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Dr. Plotnick's Top 13 (Educational) Feline Blog Posts of 2011
We've gathered together Dr. Plotnick's CAT MAN DO top EDUCATIONAL blog posts of 2011
12) What We Tell Our Clients When their Cat is Diagnosed with Ringworm - Despite the name, ringworm is not a
“worm”. It is a fungal infection (dermatophytosis) of the hair and
skin. It is also one of the few feline infectious diseases that can be
transmitted from cats to humans. Cats that test positive for ringworm
need some kind of treatment. Treatment plans may vary somewhat for each
individual cat, but they all involve three basic steps – topical
therapy (bathing) with some type of shampoo, oral medication, and
environmental decontamination.
11) Tropic of Cancer (a.k.a. lymphosarcoma. a.k.a. lymphoma) - I see a lot of cancer in my cat practice.
A major reason is that cats are living longer than ever before. Now
that they’re living to 17, 18, (and even longer), they’re living long
enough to develop cancers that we never saw when they died at 12 or 13.
Another reason is that major medical advances have given us the
technology to detect cancers that previously went undiagnosed. An
increased awareness of cancer, coupled with more sophisticated
technology, has allowed veterinarians to become pretty adept at making
the dreaded diagnosis. The diagnosis of cancer in a beloved cat can be devastating. However,
it is important to realize that, as in human cancers, many types of
cancer in cats can be treated, managed, and sometimes even cured.
10) Heart Murmurs: What’s the Scoop? - Everyone has heard of heart murmurs, but not everyone knows exactly what
they are, and what their significance may be. I’m hoping this blog
post can help.
9) Hot-Weather Tips for our Cat & Dog Companions - When summer arrives, it is very important that we take the proper
precautions when dealing with our pets. Here are a few important tips
and facts that should help protect our furry friends.
8) Language Barriers - I run an all-feline veterinary hospital,
and we have a fairly large Japanese client base. This is not by
accident. One of my technicians, Hiromi, is Japanese, and she made it
clear to me when I hired her 8 years ago that she would like to actively
help me cultivate a Japanese clientele. In speaking with her
cat-owning Japanese friends and acquaintances, Hiromi has heard
countless tales of frustration, as they described the difficulty in
explaining exactly what it is about their cat that had them worried, as
well as their inability to fully understand what the doctor had told
them.
7) First Aid and Your Kitten: What to Do in an Emergency - Most kittens endure kittenhood relatively unscathed. A few, however,
deplete several of their nine lives in the course of growing up.
Knowing the principles of first aid can be invaluable in seeing that
your kitten survives that turbulent first year of life.
6) First Aid and Your Cat: What to Do in an Emergency - If you came home from work and found your cat having convulsions,
paralyzed, or bleeding, would you know what to do? April is "Pet
First-Aid Awareness Month". The American Animal Hospital Association,
(AAHA) states that 1-out-of-4 pets would survive an accident or illness
if pet owners were familiar with and capable of providing first aid
when necessary. Owners that are aware of proper life saving techniques
and how they apply to our pets are better equipped to handle
emergencies as they arise.
5) Why You Should Spay or Neuter Your Cat - Cat
overpopulation is a very serious problem in the United States. There
are simply too many cats and not enough people to care for them.
Responsibility is the key to cat ownership, and a major part of that
responsibility is guaranteeing that your cat doesn’t reproduce. Neutering and spaying are two of the most commonly performed elective
procedures. Not only do they help curtail cat overpopulation, they
also bring many health and behavior benefits to both you and your cat.
4) Top 5 Healthy Cat Treats - Cats require a nutritionally complete and balanced diet to live an active,
healthy life. Life is meant to be enjoyed, however, and every now and
then it’s OK to toss your cat a tasty treat.
3) Early Spaying and Neutering in Cats. Get ‘em while they’re young - Every year in the U.S., animal shelters and humane organizations
euthanize millions of homeless and unwanted dogs and cats. Spaying and
neutering has to remain the cornerstone of any program designed to
reduce overpopulation of dogs and cats. In my practice, clients will
often bring me a kitten for examination and vaccination. Our protocol
is typical for most veterinary practices: we vaccinate around 8 or 9
weeks of age, and again at 11 or 12 weeks of age, and once more at 15 or
16 weeks of age. Then, at 24 weeks of age, we neuter or spay. This protocol of spaying and neutering around 6 months of age has been
the professional standard for years. This posed a problem for shelters,
however.
2) How Pet Owners Can Best Help Veterinarian Make their Diagnoses - Veterinarians are faced with a variety of diagnostic challenges on a
daily basis. The ability for a veterinarian to obtain a detailed and
complete history is our most important diagnostic tool. When accurately
interpreted, this information lays the groundwork for a logical
diagnostic and therapeutic plan, and may prevent unnecessary diagnostic
testing and needless discomfort to the patient and cost to the owner.
1) Anatomy of the Feline Mouth - As a cats-only practitioner, I don’t mind when people say that I’m
looking down in the mouth, because the feline mouth is fascinating. Cats
use their mouths for a lot of things – eating, drinking, grooming, and
communication. Although cats breathe mainly through their nose, the
mouth provides an additional passageway for air to enter the lungs.
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