Who’s Your Match?

Are you looking for a kitten or adult cat? There’s few things as cute as a frisky, fuzzy kitten. But they’re a bit more challenging than a mature cat. Kittens need to be watched constantly, they will chew electrical cords and tumble down stairs. Children may hurt them by overzealous playing or hugging. An adult will be more calm and sedate, but may take longer to adjust to a new environment. Cat or kitten, either will make a loving companion.

Pick a cat that fits your personality. In general, long-haired cats with rounder heads (eg., Persian, Maine Coon) are more laid back, while those with short hair and narrower heads (Siamese, Burmese) are typically more active and high strung. Male cats are usually more easy going, especially when neutered, and females are likely to be more timid and less accepting of other pets.

Bringing Your Kitty Home

Before you bring home your new kitty, you need to prepare for him or her. Cats are territorial and are very nervous and uneasy when coming into a new home, especially adult cats. They will want to explore their new environment, so for the first few days, put them in a small room such as a laundry room or bathroom. Put a litter box, food and water station, bed, a few cat toys and something to climb on. When accustomed to its new environment, you can let it explore the rest of the house while you are home. Soon your new cat will pick its favorite place to lounge—a windowsill, your favorite easy chair, a computer keyboard or your lap. That’s where it will spend 90% of the rest of its life.

Inside or Out?

Will you keep your cat inside your home or let it outside? Cats who are allowed to roam outside have a  shorter life expectancy. That’s due to other animals, diseases and motor vehicles. On the hand, inside-only cats tend to gain wait, get bored and may become irritable. Give them plenty of toys and interact with them often. Also, you might want them to experience both indoors and out: Cats can be trained (with patience) to walk on a leash or put them in a screened in sun room or porch where they can safely experience the outside world.

Health Care

Whether you opt for a male or female, long-haired or short-haired, inside or outside, kitten or cat, your new feline friend will need veterinary care. Cats require kitten vaccinations and annual boosters. You will need to get him or her spayed or neutered. They will require nail trims and dental care, as well as medical care for any conditions that may develop. Cats are notorious for hiding injuries and sickness. You will need to play detective and notice any changes in appetite, weight loss or gain, litterbox habits and general behavior. Take good care of your cat and you’ll be rewarded with many long years of loving companionship.

So if you have a little extra love to give this month, visit your local animal shelter and bring home a new forever friend. Then give Powell Veterinary Service a call to set up a meeting with your new kitty, and get it started on the right foot.

The post Is Your Home Lacking a Cat? first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

A Bit About Rabies

Rabies is an acute neurologic disease caused by a virus. It can infect any mammal, including humans. The rabies virus is transmitted via the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite. The incubation period varies greatly—typically, symptoms begin within 20-80 days after a bite. The virus travels to the spinal cord, and up to the brain. It then travels to the animal’s salivary glands, where it will be transmitted to the next bite victim.

Symptoms of Rabies

There are two primary categories of rabies symptoms: behavior changes and progressive nerve involvement and paralysis. Behavior changes include sudden loss of appetite, nervousness, irritability, confusion, loss of balance and abnormal aggression. Symptoms quickly progress over the next few days. Animals lose their fear of humans and other animals, often attacking without provocation. Pupils are dilated. Loud noises can provoke viciousness. Dogs will often attempt to swallow sticks, stones and other foreign objects, but may have difficulty swallowing. As the disease progresses, muscular incoordination, seizures, and coma can occur. Death results from progressive paralysis of all parts of the body, typically within a few days of when the first symptoms become apparent.

Rabies and Regulations

Law enforcement agencies and state health departments have strict rules for handling dog and cat bites. If you are bitten by a dog or cat, it’s important to seek medical treatment immediately. The medical team will clean the wound and likely give antibiotics to prevent infection. If you are not current with your tetanus shots, they will administer that as well. Medical professionals will contact law enforcement who will investigate the bite occurrence and the culprit.

