matured, it seemed to miraculously fix itself. She lost the limp and started using the litter box more often than could be considered accidental.
The vets and caregivers wondered if she was regaining continence. Nerve damage hardly ever reverses, but all signs pointed to a complete recovery for C.C. So, they monitored her closely during a trial period without expressing her bladder. 


Call it luck, call it a miracle, but C.C. passed with ease! After many days of observation, she was pronounced cured. The only thing left from her injuries now is a slightly crooked tail, but even that looks somehow exotic on C.C.
The shelter that had offered to take her bowed out once they learned she was no longer incontinent. After all, they need the space for harder-to-place cats. So C.C. decided to call Best Friends her home for now. But, with all the tricks she has up her sleeve, it won't be long before she woos a family of her own. Welcome, C.C. What a way to turn those medical books upside down!


Story by David Dickson
Photo by Molly Wald


http://news.bestfriends.org

Protect your cats from disease...

I just found this new site that is very interesting.  If your cats are outdoors/indoors or indoors only-you can get some valuable information on their risk in your area.  This would also help feral cat caretakers, too!

Protect Your Best Friend

Use this interactive tool to understand the prevalence of these three feline infectious diseases in your
area, including information matched to your cat's age and living environment. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), and Feline Heartworm.

State
Choose State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingDistrict Of Columbia
County:
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Cat's Age
Kitten (0-1 years) Adult (1-7 years) Senior (7+ years)
Cat's Environment
Outdoor Indoor Indoor & Outdoor
Lives with other cats

Bill Clinton's Cat is Dying from Cancer...

WASHINGTON -- Two famous figures in the Bill Clinton White House -- his personal secretary and ailing pet cat, Socks -- are back in the public eye.

Clinton secretary Betty Currie is working for John D. Podesta, co-chairman of President-elect Barack Obama's transition, at the same time reports surfaced that her adopted pet Socks has cancer.

"It's not a happy prognosis," said presidential historian Barry Landau, a friend of Currie's. Although Currie opted against invasive tests, Landau believes Socks has "days or weeks" to live.

Currie is remembered for picking up from Monica Lewinsky gifts that the former president had given the White House intern in 1997. Currie later testified during investigations into Clinton's affair.

Currie went to the Clinton White House after serving in his transition, but it was unclear whether she would follow a similar path with Obama.

Socks has lived with Currie since the Clintons left the White House. The black-and-white cat didn't get along with the Clintons' dog, Buddy, and aggravated the president's allergies.

www.zootoo.com

$10,000 of veterinarian bills-Can You Help Out?

The Humane Society of North Central Iowa is asking for the community's help.

The recent outbreak of parvovirus with the dogs and the e. coli outbreak among the cats have generated almost $10,000 of veterinarian bills.
Volunteers will be making calls from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today to local residents who have donated in the past or who have been identified as animal lovers to ask for help to cover the costs to save the animals.
"The local vets have been very helpful providing discounts for the shelter animals and providing antibiotics," said Laurie Hagey, interim executive director for the shelter. "But when you think about how much it costs to provide one cat with medication and then you times that by 70 cats, it can get very expensive very fast."

All the cats housed at the shelter are being treated with antibiotics as a precaution, but only 20 cats have shown symptoms of an e. coli infection, she said. Of the cats who have been infected, five have died, and three of those were feral cats.

Hagey said the feral cats may have been cause of the outbreak and attempts to isolate the new animals for seven to 10 days were not successful.

"We don't have the ability to restrict air circulation at the shelter, so it's hard to completely isolate any animal," Hagey said.

Dr. Culley Holm, veterinarian at Holm Animal Hospital, said e. coli is a common virus found on just about every surface but is normally not deadly or even associated with respiratory symptoms much like the symptoms shown by the animals.

He said he suspects there is another virus at work and the culture that was grown at Iowa State University to determine the disease may have been contaminated with e.coli.

E. coli causes severe diarrhea that can turn deadly when not treated with antibiotics. The cats may not have e. coli, Holm said, but they are getting better with the prescribed antibiotics.

The facility housing the cats has been closed to the public while the cats recover, Hagey said. The cat shelter is expected to reopen Friday.
The dogs at the shelter suffered an outbreak earlier and nine dogs were infected with parvo. Of the nine dogs, four died, but the rest have recovered and adoption has continued in that facility, she said.

It was believed that the outbreak started when a stray dog was brought to the facility and isolation efforts didn't stop the infection.

A new shelter is being planned, and construction should begin in the spring, Hagey said. The new shelter will have separate isolation and quarantine wards for recently arrived or sick animals, and airlocks will reduce the opportunity for contamination between groups of animals.

People who would like to donate to the shelter can send their gift to the Humane Society of North Central Iowa , P.O. Box 3013, Fort Dodge. People can also call 570-6471 or 570-4106 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Four ways to get your cat to drink more water.

Your cat needs water-probably more than it's drinking now. Here are some easy ways to get them to drink more.

1. If you give them wet food, put water in it. Wet food already has a higher moisture content than dry food but I always add water to it still-I have never had a cat turn it down. If you don't give them wet food, put some water from some water packed tuna into the water.
   
2. Increase the amount of bowls of water you have. Put them in different spots, some cats like to be able to choose where they drink.
3. Provide different types of bowls. Deep bowls, shallow bowls, glass, stainless steel, ceramic, etc.
   
4. Try moving water! Buy a fountain or let the faucet drip for a bit.