CAT HEALTH & MEDICINE

The very idea of giving medication to a cat conjures up an array of images from funny to sheer dread on the part of the cat owner. Lets face it: Administering medication to a cat can be chock-full of challenges for human and cat alike. And if the medication has to be given daily, for an indefinite period of time, the challenge becomes that much harder.

Once your veterinarian has prescribed the appropriate medication for your cat and explained how to use it, you can ask for a demonstration on how to administer it. Its very important to ...

[From Tufts February 2010 Issue]Why does my cat vomit? Do you know why my overweight cat vomits? She is elderly, but I dont know her exact age. I feed her half of a 3-ounce can of Fancy Feast at night and three-quarters of a cup of a dental-diet dry food during the day. The vomit looks like it has been digested (like small chewed pieces of dry food in very yellow fluid). Fortunately, she can sometimes go 10 days without…

Seeks nutritional help for cat with cystitis Hobbes, my 5-year-old male, neutered tabby was recently diagnosed with cystitis (a bladder infection). My veterinarian recommended that I feed him canned food, at least for a month. There are two other cats in my home. Until now, meal time has consisted of keeping a bowl filled with kibble so that the food is always available. How can I get Hobbes and my other cats trained to eat at set…

[From Tufts March 2010 Issue] Today, more than one-third of cats in the United States are overweight, posing many health risks and possibly contributing to shortened lives. Ongoing research indicates that increasing protein levels and decreasing carbohydrates in feline diets play vital roles in preventing obesity and its related illnesses. One of these leading scientists, Debra Zoran, DVM, associate professor and chief of medicine at Texas A&M Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in College…

[From Tufts March 2010 Issue] Know what your cats normal weight should be, and weigh her regularly. If she gains a pound, strive to get it off again. To properly address your cats weight issues, our veterinary nutritional experts pose these five questions: 1. What are you feeding your cat? Seek to raise protein levels and reduce carbohydrate and calorie levels. Cat food label recommendations are for intact, rather than spayed or neutered cats, so adjust them…

Diabetes ranks as one of the most common health conditions in cats, especially those who are overweight. As treatment, many cats will require twice-daily insulin injections. In two recent issues, we provided step-by-step guides to administering pills and liquid medicine. Now, our experts offer tips on developing confidence and proficiency in administering insulin injections to your diabetic cat.

I trapped two stray kittens last year and had them treated for ringworm. They were neutered and given two rounds of kitten vaccinations. They also had bad breath so my veterinarian cleaned their teeth and needed to extract some teeth. She informed me that one cats dental problems had migrated into the root. …

[From Tufts March 2011 Issue] Spring marks kitten season and a peak time for adoption at local animal shelters. Feline experts urge owners to ensure kittens are spayed or neutered and that they sport two forms of identification: collars and microchips. Many pet owners dont know that cats can become pregnant before theyre a mere six months old, so the American Association of Feline Practitioners has issued a position statement urging veterinarians to sterilize kittens early -…

Three drugs are most frequently used to treat feline anxiety, according to Dr. Dodman. They are: acepromazine, buspirone hydrochloride and alprazolam. Each drug works in a specific way, he notes. Acepromazine, for example, is primarily a tranquilizer, while buspirone hydrochloride is a serotonin antagonist and alprazolam is an anxiolytic.

Blood work: How often is best?
Q I have an eight-year-old cat who I rescued from a shelter as a kitten. I take Daisy to our local veterinarian once a year for a health examination. During our last visit, the veterinarian recommended that we run blood work every year. Is this really necessary for my cat, who is overall healthy? If so, can you explain the advantages of looking at blood work every year?
Elizabeth Vega

A Dear Elizabeth: The American Veterinary Medical Association states on their website that, geriatric pets should have semi-annual veterinary …

Similar to humans with asthma, cats with this form experience constriction of muscles within the bronchial walls, causing airway obstruction. Cats with bronchoconstriction may demonstrate increased respiratory rate or effort, or open-mouthed breathing. These cats require immediate veterinary attention, and in severe cases, may die.

To learn a little more about how a veterinary technician (veterinary nurse) carries out her responsibilities, we sat down with vet tech Gail Berthiaume, who works at Tufts' Foster Hospital for Small Animals — and happens to have four cats of her own, "all unusual in their own way," as she puts it.

Catnip: Are you a general veterinary technician, or do you have a specialty?

Ms. Berthiaume: I work only in the surgery suite. The way it works is that in smaller practices, vet techs do a little of everything — anesthesia, …