If the pet appears healthy and is current on his or her rabies vaccinations, the dog or cat may be quarantined at home for a period of 10-14 days. If the animal seems sick and/or is not current on rabies vaccinations, it will need to be quarantined in an animal shelter. Why 10 days? Because if the rabies in the dog or cat has progressed to the point where the virus is present in the animal’s saliva and able to infect another animal or person, the animal will die or be close to death within those 10 days. If the animal does die, the head will be sent to the health department to be tested for the rabies virus. If present, or if the biting animal was never located, you will need to undergo post-bite rabies prophylaxis. You’ve probably heard about painful rabies shots in the abdomen for 21 days. Don’t worry, that may have been true in the past, but these days, you’ll undergo a regimen of one dose of immune globulin and five doses of rabies vaccine over a 28-day period. Current vaccines are relatively painless and are given in your arm.

Prevention

Yes, it’s as simple as a rabies vaccination. Although vaccination is not an option for rabies control in wildlife—the virus will likely always be present to a degree in these populations—vaccination is VERY effective in cats, dogs and ferrets. However, it takes a community-wide vaccination effort to keep rabies virtually non-existent in the United States. Most municipalities require rabies vaccinations every year or three years, depending on the vaccine given.  In addition, keep cats and ferrets indoors and dogs under your control to help prevent exposure. Spay or neuter pets to help prevent unwanted strays in the neighborhood as well as reducing roaming behaviors. Call animal control to remove stray animals from your neighborhood because they may be unvaccinated or ill.

Give Powell Veterinary Service a call if your furry friend isn’t up-to-date on his or her rabies or any other vaccinations. And don’t approach any animal, wild or domestic, that is acting strangely.

The post More Rabies Cases in Colorado. Are Your Pets Protected? first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

As a conscientious pet parent, you provide a nutritious diet, routine veterinary care and lots of love. And you probably know you should be brushing your furry friend’s teeth—at least your dog’s teeth. But cats suffer from the same dental health problems and are just as in need of proper dental care. February is National Pet Dental Health Month. Dental disease affects not only your cat’s teeth and gums, it can have serious consequences for his or her overall health. So take a moment to learn how to detect, prevent and treat common dental diseases your cat could be suffering from.

Signs of Dental Problems

Cats will rarely show you when they are sick or in pain. In fact, they will go out of their way to hide it. It’s an instinctual behavior their ancestors used to hide any weakness from predators. That means you need to watch your kitty for any physical or behavioral signs that could signify a tooth or gum problem. These signs might include:

• Bad breath—Strong or offensive odor can be a sign of gingivitis or gum disease.
• Swollen, red gums—This a common sign of gingivitis and periodontal disease.
• Tartar buildup—That orange or tan line at your cat’s gum line signals the start of dental diseases such as gingivitis or periodontal disease. The rate of tartar build up varies wildly among cats.
• Refusing or reluctance to eat—Any condition causing dental pain may cause your cat to have difficulty chewing.
• Loose or broken teeth—This can be caused by trauma or underlying infection.
• Pawing at the face or swollen face—This signifies inflammation and pain.
• Discolored tooth—This is a sign of endodontic disease—any inflammation of the tooth pulp.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Just like your dentist, your veterinarian will be able to diagnose the onset of dental disease through a physical examination, and if necessary, dental x-rays. That will determine what is going on, how severe it is, and how to treat it. Your vet will likely recommend a dental cleaning under anesthesia to scrape off the tartar that can lead to dental disease. If there is an infection involved, your vet will remove the infection and treat with appropriate antibiotics and pain killers.

While your kitty is sedated for a cleaning, it will be easier for your veterinarian to check for other problems such as broken or loose teeth, abscesses, or tooth resorption, which is a progressive destruction of the tooth, resulting in tiny holes and lesions. The only effective treatment for these conditions is extraction.

Prevention

Tartar is virtually inevitable in a cat. However, there are things you can do to slow its build up.

• Dry cat food will reduce tartar buildup.
• Just like your dog, your feline friend can benefit from daily teeth brushing.
• Cat chew toys can scrape off some soft tartar.
• Yearly dental checkups, which can be done at the time of your annual wellness exam, and dental cleanings every few years, and more frequently as your kitty ages, will help prevent dental disease.

