5 Wellness Tests Every Senior Cat Needs

Just like us, as our cats age extra testing is required at their annual (preferably semi-annual) check-ups to make sure they stay in tiptop shape throughout their golden years. The gradual onset of disease in seemingly healthy cats can often go unnoticed, and by the time symptoms appear the condition will be much more complex and expensive to treat. Diagnostic testing at your pet’s wellness exam is the best way for your veterinarian to find out information concerning their overall health as early as possible.

Image: ckellyphoto via depositphotos

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

One of the most common diagnostic tests used in veterinary medicine, the CBC examines your cat’s white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets to test for anemia, infection, inflammation and overall healthiness of the blood cells. It also evaluates the number and type of cells in circulation. An important part of senior wellness exams, this may also be the first test your vet orders if a cat is not displaying any overt signs of illness, disease or injury, but are acting generally abnormal.

Chemistry Tests

The chemistry panel surveys many of the organ systems of the body to make sure they are working normally. Most veterinary chemistry panels check blood electrolytes and for diseases of the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. Chemical compounds used to evaluate liver function include alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and bilirubin. These tests can detect decreased liver function, inflammation, infection and the abnormal growth of cells in the liver and gall bladder. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine monitor the function and health of the kidneys, not only kidney disease but also urethral or ureteral obstructions or dehydration. Tests that evaluate the pancreas, such as glucose and triglycerides, can detect diabetes and pancreatitis. Tests of the muscle and bone can also be performed to determine the health of bone metabolism, to check for muscle damage, trauma or inflammation, and to monitor the electrical, water balance and cellular health of the body.

Many veterinarians can perform some small chemistry panels 'in house,' which means within the veterinary facility. For larger panels, the tests are often performed by a local laboratory, frequently within a human hospital. A chemistry panel can be used not only as your pet ages but in their earlier years in order to provide a baseline of what's normal for your cat.

Thyroid Function Tests

The measuring of thyroid hormones (usually T4) is performed when thyroid disease is suspected. Hyperthyroidism is a common disease, especially in middle aged and senior cats. It results in elevated thyroid hormone levels circulating in the blood stream.

The IDEXX SDMA Test

Kidney disease is a leading cause of death for cats. Over 1 in 3 cats are likely to develop kidney disease in their lifetime, and as they age the likelihood of developing it increases. In fact, more than half of cats over 15 are afflicted. Since cats hide illness so well they typically show no symptoms (such as drinking and urinating more than normal) until their kidneys have lost most of their function - permanently.

Now IDEXX SDMA, a breakthrough test that screens for chronic kidney disease, can detect this serious disease months to years earlier, when there is still time to do something about it. This is great news for cats, as IDEXX SDMA can detect kidney disease when much of a pet's kidney function is still intact, giving you and your veterinarian the chance to take action and give your pet the best shot for a healthy, happy, long life - even with kidney disease.

The IDEXX SDMA test is available to all veterinarians in the U.S. and Canada. Even better, many veterinarians in the U.S. are already including IDEXX SDMA in their routine testing, almost always at no added cost. If your veterinary hospital is not doing so, just ask your veterinarian to send your pet’s samples to IDEXX’s Reference Laboratories.

Urinalysis

A urinalysis assesses the health and function of the urinary system, an important test in the early detection of kidney disease, diabetes, or infections of the bladder or kidneys. While a chemistry panel can help evaluate kidney function, much more information can be obtained when a urinalysis is done at the same time. The urine sample is tested for several chemical components (glucose, protein, blood and more), as well as cells (white blood cells, red blood cells, epithelial) and crystals.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommends that cats have a comprehensive set of lab tests performed once a year upon reaching middle age even if your pet appears to be healthy, including blood work and a urinalysis. For senior cats, AAHA recommends that this minimum database of lab work be performed every six months. Keeping on top of your cat’s changing health as they age is one of the easiest ways to help our furry friends lead longer, healthier lives.

The Heartbreak of a Saddle Thrombus Blood Clot

Over the past couple months many people have asked that I republish my Muse Medallion winning article here on our blog since the majority of Canidae's content was removed when their blog shut down. Here it is, in its entirety. 

The July 4th weekend in 2015 was much like any other – way too hot for my liking – and I was looking forward to spending some lazy days in the air conditioning with my tortie Truffles. Starting to weigh on my mind was the fact that Truffles’ breathing was noticeably heavier than usual. Having lost a cat two years earlier to congestive heart failure I had become somewhat paranoid about watching my cats breathe, but she was otherwise acting perfectly normal, it had been very hot, and she had been trying to bring up a hairball. At only four years old there had to be an innocent explanation. Trying not to let myself get overly worked up, I was glad I had the long weekend to monitor her. Something in my gut told me a vet visit would be in order that coming week. 

Returning home from work Monday afternoon I found her enjoying a long nap in the screened-in bathroom window. After dinner I curled up on the couch to watch TV and Truffles came out to see me. Suddenly she became very uncomfortable, moving from spot to spot on the rug. Then she got up and ran for the bathroom crying, typical behavior when she felt a hairball coming, so I was relieved that it might be coming out. Instead she just laid down again and then headed for the kitchen floor.

That's when it got really bad. She started writhing all over and opening her mouth to gasp for breath. Then she started screaming, getting up to head for another room but her back legs went out from under her and she couldn't walk.

We headed straight to the emergency vet, which we found packed with patients. As soon as I yelled that my cat couldn’t breathe a vet standing there grabbed the carrier and ran out back with her. After filling out some paperwork I was brought to a room where I could still hear her screaming.

After what seemed like an eternity the vet came in and asked what my cat’s name was. She explained that Truffles' back legs were cold, and a test of her blood sugar showed a big difference between her front and back legs. This told her that she had a blood clot that broke off and cut off the blood supply to her back legs - a saddle thrombus. She said Truffles was in extreme pain and the kindest thing would be to let her go, because even if she survived the chances were very high that it would happen again.

Knowing I would never be able to live with myself if she had even the slightest chance, the choice was made to put Truffles on powerful pain medication, blood thinners, and time in the oxygen cage. If she was stable in the morning an echocardiogram and further testing would be done. I was allowed to visit her in the back room where the oxygen cage was located in order to say good night, then I reluctantly went home.

I hadn't been home for a half hour when the vet called saying the pain meds had already worn off and she was screaming again, gasping for breath. She didn't even dare take Truffles out of the oxygen cage to evaluate her. I knew I had no choice but to end her suffering. I told the vet I would be there as fast as I could so I could comfort her one last time, but by the time I got there my baby was already gone. It still kills me to think she died surrounded by strangers, likely wondering where her Mommy was. I was assured nothing could’ve been done to save her, that as incomprehensible as it was, it was just “her time”.

There’s no overstating the cruelty of a saddle thrombus blood clot. I think it’s safe to say it’s something most cat owners have never even heard of until they find themselves facing it, yet it’s a frighteningly common occurrence and devastating diagnosis.

What is a Saddle Thrombus?

Feline aortic thromboembolism (FATE), also known as a saddle thrombus, occurs in cats with heart disease and affects as many as 25 percent of cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a common feline heart condition. FATE usually occurs without warning and can be the first and only sign of heart disease in some cats. Ninety percent of cats with FATE have a pre-existing heart problem.

