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SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2001
Chronic Kidney Failure in Cats: A New Treatment
Chronic kidney failure is a common disease
of the older cat. ! in 3 cats will suffer from Kidney Disease. Kidney problems
are relatively easy to pick up on a routine blood test and urine sample.
Until recently, whilst we were able to tell the severity of the kidney damage
and try and control its progress with diet, there was no treatment to improve
the cat's quality of life or life expectancy.
The earlier the disease is picked up, the sooner your cat can start treatment
to alleviate the signs, so it is important to understand the reasons why
your cat may develop kidney disease and what the signs may be.
Cats, like all mammals, have two kidneys which filter the waste products
from the blood and excrete them from the body as urine. Toxins and infections
in the blood can cause the kidneys to become damaged. The deterioration
can be very slow and can take months to years. When the kidneys start to
fail, the urine becomes less concentrated so your cat will become thirstier
and urinate more frequently. It isn't until two thirds of the kidney is
damaged that toxins will build up in the blood. They cause the loss of appetite,
vomiting and mouth ulcers.
If your cat is showing any of the above signs or has lost weight and coat
condition, ask your vet about a blood test. Treatment, consisting of a daily
tablet, most-times gives an improvement your cat's well-being, an increase
in weight and a decrease in thirst. This serious condition requires lifelong
treatment but, with the new tablets, many cats lead a longer happier life.
MORE INFORMATION IN "SOLVE A CASE: CASE 1",
CLICK TO JUMP TO THIS PART OF THE WEBSITE NOW, OR USE THE NAVIGATION BAR
LATER.
SUMMER WEATHER: A Survival Guide
Now that the summer months are upon us, we should remember that our pets have thick fur coats and don't always enjoy a hot sunny day. Whatever sort of pet you have (be it cat, dog, rabbit or budgie), make sure they always have access to clean, fresh water and somewhere to get shade at all times. It may not be so warm when you leave the house in the morning but the sun may come through later in the day when you are not there. Animals in a run, guinea pigs in particular, suffer greatly from heat stress and rely on us to provide them with a chance to get away from the fierce sun.
| DOGS are best exercised in the early morning and in the evening when the weather is cooler. This is very important for older dogs and dogs with heart or breathing problems. Never leave a dog (or any pet) in a car on a hot day; even with the window open the temperature will rise and can result in heat-stroke and death. |
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CATS tend to find a place to lie to suit themselves. If your cat has white ears or nose watch out for sunburn. Like us, cats can develop skin cancer from prolonged exposure to the sun. A total sun-block will help to protect them but it is better to keep white-eared cats indoors in the heat of the day. |
| RABBITS, especially if on the rotund side, tend to get damp around the rear end, in the summer this will attract flies. Flies lay their eggs in the moist fur and within twelve hours maggots can begin to hatch and begin eating at the flesh. Turn your rabbit over at least twice daily, through the summer months, to check for any problems. If your rabbit has a consistently sticky bottom, bring it to the vet; there may be an underlying health problem such as dental disease, or poor diet. |  |
New Treatment: Spot-on for Tapeworms in Cats
Does your cat bring you presents of half eaten
wildlife, which you can trip over freely during the early hours? Does he
or she have the odd flea or, indeed, a constant flea problem... if so your
cat will almost certainly have tapeworms!
Tapeworms resemble strings of flattened grains of rice, bits of which can
sometimes be seen sticking to the fur. An adult cat will get tapeworms from
mice or birds that it catches or eats. Fleas also carry tapeworm eggs inside
them and so any fleas picked up during grooming can lead to your cat becoming
infected with tapeworm.
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If your cat will take a tablet easily, then treatment is no problem as we can provide an all-in-one, single dose tablet which will get rid of all kinds of intestinal worm. However, if your own "Mighty Hunter" will not stoop to having a worming tablet thrust down the throat every month, you may be familiar with blood shed on both sides of the tablet! |
Until now, the only option has been a monthly
trip to the vet for an anti-tapeworm injection. Newly available is the same
drug you got as an injection but delivered in an easy to use "Spot-On"
preparation, which can be applied quickly and easily at home, as often as
necessary.
If your cat likes his mice but not his medicine ask your vet for DRONCIT
SPOT-ON and make him (and yourself) a lot happier.
If you would like to receive free e-mailed reminders about when your cat
(or dog) is due to be wormed, visit the Drontal/Droncit
Website by clicking the link, once there click "reminder"
at the bottom of the screen.
N.B. Droncit Spot-On is only suitable for cats and does not treat roundworm
so should not be used as a substitute for regular roundworm treatment especially
in young kittens or pregnant or lactating females.
Blackness Vets First Open-Day, A Fun Time for All!
A fun time was had by all at Blackness Surgery's first
Open Day on Saturday 2nd of June 2001.
Parents and children were able to take a look "behind the scenes"
at the workings of a modern day veterinary practice. Through cases and displays
it was shown how we work out what may be wrong with a sick animal after
its owner brings it in (also see our "SOLVE A CASE" Section of
this Website).
Visitors could see how we find out information from X-rays,
discover what happens to a blood sample after it is taken and see how a
surgical operation is set up. There was a chance to meet some of the staff-pets,
including Charlie (the Chinchilla), Blossom (the Ferret) and Lily (the overweight
cat ringing in at 7.2kg!)
Many thanks to all our clients who supported us and to all the companies
and individuals who donated prizes for the raffle. We raised £233.80
to help refurbish the "Cats Protection" shelter on Foundry Lane
- this is expected to re-open in July 2001.
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