Ask the Doctor

Dear Doctor – January 2013

Concerns about cats and husbands health condition Q We have nine rescue cats ranging from one to nine years old. Five go in and out during the day and all are in at night. I change the litter boxes at an outside sink. Heres my problem: My husband has been placed on the liver transplant list. The estimated time for waiting is two years, but that could change. …

Dear Doctor – Indoor cat wants to go outside

Indoor cat wants to go outside Q I have a wonderful five-year-old cat who was rescued when she was a kitten. This year, Sophie has decided to drive me crazy by going from one door to the other and meowing constantly. She is not allowed out in my apartment complex. Ive had her for most of her life, and she has never acted like this. I tried walking her on a leash, but the experience was not…

Dear Doctor – August 2015

Pet food and expiration dates QI recently bought several large bags of a high-quality cat food on sale at our local pet store. Unfortunately, I just realized that the best by date passed by a couple of weeks ago on two of the bags (the third bags date is okay). Should I now consider this food to be unsafe and throw it away? …

Dear Doctor – September 2015

Euthanasia: a possible option? Q I am hoping that you can help me with my cat Buffy, who is six years old. Her behavior is vexing, and has gotten to the point where I am at my wits end. My computer is on a desk near a window, where I had a platform installed for Buffy. She really enjoys looking out the window - but if there is a raccoon, bird or any other animal in the…

Dear Doctor – Can I feed dog food to cats?

Q My husband and I live in an elderly community, with plenty of pet lovers. Our neighbor recently lost her toy breed dog,...

Dear Doctor – Confused about Anal Sacs

Letters to Tufts Veterinarians - Anal Sacs, Socialization

Dear Doctor: My Cat Went Lame After an Injection

My one-year-old female cat received two injections in the rear to treat an insect bite. The first injection contained an anti-inflammatory medication and the second was Benadryl. The veterinarian at the emergency clinic said that the Benadryl would burn, and my small cat screamed when it was injected.

Dear Doctor – A young cat who suckles

Letters to Tufts Veterinarians - A Tuna Fish Diet, Suckling Habit

Dear Doctor – A gastrointestinal disorder in cats

Letters to Tufts Veterinarians - A Twitching Cat, Stool Problems

Kids and the Loss of a Beloved Pet

Help children to understand Q My husband and I have lived with our cat, Sebastian, for the entire 18 years of our marriage. Unfortunately, Sebastian is starting to show distinct signs of his advancing age (kidney disease, for one thing) and we know its only a matter of time that our family will need to say goodbye to our beloved pet. …

Dear Doctor – Housemates suddenly feuding

Letters to Tufts Veterinarians - Feline Aggression, Teeth Cleaning

Dear Doctor – Health precautions for lost cat

Q Our cat, Dusty, recently escaped from our house, which is in a quiet suburban neighborhood. Dusty was missing for about ten hours before a neighbor spotted her in her backyard.Obviously, we are very relieved to have our cat back home, but our question is this: Could she be in any medical danger from her brief jaunt outside our home?