An aortic thromboembolism is a blood clot that forms in the left atrium of the heart. Part of the clot dislodges and travels through the aorta, the largest artery in the body which runs down the entire length of the back. The aorta splits into two arteries (the left and right iliac arteries) to supply the back legs. That split is called the saddle. The dislodged blood clot often gets stuck in the wedge at the top of the saddle, preventing blood flow to the back legs.

Symptoms:

Usually the signs of saddle thrombus will come on incredibly quickly, and include:

• Paralysis or weakness of the back legs
• Restlessness initially, presumably due to pins and needles type feelings in the leg(s) as blood supply diminishes.
• Crying or screaming
• Panting or open-mouthed breathing

Your vet will look for:

• Loss of pulse in the affected limb(s)
• Rear legs that are cool to the touch
• Leg muscles that are hard and extremely painful
• Paw pads and nail beds that appear blue-tinged
• If clipped beyond the quick, claws on the affected limb fail to bleed
• Reduced glucose level in the affected limbs
• Abnormal cardiac sounds

Diagnosis:

A saddle thrombus is typically diagnosed based on its distinctive clinical presentation. Additional testing may be needed, such as a complete blood count and biochemistry profile, chest x-rays and/or echocardiogram (ultrasound) to evaluate the size and shape of the heart, and doppler test to confirm the absence of blood flow in the legs.

Treatment:

Because of the excruciating pain a cat with a blood clot is experiencing, the administration of strong morphine-derived pain killers is the first course of action. Medication will be given to dissolve the clot, as well as anticoagulants such as aspirin or Plavix to thin the blood and help stop additional blood clots forming. (The cat I had prior to Truffles with heart disease was on Plavix for a couple years as a preventive measure.) Cats in concurrent heart failure will receive diuretics to remove fluid build-up and oxygen therapy.

Cats with acute FATE require intensive care in a hospital setting for the first 48 hours or more. Strict cage rest is required at home and may last several days to weeks. Around the clock care will be necessary to keep the paralyzed cat clean and comfortable while the hind legs slowly heal and regain function.

Prognosis:

Due to the devastating nature of the condition, extreme pain, and subsequent long term management of the underlying heart disease, at least a quarter of pet parents choose euthanasia over any form of treatment. Even if the cat recovers from the initial event, the risk of another clot forming is extremely high. There is a slightly better prognosis for cats with milder blockages that affect only one leg or don't cause complete paralysis of the legs. These cats may eventually recover full function and do relatively well. Incredibly, medicinal leeching is being studied as an alternative treatment, with an Israeli veterinarian claiming to have a 90% success rate in returning cats to a normal life using leech therapy.

I can easily say without a moment’s hesitation that watching what Truffles endured that night is the most heartbreaking thing I have ever experienced. A saddle thrombus is truly every cat parent’s worst nightmare. My heart soars when I learn about a cat who beats the odds and recovers, and my greatest hope is that ongoing medical research will one day discover new treatment options to offer a glimmer of hope to an otherwise incredibly grim diagnosis.

Cats and Lilies: A Deadly Mix

Late last spring I walked into my neighbor's kitchen for a cat-sitting job to find a beautiful bouquet of flowers on the counter. A note was attached saying that since she was away and wouldn't be able to enjoy them, I was welcome to bring them home. Not one to ever have fresh flowers in the house this was a nice treat so I gladly took them with me.

To say I know nothing about flowers (or gardening in general) would be an understatement. I recognized yellow roses in the arrangement but had no idea what the rest of the bouquet contained. Thankfully I had recently written a Purrfect 10 article on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's most reported pet toxins which included a bit of research on flowers and plants that are poisonous to cats, and I started having this nagging feeling that some of the flowers I didn't know might be lilies. A quick google search confirmed my fears, and within seconds the entire bouquet was out the door and in a garbage bag.

I soaped down every surface they touched, mopped the kitchen floor and vacuumed the hallway rug I had carried them across. Then I scrubbed out the sink and emptied the vacuum bag for good measure. I even changed clothes just in case I had gotten any pollen on me! Possibly overly paranoid, but I wasn't taking any chances. Thankfully Mudpie napped through the entire ordeal. If anything had happened to her because of my own ignorance I never would have been able to forgive myself.

Yes, Lilies Kill Cats

With Easter right around the corner the dangers of lilies can't be overstated. The petals, the leaves, the stem, even the pollen - all parts of the lily plant are poisonous to your cat. The smallest amount, even ingesting a bit of pollen while grooming her fur or drinking water from the vase, can result in severe, acute kidney failure. If left untreated, they will die.

Sources of Poisoning

• The most dangerous, potentially fatal lilies are true lilies of the Lilium or Hemerocallis species: the tiger, day, Asiatic hybrid, Easter, Japanese Show, rubrum, stargazer, red, Western, and wood lilies. 
• The lily of the valley damages the heart, causing irregular heartbeat and low blood pressure, which can progress to seizures or coma. 
• Other types of lilies, such as Peace, Peruvian, and Calla lilies, contain insoluble oxalate crystals that are extremely irritating to the mouth and digestive tract, causing drooling, pawing and foaming at the mouth, and vomiting, but they do not affect the kidneys or heart.

Symptoms of lily poisoning usually appear within a few hours of exposure and include:

• Vomiting
• Drooling
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Excessive thirst or urination
• Dehydration

Within 72 hours acute kidney failure occurs and death is possible in as few as 4 days following ingestion.

What to Do

• If you suspect your cat has come into contact with lilies, seek veterinary care immediately. Treatment within the first 18 hours is key to saving the cat's life.
• Whenever possible, bring a sample of the lily with you to the vet's office or take a picture of it with your cell phone and let the vet staff know how much your cat ingested.  This will help your vet take the right course of action much more quickly.

Treatment

• Gastric decontamination (induce vomiting, administering activated charcoal to neutralize the toxin)
• IV fluid therapy is used to to maintain urine production in order to remove toxins and to treat dehydration.
• If kidney failure has already begun, dialysis is necessary to remove toxins from the blood.

There is no antidote for lily poisoning. Treatment consists of removing the remaining plant material and preventing further absorption. Prompt medical attention is vital, and even with veterinary intervention survival is not guaranteed.

Avoid Lilies At All Costs

• Never, ever, ever allow any type of lily into your home if you have a cat. 
• Don't plant them in your garden where outdoor cats may be exposed to them, and encourage your neighbors to do the same. 
• Always request that they be removed from florist's bouquets, whether you're purchasing an arrangement for yourself or a fellow pet owner.

Lilies may be beautiful, but they aren't worth risking a cat's life.

The Purrfect 10: Warning Signs of Feline Diabetes

We love reading and researching anything and everything about cats, and wanted to find a fun and unique way to share the interesting facts we learn with you! Since top 10 lists are very popular in the blogosphere, we created The Purrfect 10 as a way to present 10 educational or fascinating tidbits about a wide variety of cat-related topics, everything from health issues to cat breeds to famous felines.