Nearly all cats will show signs of dental disease by the time they are 3 years old. If your cat has signs of dental disease, it’s important to get it treated before it becomes more serious. If it’s been a while since you’re had your cat’s teeth and gums checked, don’t put it off. Call Powell Veterinary Service at 970-352-9164 and schedule a dental exam for your furry friend.

The post Have You Checked Your Cat’s Teeth Lately? first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

• Ailurophilia is defined as the love of cats. If you’re an ailurophile, you join a group that includes Abraham Lincoln, Earnest Hemingway, Ingrid Bergman, John Lennon, Edgar Allen Poe, Herman Goering and Mussolini.
• Cats are able to make more than 90 different sounds–most often when you’re trying to sleep in.
• Cats lack the ability to taste sweets because of the way their taste buds process sugar. That’s why cats prefer their cat food to be composed primarily of meat. And also why they’re so grumpy all the time.
• Your cat’s nose print is as unique as your fingerprints.
• Cats can move their ears 180 degrees because there are more than 30 different muscles controlling each ear. This directional hearing is why they can hear much better than us—and our dogs.
• Most cats are lactose intolerant, so no saucer of milk for your kitty.
• Most female cats are right-pawed, while most males favor their left.
• Cats sleep for 70% of their lives, and 50% of their waking hours are spent cleaning themselves. The rest they spend not giving a sh–.
• A majority of orange tabby cats are male, and most black cats are also male. But nearly all orange and black cats are female.
• Cats can drink salt water because their kidneys can excrete the salt. So your cat will outlive you if you are ever stranded together in a life raft at sea. And she will be smug about it.
• Cats have 24 more bones in their bodies than humans.
• House cats can run as fast as 31 miles per hour. That makes them faster than Usain Bolt.
• Cats cannot climb down from a tree facing downward because of the way their claws are designed. That’s why God created firemen.
• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest domestic cat litter was 19 kittens. Poor mama!
• When cats rub against your leg, they are marking you as their territory with their scent glands. And you thought she was just giving you some love.
• Owning cats has been shown to be good for your health. Stroking a cat or having it sit in your lap can relieve stress and decrease the occurrence of high blood pressure and other illnesses.

So be good to your feline friends and treat them with the kindness they deserve. If you have any questions about your kitty’s health and welfare, call Powell Veterinary Services at 970-352-9164.

The post Fun Feline Facts You Probably Didn’t Know first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Is Your Kitty Acting Differently than Usual?

A common way that cats hide their illnesses is to hide themselves. Sick cats will often find a quiet, out-of-the-way spot such as under the bed or in a closet to hang out. She may lie with her head on the floor and her back hunched. Is she meowing more than usual or in a different pitch? Is she neglecting her grooming to the point where her fur is dull and disheveled? Does she seem disinterested in her surroundings or reluctant to play or jump up on places where she typically loves to lie? These are general symptoms that something isn’t quite right. Take note and if she isn’t back to her usual self in a day or two, give your veterinarian a call. Better safe than sorry.

Has Your Cat’s Food and Water Intake Changed?

Is your cat suddenly not eating? It could be anything from a mild gastric upset to a more serious illness such as a thyroid problem, parasites or cancer to a foreign body lodged in her intestines, which can quickly become life threatening. Or maybe her appetite is stronger than normal. This could be a sign of diabetes or hyperthyroidism. Increased thirst can be related to diabetes or kidney problems.

Is Your Cat Losing or Gaining Weight?

Have you noticed your feline friend is looking a little anorexic? It could be due to a thyroid problem, diabetes, parasites or even cancer. Or perhaps the opposite is true, and she’s packing on the pounds.  It could be cancer, hypothyroidism, heart or liver problems or pyometra (infection of the uterus). Either way, any sudden weight change is a reason to consult with your veterinarian.

Have You Noticed Any Changes in Litterbox Habits?

