Posts in Category: The Cat’s Meow

If you’re a proud cat parent—particularly in a multi-cat household—you might occasionally witness a feeding frenzy that includes snarling, shoving, and swatting. Why? Because some cats get quite possessive of their kibble. A rare instance of this behavior is probably nothing to worry about, but if your cat’s mealtimes are routinely punctuated by hissing, growling, or full-on attacks on other pets and people, you could be dealing with food aggression, and it’s time to put the kibosh on it. 

Most pet owners develop a certain mindset regarding their pet’s overall health and safety. The concept of “whatever can go wrong, will go wrong” might not necessarily be the healthiest or most sustainable, but it can serve to keep pets as safe as possible. Regarding antifreeze poisoning in pets, being able to assess a pet’s risk of exposure is an important key. It’s also essential to know what the symptoms are and what to do if your pet ever shows signs of poisoning.

Some of our feline friends have the ability to eat whatever they want and still lose weight. No, it’s not the latest fad diet, and honestly it is not as good as it might sound, either. A super metabolism might sound appealing, but the reality is that it can have some pretty detrimental effects.

The space that cats and their owners share is full of mutually beneficial affection, but it can also contain loads of bacteria. Fortunately, those of us with robust immune systems may never face the effects of disease carried by felines, but that doesn’t necessarily eliminate the risks. The fact remains: Cat scratch fever, or cat scratch disease (CSD), is a zoonotic disease that can easily pass from cat to person. Keep reading to learn how to protect yourself from the disease:

Dry, itchy skin can significantly impact pet health and make our feline companions uncomfortable—and unhappy. Occasional itchiness is common and usually the result of dry air. But if your cat’s dry skin doesn’t go away with simple DIY measures, or if your cat exhibits symptoms of an illness, your friends at Dupont Veterinary Clinic are here to help!

Over the course of the last year, the home has turned into the center for living, entertainment, and even working. While working from home with your pet might have seemed exciting at first, a lot of us quickly saw how our pets can make it harder to stay productive throughout the day. 

Whether your cat uses your keyboard as his own personal jungle gym or your dog likes to start barking as soon as you log into a virtual meeting, it is definitely a transition to figure out how to coexist…and cowork…with your furry, scaly, and feathery friends. 

To be a cat owner, you have to be a cat lover. And to truly love cats, you have to support their overall health and day-to-day wellness. This means providing them with “creature comforts” and ensuring they remain safe from infectious diseases. While cat vaccinations are tailored to the unique needs of each pet, they’re a critical line of defense for cats in general.

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By Ashley Dawes, DVM

Bringing your pet in for a vet visit can be stressful, whether it is for a routine visit or for a problem. We at Dupont Veterinary Clinic have put together a list of items to bring with you to help make your visit as stress-free and easy as possible.

Your Pre-Vet Visit Checklist

Planning ahead can make your pet’s vet visit more productive for all involved. Before you and your pet jump in the car, be sure you have the following: Continue…

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long will the procedure take? From the time your cat is anesthetized until she is recovered the time involved may be approximately 45 minutes, although this may vary.  

Is pre-anesthetic blood work really necessary? Yes.  Pre-anesthetic blood work is used to find the “1 in 50” cats that might have an unforeseen health problem.  This information is needed to assess concerns and minimize anesthetic risk.

How long will my cat stay in the veterinary hospital?  Usually a cat spay is an outpatient procedure.  In most clinics, your cat would come in the morning and go home in the afternoon.

Is a cat spay expensive?  A cat spay is relatively cheap, especially when you consider the advantages to the alternative. The cost to spay a cat is cheaper than raising a litter of kittens for a year.  Remember, the cheapest place in town is probably not the place to have your cat spayed.  What is the reason they are cheaper?  A veterinary hospital can not provide competent doctors and technicians, high quality surgical supplies and modern anesthetics, pain medications and fluids for nothing. Don’t sacrifice your cat’s safety for a few dollars.

Can I have my cat declawed at the same time as the spay?  Talk to your veterinarian.  Often if you and your veterinarian decide that declawing is in your cat’s best interest, it is prudent to do both at the same time.  This avoids additional costs and two separate anesthetics.

My cat gets stressed at the vet office.  Is there anything I can do?  We recommend using a cat carrier and a fluffy towel for your cat to hide in.  Some cats do better with a product called Feliway – a calming spray that is applied to the carrier.  Find a veterinarian with a separate cat waiting area or one that will allow you to quickly go into an exam room to avoid the stress of barking dogs in the waiting area.  

Will I need to give my cat pain drugs?  Yes.  Your cat should receive medication to control post-op surgical pain just as we would after a surgical procedure.  An oral medication should be prescribed.  These are often given just once daily.  A liquid is sometimes easier to give.

At what age should I spay my cat?  A cat should be spayed before it begins to go into “heat”.  Typically 5 to 6 months of age is the best time to spay a cat.

Will my cat gain weight after her spay?  Your cat may have a slight predisposition to gain weight after a spay is performed.  Of course as a cat reaches maturity they have a tendency to become less active and gain weight too.  Regardless, exercise and a quality diet in appropriate amounts is important.  

Will my cat continue to have heat cycles?  No.  Your cat will no longer go through heat cycles.

What are the advantages of spaying my cat?

1) Prevention of unwanted litters of kittens

2) Avoid annoying behavior of a cat in heat

3) Prevention of health problems later in life

The main reason to consider spaying your cat is due to unwanted litters of kittens.  The average fertile cat produces 1 to 2 litters per year.  The average litter size is 4 to 6 kittens. According to the ASPCA about 1.3 million cats are euthanized each year.  It is estimated there are 70 million stray cats in the US. The vast majority of cats entering shelters are not spayed.  

Cats that are not spayed frequently develop mammary cancers or pyometra, a serious type of uterus infection, later in life. Spaying a cat early in life prevents these problems.

Do your part!  Spay your cat!  Keep her indoors.  Provide exercise, a good diet and good health care.  A cat should be taken to your veterinarian annually for a physical exam, vaccines, parasite protection and any other necessary health care needs.  Remember – dogs and cats age much faster proportionately compared to humans.