Diabetes has become an epidemic both in humans and our pets. I know from first-hand experience that a diagnosis of feline diabetes is life-changing, but it's also very manageable. As with any chronic disease, early diagnosis is key, but what are the warning signs you should be looking for in your cat? In honor of Pet Diabetes Month, here's what you need to know in the latest edition of The Purrfect 10...

1) Increased Urination & Inappropriate Elimination: High blood sugar is a build-up of glucose in the bloodstream as it is unable to enter the cells. The increased blood glucose gets to a point where it starts to spill into the urine causing the animal to urinate large amounts. When kitty starts urinating outside the litter box there's a very good chance he just couldn't get there in time! (Inappropriate elimination can also be the result of urinary tract infections and diabetic neuropathy, as discussed below.)

2) Increased Thirst: When the cat's body is getting rid of sugar, it takes water from the rest of the body to make the urine. The loss of water causes the cat to feel thirsty and drink more.

3) Increased Appetite: A diabetic cat doesn't get the energy he is consuming because he doesn’t have the insulin to help convert the glucose into energy. The body responds by feeling hungry and increasing the appetite. The problem is, when kitty eats he's just raising his blood sugar level even higher. It's a vicious cycle which leads to...

4) Weight Loss: To get the energy it needs, the body turns to alternate sources, breaking down fats and proteins to feed glucose-starved cells. This breakdown results in weight loss, despite increased appetite, and can cause the formation of ketones (acids made when your body begins using fat instead of carbohydrates for energy) in the blood.

5) Recurring Urinary Tract Infections: This is how my Tara was diagnosed. Excess sugar in the urine makes the bladder a breeding ground for bacteria. When antibiotics weren't clearing up Tara's recurring infections a urinalysis and blood work were done and we got our answer. Signs of urinary tract infections in cats include blood in the urine, difficult or painful urination, frequent passage of small amounts of urine, and urinating in inappropriate locations.

6) Sticky kitty litter: Due to excess sugar in the urine. 

7) Lethargy: Most cats sleep a lot but they shouldn't be sleeping all the time, and when a cat's normal routine changes significantly it needs to be investigated. A diabetic cat's body is being starved of energy because he can't use the calories he's consuming. How do you feel when you haven't eaten in a long time?

8) Unkempt Appearance: When anyone feels crummy on the inside it's going to show on the outside. An unkempt, flaky or oily coat due to poor grooming isn't uncommon.

9) Rear Leg Weakness: Diabetic neuropathy occurs when chronic high blood sugar causes nerve damage resulting in pain, numbness and tingling in the legs. It's usually a reversible condition and can be one of the first signs of diabetes, although it's most commonly seen in cats that aren't properly regulated. Walking on the hocks (ankles), limping or dragging a limb, loss of balance, a reluctance to jump, muscle wasting/atrophy are all signs of diabetic neuropathy.

10) Sweet Smelling Breath: Ketoacidosis is the buildup of ketone waste products in the blood that occurs when the body burns fat and protein for energy instead of glucose. In cats who develop ketoacidosis, a by-product of fat metabolism is acetone (think nail polish remover), which is responsible for the sweet, fruity smell on the breath.

Have you ever had a cat diagnosed with diabetes?

What were the first signs that you noticed?

Photos:
flickr creative commons/Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue

flickr creative commons/CelloPics

flickr creative commons/nteee

The Purrfect 10: Things To Know About Pumpkin & Your Cat's Health

We love reading and researching anything and everything about cats, and wanted to find a fun and unique way to share the interesting facts we learn with you! Since top 10 lists are very popular in the blogosphere, we created The Purrfect 10 as a way to present 10 educational or fascinating tidbits about a wide variety of cat-related topics, everything from health issues to cat breeds to famous felines.

October and November at my house is basically devoted to seeing if I can survive on nothing but pumpkin. Baked goods, specialty coffees, ice cream...if it's pumpkin I'm going to try it, much to the rest of my family's chagrin.

The other night I was noshing on a container of Chobani’s Pumpkin Spice Greek Yogurt when Mudpie started sniffing around. (That girl loves her yogurt.) I know pumpkin is very nutritious for humans and animals alike, but I've never had a cat show any interest in it. So before I started toting Mudpie around in her Sleepypod carrier on my next trip to Starbucks for a pumpkin Frappuccino (just kidding!), I decided to do a little research on what cat parents need to know about adding pumpkin to their pet's diet.

The Do's and Don'ts

1) The most important thing to remember is that you want to purchase pure, canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling which is loaded with spices, sugar, and other additives. You can cook and puree your own pumpkin as well. Either can be fed to your cat directly or mixed in with their wet food.

2) Parts of the pumpkin you won't want to feed to your pet are the stem (rough on the digestive tract), the gooey pulp, and the skin which also won't digest well. Raw pumpkin is not recommended either.

3) Don't cut up your carved Halloween pumpkin. It's been sitting around for days and has likely been collecting mold and bacteria.

4) Pumpkin seeds can be fed to cats, but they need to be cleaned, roasted and ground up before being added to their food.

5) If kept at room temperature for an extended period of time pumpkin will spoil. If you plan to use it quickly keep it covered in the refrigerator. If you plan to use it more slowly, fill an ice cube tray with spoonfuls of fresh or canned pumpkin and freeze it. Now you have perfectly sized portions when you need it!

The Benefits

6) Pumpkin is nutrient-rich and beneficial for many of your cat's bodily systems, containing potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamins A, C, and E, as well as carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lutein.

7) Fiber can help with constipation in cats, and pumpkin has 3-5 grams per cup! The bulk acts as a laxative by stimulating the gastrointestinal walls to contract, resulting in a bowel movement. For this reason pumpkin also works well in relieving hairballs.

8) Conversely, the fiber in pumpkin can also help with diarrhea by absorbing excess water and firming up the stools. Whether you're using pumpkin to treat either constipation or diarrhea, start with a half to one teaspoon and increase with caution. You don't want your cat to go from one extreme to the other!

9) Pumpkin is great for your cat's weight loss regimen too! The addition of a half to one teaspoon to her meal means fewer calories, but the fiber promotes the feeling of a full tummy.

10) Looking for new ways to combat dehydration? Pumpkin flesh contains about 90% water!

As with any change you make to your cat's diet, it's always wise to consult with your veterinarian first. They can best advise you to the correct amount and frequency for your pet's needs.

Have you ever added pumpkin to your cat's food? 

Did you find it to be beneficial?

Photos:
flickr creative commons/~Pawsitive~Candie_N
flickr creative commons/Ana Rodríguez Carrington
flickr creative commons/Christina

Pet Wellness Month Roundup

When I was a little girl my dream was to grow up to be a veterinarian. That all changed when I watched Patch, my best friend and companion of the first 14 years of my life die of a brain tumor. I came to the conclusion that I could never deal with sick, dying animals on a daily basis...even if the good moments of making a difference in the lives of people and their beloved pets far outweighed the bad.

Looking back now I wish I'd followed my heart instead of my head. The cats I've loved since Patch have taught me so much, especially Tara. Her two year journey with diabetes and heart disease helped to form such a deep bond between us, and the things I had to do for her, from insulin shots to glucose testing and curves to keeping track of a half dozen meds per day, made me realize I'm much stronger than I originally gave myself credit for.