Is your cat peeing or defecating more or less often? Are her stools harder or softer or a different color than usual? Or perhaps she’s stopped using her litterbox altogether? Any of these can be signs that something is not right. Urinary changes can mean kidney or bladder problems as well as diabetes or other conditions. Changes in stool clor can mean some type of metabolic disorder. Diarrhea or constipation can have many causes so monitor the litter box and seek help if it continues.

Most of these things to watch for are general signs of something not quite right. Often they signify something minor, but because cats are so good at hiding health problems, by the time you notice a problem, it could be a big problem. Your veterinarian is your best ally in keeping your cat healthy, but you have to do your part too. Don’t skip your cat’s annual wellness exam, keep her current on vaccinations and watch her for any change in habits or health. If you have any concerns or need to schedule an appointment, call Powell Veterinary Service at 970-352-9164, and together, we can help ensure a long, healthy life for your furry feline.

The post Keeping Your Cat Healthy Takes Diligence and Teamwork first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Dryer Sheets

A seemingly harmless and often used product, dryer sheets contain a few ingredients, like benzyl acetate and ethanol, which are very harmful to cats. Be sure to keep these sheets out of your pet’s reach and be sure to throw used sheets out in a garbage can with a lid.

Aloe

Although the inside of this plant calms and soothes human skin, it is one of many plants that are poisonous to cats. Keep aloe gel in a spot your kitty can’t get its paws and avoid keeping these plants around the house. For a list of other poisonous plants, click here.

Medicines

Medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen cause NSAID toxicity in cats, leading to stomach ulcers and kidney failure. One of the easiest ways for these toxins to be ingested is by licking an owner who has applied pain relief cream or by getting into a bottle in the cabinet. Keep medicines out of your cat’s reach and avoid the use of topical ointments around them. Acetaminophen is also dangerous for cats and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and tremors. Be careful when taking these products and be sure to pick up any medicines that drop on the floor.

If your cat gets into any of these items or others that you are not sure about and shows signs of sickness or lethargic behavior, be sure to call your local veterinarian immediately.

Serving an array of towns near Kersey, Colorado, Powell Veterinary Service can be contacted at 970-352-9164 and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. If your pet becomes ill in the evening hours, call the ASPCA’s animal poison control line at 888-426-4435 for assistance.

The post Household Products that can Harm your Cat first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Unfortunately, this innate ability to hide illness and disease sometimes means that you may not know anything is wrong with your cat until it’s too late. Too many times, friends and family lose cats unexpectedly to a disease when they never had a real chance to say good-bye. Though cats are masters at hiding illness, there are ways to detect that something is wrong, if you pay attention.

Weight Loss

Drastic weight loss is not normal for a cat, so if you notice that though your cat seems to be eating, he or she is still losing weight, or they suddenly lose their appetite, this could be a sign of illness. Normally in cats weight gain is usually only a sign of excessive eating.

Messy or Unkempt Fur

Cats are normally excessive groomers. They like to look good, and they don’t mind doing the work. When cats are stressed and nervous about anything, they tend to stop grooming themselves and their fur can become clumpy and begin to shed far more than usual. This is a sign that something may be wrong. Cats can get over stressed from moving, or any change of their usual environment.

Bad Breath

Bad breath may be normal for many dogs, but for cats this can be a sign of illness. Excessive bad breath can be a sign of periodontal disease, or other issues with your cat’s teeth or gums. If you notice bad breath consistently with your cat, it is wise to take them to the vet as soon as possible.

Respiratory Issues

Shallow breathing or a series of quick short breaths, can be a sign that your cat is suffering from health woes. You will need to pay close attention to your cat to notice. If you have a cat that is maturing, spend a lot of time with them and get to know their natural habits. This is the only way you will be able to detect if there are any real health concerns.

Taking your cat for regularly scheduled checkups, and providing them with a good home and a healthy diet, will help tremendously in keeping them active and vibrant. Since cats won’t really complain when they are in pain or discomfort, you must be mindful of checking to see if any of their habits have changed, such as an increased intake of water, and hiding out under beds and closets.

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The post Cats: Masters of Hiding Illness first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.