Sometimes I feel like I've gained enough first hand knowledge through the years to be a vet tech, and anything I (thankfully) haven't experienced personally I enjoy researching in order to write our medical posts. It's a sad fact that cats do not receive the same vet care that dogs do, so that makes it all the more important for us pet bloggers to get helpful information out there to cat parents. We certainly can't take the place of veterinary professionals, but we can help people know what to be on the lookout for and about the importance of regular wellness visits for our fur babies.

In honor of Pet Wellness Month, here's a roundup of some of our favorite health-related posts:

Mudpie's Vaccination Scare...and What We'll Do Differently Next Time Mudpie's most recent wellness exam was anything but routine because it left me with 6 weeks of worry thanks to a lump that popped up at her rabies vaccine site.

D-Mannose & Your Cat's Urinary Tract Health So many cats suffer from urinary tract infections, and Tara had her fair share as a result of feline diabetes. That came to an end once I started adding D-Mannose to her wet food each day!

4 Invaluable Resources for Managing Feline Diabetes When a cat is diagnosed with diabetes there is so much to learn it can feel overwhelming. This post outlines the resources I found most useful while I was caring for Tara.

VitusVet App Provides Peace of Mind Many of us know all too well the stress of being in the emergency room with your pet late at night with no access to their medical records. This app allows you to carry their entire medical history right on your phone. Planning on travelling with your pet over the holidays? Download it today!

New Diagnostic Test Holds Promise for Feline Asthma Patients Just by listening to her lungs and an x-ray to confirm, Mudpie's asthma was diagnosed very easily, but some cats aren't as lucky. A new test similar to a human breathalyzer has the potential to help vets identify and treat asthma in cats earlier - potentially meaning fewer acute asthmatic attacks and improved lung health for cats in the long term.

Time for Your Cat's Wellness Visit? #AskYourVet About Kidney Disease Screening 20 years ago I lost a cat to kidney disease in just 4 short months because the diagnosis came to late. Now there's a test that can screen for chronic kidney disease to help detect this serious disease months to years earlier, when there is still time to do something about it!

One of our greatest responsibilities as pet parents is keeping our cats healthy and happy.

Be observant - visit your vet regularly - and love them to pieces each and every day!

The Purrfect 10: Things To Know About Breast Cancer in Cats

We love reading and researching anything and everything about cats, and wanted to find a fun and unique way to share the interesting facts we learn with you! Since top 10 lists are very popular in the blogosphere, we created The Purrfect 10 as a way to present 10 educational or fascinating tidbits about a wide variety of cat-related topics, everything from health issues to cat breeds to famous felines.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every one of us knows someone whose life has been changed by this dreaded disease, but you might be surprised to learn that it's also frighteningly common in our beloved cats. Here's what you need to know...

1) Breast cancer is the third most common cancer in cats (after lymphoma and skin cancer), and over 85% of mammary tumors are found to be malignant.

2) Most of the time the patient is female, either unspayed or spayed well into adulthood. The average age at onset is 10-12, but these tumors can strike at any age with reported incidents from 9 months to 20 plus years old.

3) Cats have two “chains” of four mammary glands and nipples running parallel on each side of their belly. The first sign of breast cancer a cat owner might notice is a lump in, on or near one of these glands in the shape of a pebble or dried pea. These tumors, most commonly adenocarcinomas, can spread rapidly to adjacent glands, the nearest set of lymph nodes and beyond. Unfortunately it can be months before a growth is detected because in it's initial stage it can be very hard to feel, it won't be painful to your cat, and won't show any obvious clinical signs.

4) Cat parents should check their cat's mammary area for lumps on a regular basis. (A great excuse for extra tummy rub time!) When found, these tumors need to be removed as soon as possible, followed by chemotherapy. Left alone, they get larger and harder and eventually ulcerate the skin, resulting in a strong odor as infection sets in. Small tumors might be removed via lumpectomy, but your vet may remove the entire mammary gland and nearby lymph nodes, if not the entire chain on that side (the feline version of a mastectomy), the surgical method of choice because it significantly reduces the chance of local tumor recurrence. If caught early and a cure is possible, the opposite side may be removed after a few weeks.

5) Life expectancy following removal of a mammary tumor varies, with tumor size being the most important factor. According to the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, cats with tumors larger than 3 cm in diameter have a median survival time of 4 to 6 months; cats with tumors 2 to 3 cm in diameter have a median survival time of about 2 years, and cats with tumors less than a 2 cm in diameter tumor have a median survival time of over 3 years. Early diagnosis and treatment is key, but even when tumors are caught early and appear to be successfully treated, the long term prognosis is guarded. Over 60 percent of tumors that have been removed will redevelop within 12 months.

6) While very rare (less than 1% of cases), male cats can also get breast cancer, and any suspicious lumps should be reported to your vet.

7) Sex hormones are the greatest risk factor for mammary tumors in cats, so spaying at an early age is the most significant way to prevent breast cancer: spaying prior to 6 months results in a 91% reduction risk, and before one year old an 86% reduction.

8) Siamese have twice the risk of developing breast cancer than other breeds, developing tumors at a younger age and with higher rate of lymphatic invasion than other cats. Persians also develop tumors frequently.

9) In Scandinavian countries mammary tumors are especially prolific because domestic cats are not commonly spayed and the female hormone progesterone is often used to prevent pregnancy. In fact, until 1988 it was illegal for Swedes to remove the reproductive organs of their dogs and cats unless medically necessary!

10) Pulmonary metastasis (spread of the cancer to the lungs) is the most common cause of mammary-cancer related deaths, and cats presenting with advanced lung involvement at diagnosis have a reported median survival time of only one month.

Have you ever had a cat diagnosed with breast cancer? 

Is Your Cat Getting Routine Veterinary Care? #Cat2VetDay

It’s easy to argue that cats rule the internet and social media; the prevalence of cat memes and feline Instagram stars attest to that. But when it comes to veterinary visits, dogs win, paws down. According to a study by Bayer Animal Health, half of all American pet cats do not see a veterinarian regularly. And Banfield reports that in their more than 900 veterinary hospitals, only one cat is seen by a veterinarian for every five dogs, despite many studies reporting that there are nearly eight million more pet cats than dogs in the U.S.

Even though they may love their pets, many cat owners don’t take their cats to the veterinarian for routine wellness visits. Cost can be one of the obstacles, and even more than cost, the belief that cats don’t need veterinary care as much as dogs.

“It’s not that cats are inherently healthier than dogs,” says Jane Brunt, DVM, Executive Director of the CATalyst Council, a coalition whose mission is to connect people and organizations to transform the health, welfare, and value of companion cats, and owner of Cat Hospital At Towson in Maryland. “It’s that they are stoic about their symptoms, making it nearly impossible for even the most observant pet owner to recognize signs of potential problems.”

Routine wellness exams can uncover illnesses before they become life threatening — and expensive. 

VET VISITS ARE STRESSFUL - BOTH FOR CATS AND THEIR OWNERS

The other reason that tops the list is getting the cat to the veterinary clinic in the first place. “Cats are fast learners,” says Brunt, “and if the only time a carrier is around is right before an unfamiliar experience, cats will learn to hide when they see or even just hear it.” And that’s just the beginning. “Once the owner drags their cat out from under the sofa,” she says, “there’s still the challenge of getting the cat into the carrier, followed by an uncomfortable ride in a car with a beloved pet who is scared and yowls the entire trip. It’s no wonder so many people avoid taking their cat to the veterinarian.”

AUGUST 22 IS NATIONAL TAKE YOUR CAT TO THE VET DAY

The CATalyst Council is calling attention to the gap in preventive veterinary care that exists between cats and dogs by supporting National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day on August 22. The goal is to reduce that gap by increasing awareness of the importance of routine veterinary care, sharing tips on how to make a trip to the clinic less stressful and encouraging cat owners to make appointments for their feline family members to be seen by a veterinarian.

TIPS FOR MAKING TRIPS TO THE VET EASIER

Brunt has several tips to help make taking your cat to the veterinarian a more pleasant experience.

• Bring the carrier out at least a week before the appointment. Better yet, leave it out so the cat can get used to it, explore it, and maybe even curl up and take a nap in it. 

• Make the carrier more attractive by placing treats, catnip or favorite toys in the carrier. 

• Brunt recommends putting a recently worn article of your clothing — like a t-shirt or sweatshirt — in the carrier. “This can help make the carrier a safe place for your kitty — with something to snuggle in or hide under,” says Brunt. “Plus, in an unfamiliar place like a veterinary clinic, your scent can provide additional comfort to your cat.”

• Brunt also suggests working with your veterinarian ahead of time to come up with a plan to reduce your cat’s stress. This may include feline facial pheromone spray or wipes, or prescription medications that will help most cats be less anxious. “Remember,” says Brunt, “cats are both predators and prey. They are the hunters and the hunted. It helps for both cat owners and veterinarians to see the world from a feline perspective, understanding what makes them anxious or afraid, and then taking steps to prevent, minimize and manage those fears.”

TAKE YOUR CAT TO A CAT FRIENDLY PRACTICE

It may also help to bring your cat to a feline-only practice, says Brunt, or consider taking your cat to an AAFP-designated Cat Friendly Practice®, or a clinic that has been certified as Fear Free. Facilities and practitioners with these designations are focused on making visits to the vet as stress-free as possible.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY USING HASHTAG #CAT2VETDAY

To help cat lovers everywhere get involved in National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day, Royal Canin is asking cat owners to share a photo of their kitty or offer tips for a less stressful visit to the vet. For every post tagged with #Cat2VetDay in August, Royal Canin will donate $5 to Frankie’s Friends, a non-profit that helps with the cost of veterinary care for pets whose families can’t afford the full cost of treatment.

“Cats require more than love,” says Brunt. “They need our attention and care to keep them healthy and happy. And taking them in for routine wellness visits is one of the best ways to keep them purring for a long time.”

Mudpie's Vaccination Scare...and What We'll Do Differently Next Time

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a time to shed light on one of the most important aspects of being a responsible pet parent. While it can be a controversial subject prone to much debate there is no doubt about the importance that vaccines play in our lives.

According to the American Veterinary Medicine Foundation:

“Pets should be vaccinated to protect them from many highly contagious and deadly diseases. In some cases (rabies, for example), vaccinating your pet can also protect you from disease. If an unvaccinated pet develops one of these diseases, treatment can become very expensive and many of these diseases can be fatal, even if your pet received prompt and appropriate treatment. Rabies vaccination is required by law in many states and counties.

“Not all pets should be vaccinated with all available vaccines. “Core” vaccines are recommended for most pets in a particular area because they protect from diseases most common in that area. “Non-Core” vaccines are reserved for individual pets with unique needs. Your veterinarian will consider your pet’s risk of exposure to a variety of preventable diseases in order to customize a vaccination program for optimal protection throughout your pet’s life. Talk with your veterinarian about your pet’s lifestyle including its expected travel to other geographic locations and/or contact with other animals (such as exposure at kennels, obedience classes, shows, and dog parks) since these factors impact your pet’s risk of exposure to certain diseases. For older pets, make sure your veterinarian is aware of any previous adverse reactions to vaccines.”

The purpose of this post isn't to tell you what to do about vaccinating your pets. That's a personal decision to be made following consultation with your vet. This is the story of a scare we had following Mudpie's most recent vaccination in early December 2016, and what I learned from it to make her safer the next time around.

Scary Times

I had been receiving reminders in the mail since the summer that her vaccinations were due but since her annual wellness exam isn't until December I'd been putting it off to do all at once. While being a cat blogger has given me the opportunity to research and learn so much about caring for our feline friends, it has also given me more things to worry about through that knowledge, and in the weeks leading up to her appointment I found myself reading more about injection site sarcomas than I probably should have.

Photo credit: depositphotos/kaninstudio

I adore our vet and feel comfortable asking questions and sharing my concerns, so when appointment day rolled around I was quick to let him know that I wanted to take as conservative an approach to vaccines as I possibly could. Since Mudpie is an "only child" and strictly an indoor cat he completely agreed with me but state law does dictate that he needed to give her a rabies shot. I took this opportunity to express my concerns about what I'd been learning about injection site sarcomas. His reply was that in 22 years of practice he had only seen 2 instances of a vaccine related sarcoma, to which I gently replied that the year before when I asked him how common a saddle thrombus is in cats he told me that he usually saw one per year. Guess who that "one" was in 2015? My cat.

The rabies vaccine was administered and we were told if she had any problems with it to let them know, and soon we were on our way. Through the next couple days she thankfully didn't have any adverse reactions and before long through the busyness of the holiday season the visit was completely forgotten.

Then on the night of December 28th I was running my hands down Mudpie's sides and felt a hard lump at the injection site. I have no idea if it had been there all along and I had just never touched the right spot, all I knew was it was there now and panic set in immediately. I kept running my hands over it hoping I was mistaken, that it was just her hip bone or something, but over the next few days there was no denying that it was there and no matter how much I touched it I wasn't going to make it magically disappear.

I consoled myself a bit in reading online that sarcomas don't typically pop up that quickly, and that mild swelling is a common side effect, but I was still a bundle of raw nerves and on January 3rd I emailed the vet's office to let them know what was going on. I was advised of the same thing - that it is very common to develop a small bump at the injection site after getting vaccinated - but if it changes in size or shape or doesn't go away within a couple more weeks to let them know.

Photo Credit: depositphotos/ckellyphoto

By that weekend I started feeling cautiously optimistic that the lump seemed to be getting smaller, while still trying to push away the lingering fear that some cruel twist of fate was going to take another young cat away from me long before her time. Then, almost exactly two weeks after contacting the vet (and 6 weeks after the vaccination), the lump was gone and a huge sense of relief followed.

What We'll Do Differently Next Time

I count my blessings every day that it was a false alarm (although I still run my hands over that spot on a regular basis), yet it scares me to death that she had such a strong reaction to the rabies shot and I won't be taking the risk again. The next time around (thankfully this was a 3-year vaccine so she's set for awhile) we will be doing things differently.

1) I will be asking for the non-adjuvanted Purevax 3- year vaccine manufactured by Merial. This is one thing I hadn't informed myself about ahead of time and I was upset to learn my vet isn't offering it at this time. An “adjuvanted vaccine” contains a substance that enhances the body's immune response to an antigen and purposely causes inflammation at the vaccine site in order to alert the immune system to its presence. While safe in humans and dogs, it has been implicated in causing injection site sarcomas. That risk is much lower with the use of “non-adjvuanted" vaccines. They are a bit more expensive and I'll probably have to wait for my vet to order it, but to keep Mudpie safe I'll go through any additional inconvenience.

2) If any other vaccinations are recommended in the future I will be requesting a titer test which measures the amount of antibodies in the bloodstream, offering an approximation of an animal's immunity to a disease. If a cat's titer levels are adequate indicating she is still protected against any future exposure, revaccination isn't needed. (Unfortunately most jurisdictions won't accept a titer test for rabies antibodies in lieu of a vaccine.)

3) I'll always make sure that injections are administered as low on the leg as possible. In a worst case scenario, legs can be amputated, whereas a tumor on the hip or between the shoulder blades will be much more difficult to completely remove.

While vaccinations are an important part of protecting our pets (and ourselves), making sure they're administered in a safe and responsible manner is just as crucial. YOU are your cat's best advocate. Take time to do some research and discuss with your vet the best vaccine protocol for your pet, and after the vaccinations have been administered be extra vigilant about any adverse reactions. Your pet is counting on you to make the right choices for them!

Has your pet ever had scary side effects from a vaccination? 

Heatstroke in Cats: 6 Tips to Keep Kitty Cool on Hot Summer Days

A Guest Blog by Gary Le Mon

Your cat's favorite pastime may be curling up in a pool of sunshine, but she is as susceptible to heatstroke as a dog or human during hot days. Check out these six easy tips to learn how to keep your cat cool in summer:

Give a cooling wipe down. Many cats will not mind if you wipe them down with a damp paper towel or facecloth. The moisture on their fur cools them off. Do this in front of a box fan or open window for added comfort.

Have a supply of fresh water. Do not be the owner with the dusty water bowl. Change the water several times a day to keep it fresh in the heat. You can also place several containers around your property so that kitty does not have to look for one when she is feeling the heat. If you are out for the day, you can add some ice to the water before leaving.

Create air flow. You can use a box fan or open window to let a draft cool down your furry friend if he needs some relief on a hot day. Place a frozen water bottle in front of the air source if you do not have air conditioning. However, frozen gel packs could be toxic for your pet. Do not leave them lying around.

Raise the pet bed. If you elevate your cat's bed, air will circulate and cause a cooling effect to keep body temperature down. Placing it in a drafty room or near a box fan will double the effect.

Provide shade. Make sure there are lots of shady areas for your cat to stretch out. Many cats will seek out cool places like basements and rooms with heat-resistant hard flooring. If it is safe, let your pet have access to these rooms in hot weather. Closing the blinds will also create a dark, cool environment.

Avoid car trips. Cats are just as vulnerable as dogs to the heat trapped inside a car. Never leave your pet in a vehicle on a hot day, even with the windows cracked. It is not safe.

Use these tips to create comfort for your cat during hot days. This will provide a better environment to keep your pet safe and healthy.

Symptoms of Heatstroke

If you suspect your cat has become overheated, check for the following symptoms of heatstroke:

• excessive panting
• lethargy
• drooling
• fever
• vomiting
• collapse

If your pet has any alarming symptoms, contact your veterinarian right away for assistance. Remember the six simple steps above to help you avoid a dangerous situation.

How do you keep kitty cool during the dog days of summer?

Bio: Gary Le Mon is a Board Certified Master Herbalist specializing in natural home remedies for dogs and cats. He is certified by the American Naturopathic Medical Certification Board, a member of the American Herbalists Guild and the American Botanical Council. Founder and chief formulator of Natural Wonder Products, Gary, now retired, dedicated himself to caring for animals and the formulation, testing and distribution of Earth-friendly, 100% natural veterinary-naturopathic medicine.

Photo Credit: flickr creative commons/KeithJustKeith

The Purrfect 10: Things To Know About Microchipping Your Cat

We love reading and researching anything and everything about cats, and wanted to find a fun and unique way to share the interesting facts we learn with you! Since top 10 lists are very popular in the blogosphere, we created The Purrfect 10 as a way to present 10 educational or fascinating tidbits about a wide variety of cat-related topics, everything from health issues to cat breeds to famous felines.

There's nothing much more terrifying than the thoughts of a beloved cat or dog going missing. Even indoor pets aren't immune from getting lost because accidents can and do happen to even the most vigilant pet parent. While a tag providing your phone number is great, collars can fall off or be removed, which is what makes the addition of a microchip so important.

In honor of National Chip Your Pet Month, May's edition of The Purrfect 10 features what you need to know about microchipping your cat...

1) A microchip is a small computer chip containing information linking you to your cat. It's about the same size as a grain of rice and comes enclosed in a glass cylinder.

2) Inserting a microchip takes only a few seconds and can be done during a routine vet visit. No surgery or anesthesia is required although if your pet is already under anesthesia for a procedure such as spay/neuter it can be done at the same time.

3) The microchip is inserted subcutaneously (under the skin) between the shoulder blades using a hypodermic needle. It's no more painful than a regular vaccination although the needle is slightly larger.

4) Kittens can be chipped as young as 5 weeks old although the health and stability of the cat is the most important factor in determining when to go ahead with the procedure. Most shelters wait until 8 weeks old (and about 2 pounds) before inserting the chip.

5) Microchips are not tracking devices but rather radio-frequency identification (RFID) implants that provide permanent ID for your pet. They also don't require a power source like GPS. The chip is activated when a shelter or veterinarian waves an RFID scanner across a cat's body where the microchip is embedded. The scanner activates your pet's unique ID number that is used to retrieve a pet parent’s contact information from the pet recovery database.

6) The most important part of a cat's microchipping is registering the device with your contact information so you can be notified when your lost pet is found. At this time, there is not a central database in the U.S. for registering microchips; each manufacturer maintains its own database. Fortunately, microchip scanners display the name of the microchip's manufacturer when the microchip is read. There is also a Universal Pet Microchip Lookup website maintained by the American Animal Hospital Association which identifies the registries a microchip is enrolled with. Remember to keep your contact information up to date whenever you move or change phone numbers. Since more and more shelters today are implanting microchips into every animal that's adopted, make sure your new pet's microchip number is included in your adoption paperwork so you can get it registered in your name.

7) While a microchip is permanent identification, it is not recommended to take the place of a collar and ID tag. When a person sees a cat or dog with tags it's obvious they belong to someone. With a quick phone call your pet is back home where she belongs. A microchip requires that someone take the extra steps to bring the animal to a vet or shelter to be scanned, if they're even aware of microchips in the first place. Wearing both gives your pet the best possible chance of getting home safely.



8) A microchip is designed to last for the entirety of your cat's lifetime because it is composed of biocompatible glass that will not degenerate over time. Since they require no power source and have no moving parts there's nothing that can wear out or need to be replaced. It's still a good idea to ask your vet to scan it during yearly check-ups to ensure that it's functioning as it should.

9) In rare occasions microchips can migrate (although since it's inserted under the skin it can't travel to any major organs), so shelters and vets will scan a lost cat or dog’s entire body to check for a microchip. A microchip will also show up on an x-ray, so that's another way to look for one.

10) Cats that are microchipped are more than 20 times as likely to be returned to their owners!

Is your cat microchipped?

The Purrfect 10: Most Reported Pet Toxins of 2016

We love reading and researching anything and everything about cats, and wanted to find a fun and unique way to share the interesting facts we learn with you! Since top 10 lists are very popular in the blogosphere, we created The Purrfect 10 as a way to present 10 educational or fascinating tidbits about a wide variety of cat-related topics, everything from health issues to cat breeds to famous felines.

Every year the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) releases its top 10 list of toxins pets ingest. The 2016 list was just released and is based on 180,639 calls to their hotline about potential poisonings, which APCC veterinarians put into categories that callers were the most concerned about. What better time than Poison Prevention Week to share the list?

1) Human prescription medications (16.95% of cases) The top three substances reported were antidepressants and heart and ADHD medications. Anyone who takes medication prescribed for someone else puts themselves at risk of illness or even death, and the same holds true for our pets. Don't keep medicines on the counter where your cat or dog can get into it thinking those little tablets are a treat, and if you drop a pill locate it immediately!

2) OTC products (16.65% of cases) Ibuprofen tops the list because many brands have a sweet outer coating that makes it appealing to pets. A single extra-strength pill aspirin found in every home's medicine cabinet can be deadly to your cat. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®), a very common pain killer, reaches the blood stream within 30 minutes and can damage the liver and red blood cells very quickly. Cats are 7 to 10 times more susceptible to acetaminophen toxicity than dogs. Even topical creams for pain relief have recently been found to be dangerous, putting cats in jeopardy just by rubbing up against you and then bathing themselves or licking the area of your skin after it's been applied. And with summer coming check out this informative article from our friends at A Tonk's Tail about the hazards of sunscreen.

3) Food (9.84% of cases) It's natural to want to share a bite of what we're eating with our pets, but there are some foods they should never come into contact with. A cat's digestive system can be upset by any food that isn't formulated for them, even a pantry staple like canned tuna fish. A more complete list from petMD can be found here.

4) Veterinary products (9.26% of cases) Both over the counter supplements and prescribed medication that has been flavored in a compounding pharmacy are purposely made to taste better so our pets will more readily accept them. On the flip side it can also encourage them to sneak some when they shouldn't or run the risk of other furry family members getting their paws into it. Use the utmost caution with any medication or supplement you give your pet.

5) Household items (8.36% of cases) Keep paints, glues, cleaning products like bleach, detergents and disinfectants away from your pets. An especially deadly toxin in the winter is antifreeze. Remember, any puddle that your cat drinks from can contain hazardous run-off!

6) Chocolate (7.9% of cases) Cats are less prone to eating chocolate than dogs since they are unable to taste anything sweet, but it only takes a small amount to make a cat very sick and the toxic dose for cats is even lower than for dogs. The toxic agent in chocolate is a compound called theobromine, which a cat's system can't metabolize like a human's can. This can lead to abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and death. And unlike humans where dark chocolate has health benefits, in our pets, the darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is.

7) Insecticides (6.92% of cases) Many cat-related calls are to report that a kitty has been treated with topical flea and tick medication meant for dogs! (This actually happened to a co-worker of mine. Thankfully the two cats were saved but I have a feeling her husband, who made the near catastrophic mistake, probably saw his own life flash in front of his eyes a few times.) Always read the directions on flea and tick medications and only use the ones specifically for cats and your cat's weight.

8) Rodenticides (5.47% of cases) Rodenticides are meant to be toxic to mice and rats, but they are also toxic to our pets. At my house we use humane traps for the mice that find their way into the basement.

9) Plants (5.2% of cases) With Easter right around the corner the dangers of lilies can't be overstated. The smallest amount - even the pollen or water from the vase - can result in severe, acute kidney failure. Don't even chance bringing them into your home. A comprehensive list of toxic and non-toxic plants can be found here.

10) Garden products (2.64% of cases) Exposure to lawn chemicals can occur when your cat walks through an area that has been recently treated and then they lick their paws. Even inside cats are at risk when humans track residue in the house on our shoes. Get into the habit of removing your shoes when you go inside your home, and start using natural and organic methods to fertilize your lawn.

If you ever suspect that your cat has ingested something she shouldn't have, call your veterinarian immediately. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center diagnostic & treatment hotline is also available 24 hours a day at (888) 426-4435.

We hope you learned something new today!

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover in The Purrfect 10?

Photo credits:
flickr creative commons/steve p2008
flickr creative commons/Ann
flickr creative commons/Dmitriy Zhukov

New Diagnostic Test Holds Promise for Feline Asthma Patients

Meows from Mudpie!

We get lots of press releases in our email and typically we don't use them, but earlier this week we received one that was of great interest to us since I (and many of our readers' kitties) have asthma.

I'm going to turn things over to Mommy to share the details with you...

I can say with 100% honesty that I have never blown into a breathalyzer to have my blood alcohol level checked, but our feline friends may soon be using similar technology for earlier detection of a common and sometimes deadly feline respiratory problem – asthma.

Asthma affects nearly 5 percent of domestic cats and can be difficult to diagnose, resulting in treatment delays that can worsen symptoms. Now, studies on a new, non-invasive diagnostic test suggest the test may one day help veterinarians identify and treat asthma in cats earlier – potentially meaning fewer acute asthmatic attacks and improved lung health for cats in the long term.

University of Missouri researchers, funded with a grant from Morris Animal Foundation, examined biomarkers in "exhaled breath condensate". EBC is collected by exhaling into a cooling device, which causes the moisture in the breath to condense into droplets of liquid. In humans, for example, breath alcohol concentration, or BrAC, is one type of EBC-based test.

The research team collected condensate from cats with signs of asthma and compared it to condensate from cats without asthma. The team found components that differed between the two types of samples, and that may be promising biomarkers to help identify cats with asthma.

“In order to appropriately treat asthma, it must be definitively diagnosed,” said Dr. Carol Reinero, Associate Professor, Director of the Comparative Internal Medicine Laboratory at the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center, and the study’s principal investigator. “The gold standard means of diagnosis to sample airways requires anesthesia, posing some risk to patients with airway disease, including patients with undiagnosed asthma.”

Coughing and increased breathing effort are the two most common signs of asthma in cats. However, some cats show no clinical signs until they have an asthmatic crisis. Many other diseases, such as heartworm disease, lungworm infection and chronic bronchitis can have similar signs. Because each disease is treated differently, making an accurate diagnosis is important. Left untreated, asthma is not only distressing for a pet cat but can cause permanent damage to the lungs.

“Having a non-invasive means of diagnosing asthma early in the course of disease will allow proper targeted therapy that can prevent declines in lung function over time,” said Dr. Reinero.

To build on their research findings, Dr. Reinero and her team developed a panel of biomarkers to validate their findings in more cats with and without naturally occurring asthma. If successfully validated, the panel could become an early diagnostic tool to help veterinarians identify and treat cats with asthma before they develop serious lung problems or suffer from an acute asthma attack.

About Morris Animal Foundation:

Morris Animal Foundation is a global leader in funding scientific studies that advance the health of companion animals, horses and wildlife. Since its founding in 1948, the Foundation has invested over $103 million in more than 2,500 studies that have led to significant breakthroughs in diagnostics, treatments and preventions to benefit animals worldwide. Learn more at Morris Animal Foundation

The Purrfect 10: Things To Know About Cat Teeth

Welcome to the debut of a new feature here at Mochas, Mysteries and Meows!

We love reading and researching anything and everything about cats, and wanted to find a fun and unique way to share the interesting facts we learn with you! Since top 10 lists are very popular in the blogosphere, we created The Purrfect 10 as a way to present 10 educational or fascinating tidbits about a wide variety of cat-related topics, everything from health issues to cat breeds to famous felines.

Since February is National Pet Dental Health Month, our first edition of The Purrfect 10 features what you need to know about your cat's pearly whites...

1) Cats have 30 adult teeth and 26 baby teeth, which is much fewer than both dogs and humans.

2) The emergence of teeth is one of the best ways to gauge a kitten's age. The tiny front teeth (incisors) and canine teeth (fangs) begin to erupt at 2-4 weeks old. The permanent teeth emerge at around 3-4 months old, with all teeth in place by 6-7 months.

3) Sometimes cats don't lose their baby teeth, a condition called “retained deciduous teeth”. This can cause the permanent teeth to erupt in abnormal positions, so a baby tooth should be surgically removed as soon as the permanent tooth has begun to push through the gums.

4) Each tooth plays an specific role: the incisors are mainly used for grooming (the removal of fleas and debris, tangles and matted clumps of fur), whereas the fangs grasp and kill. The premolars and molars shear and cut meat.

5) The tooth is made up of three substances: the pulp is in the center and contains cells, nerves and blood vessels; dentine is a hard, bone-like material that covers the pulp, and enamel covers the crown of the tooth protecting it and the dentine underneath.

6) Cats don't get "cavities" as we know them, but instead experience tooth resorption. A very common condition in otherwise healthy cats over the age of 5, tooth resorption occurs when the outer layers of a tooth (or teeth) are eaten away and absorbed into the inner layers, progressively destroying the tooth. Extraction is the best treatment for tooth resorption, also challenging because these teeth are very fragile and can easily fracture during removal.

7) Most cats develop periodontal disease by age three showing symptoms such as red inflamed gums, persistent bad breath, loss of appetite, weight loss, bleeding, and loose or discolored teeth. If left untreated poor dental hygiene can be associated with more dangerous medical conditions such as kidney, liver, heart complications and diabetes. Periodontal disease in pets is a chronic, irreversible condition, which is why taking care of your pet's mouth before there's a problem is so important. Many vets are discounts on dental services during the month of February so this is a great time to make an appointment!

8) Oral disease can often indicate a more serious health problem. Cats with feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline calicivirus are more likely to have painful and chronic dental conditions such as feline stomatitis, which occurs when a cat's immune system seemingly overreacts to dental plaque, triggering inflammation in the tissues of the mouth. It's important to get familiar with your cat's mouth and desensitize her to touch as early as possible in order to do regular checks and report anything unusual to your vet right away to rule out significant health issues.

9) Contrary to popular belief, noshing on kibble doesn't keep a cat's teeth clean as most cats don't chew enough for it to make a difference. Chewing is more difficult for cats because their jaw can only move up and down, not side to side like humans.

10) Just like us, cats can accidentally break a tooth. The most likely tooth to fracture is the upper canine tooth (the large fang) and the first symptom you may notice is your cat sneezing!

We hope you learned something new today!
Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover in The Purrfect 10?

D-Mannose & Your Cat's Urinary Tract Health

One morning a few weeks ago I was rushing around getting ready for work when I realized Mudpie had made several trips into the bathroom. In checking out her litter pan I discovered a couple little squirts of diarrhea. A few minutes later she meowed, and it was different than her usual tortie chatter. It sounded like something was causing her pain. Then she headed to the bathroom again and this time there was a tiny pee clump and an itty bitty spot of blood in it.

Immediately noticing the signs of a urinary tract infection, my mind went into overdrive. Should I call the vet right away or keep an eye on her for a while longer? Since she subsequently chowed down on her breakfast and acted like nothing had happened, I decided to take the wait and see approach and asked my mom to stay with her while I was at work. Happily her next trip to the potty several hours later was perfectly normal, and continued to be so. Still, not knowing if she might have a slight infection I decided to start giving her D-Mannose for a number of days.

D-Mannose is one of the many holistic alternatives I discovered through Angel Tara's various health issues. Diabetic cats are prone to urinary tract infections because the sugar in their urine is a breeding ground for infection. In the first 6 months after her diagnosis she had 3 infections and I was desperate to find something to prevent yet another round of antibiotics. When I stumbled upon information about D-Mannose I was skeptical, but I became a fan for life when over the next 18 months taking the powder in her food twice a day Tara had only one very minor infection!

Interested in learning more? Here's what you need to know:

1) D-Mannose is a naturally occurring, entirely absorbable sugar that is extracted from cranberries and other fruits, but is reported to be up to 50 times stronger than cranberry, non-toxic and completely safe, with no adverse side effects.

2) Most of the D-Mannose is filtered through the kidneys and routed to the bladder, then quickly excreted into the urine. Once it's is in your cat's urine, the bacteria clings to it and is then flushed out when the cat urinates.

3) D-Mannose is safe for even diabetic cats. Although it's a simple sugar, very little of it is metabolized and therefore doesn't interfere with blood sugar regulation.

4) It comes in both pill and powder form. The best cat food for urinary health is wet food, so the recommended dosage can easily be mixed into your cat's regular meals. Since I can't depend on Mudpie eating all of her wet food each day, I mixed it into her daily yogurt treat.

5) It's effective for both short and long-term use, so you can administer it only when symptoms of an infection appear, or on a daily basis as a method of prevention if you cat suffers from frequent infections.

6) Use of D-Mannose originated in the large animal veterinary industry! As the daughter of a former dairy farmer I know that nursing dairy cows are predisposed to urinary tract infections. When these cows are receiving antibiotics their milk must be thrown away, resulting in a loss of income. With D-Mannose there's no wasted milk! D-Mannose has subsequently been found to be helpful for women with recurrent urinary tract infections and now it's being used to treat our household pets!

Antibiotics are highly overused both in humans and in our pets, so an alternative for such a common medical issue is definitely worth discussing with your vet, especially as a preventive supplement. I know my home will never be without it!

Have you or your cats ever had a urinary tract infection? 

Have you heard of D-Mannose or used it?

I am not a veterinarian. We are sharing information we've learned about a product that we use and believe in. If your vet recommends that your cat's UTI should be treated with antibiotics, you can use D-Mannose as well, but it should not take the place of prescribed medication.