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SOUTH BAY PETS BLOG
What makes your dog special? A local Best in Show 02/08/10 - With the Westminster Dog Show approaching fast (Feb. 15-16), I got to thinking. All dogs..
Puppy Bowl MVP: Jake 02/08/10 - Jake is a "Chug" (1/2 Chihuahua and 1/2 pug) and he was voted Most Valuable Puppy in the Pupp..
Forget the Super Bowl. It's time for the Puppy Bowl! 02/07/10 - On Super Bowl Sunday, if football's not your thing, pop some popcorn, make some sandwiches and tune..
Harbor City's Kritter Korral under new ownership 02/03/10 - Kimberley Foley, who founded Peninsula Dog Parks in 1998 and spearheaded the establishment of San P..
Colds 02/01/10 - I woke up this morning, as I usually do, to Annie the cat batting her paws at my face. This works q..
*** Updated w/video link - El Segundo dog theft? 02/01/10 - Did you see this story the other day in the Daily Breeze? Seems someone at a dog rescue..
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ASK A VET
I have been feeding a semi-feral cat for the last 15 years. Recently she has been losing weight with a reduced appetite but still eats, has diarrhea (very loose stool) for about the last week and licking her butt quite frequently, seems to have an upper respiratory infection - she has a rattle in her chest, very thirsty and drinks reluctantly out of her water bowl, but looks for water in the water fountain made of concrete (which is drained) or tries to drink water out of a large concrete planter saucer. The cat will come up to me and let me pet her, but I am unable to pick her up without her freaking out. She comes in the house regularly, but has had a few loose stool accidents within the last few days. This is all new behavior.
What can I do for her diarrhea? What can I do for her respiratory/congestion? There is no way that I can get her in a carrier, much less in a car. Please help.
Pam Fox
(310) 834-4684
pampam18@pacbell.net - Pam from Carson, CA I would be very concerned about this cat. Obviously she is an older cat if you have been caring for her for the last 15 years. If she is drinking excessively, she may be [more]I would be very concerned about this cat. Obviously she is an older cat if you have been caring for her for the last 15 years. If she is drinking excessively, she may be dehydrated, have kidney or liver problems, be diabetic, or have a hormonal imbalance such as elevated thyroid levels. The diarrhea could be a result of improper nutrition, infection, internal parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer as well as any of the above listed diseases. The respiratory congestion could be an upper respiratory infection, feline herpes virus, feline asthma, pneumonia, heart failure or even lung cancer. Weight loss and lack of appetite in an older cat is always of concern and could indicate any number of diseases. Finally, feral and outdoor cats have an increased risk of acquiring the feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency viruses, which can both suppress the immune system and increase their risks for developing cancer. I understand the difficulty you have because she is a feral cat and is not easily captured or handled, unfortunately I suspect she may have something more serious going on, in which case the over the counter treatments may not be successful.
For diarrhea, you can try a short term diet of chicken and rice (use boneless, skinless cooked chicken breast without seasoning and steamed white rice), the addition of a small amount of shredded cheese can sometimes help firm things up and a small amount of yogurt can add intestinal probiotics, however dairy products can also cause diarrhea so keep them to a minimum. You can also try over the counter pet anti-diarrheal treatments such as bentonite clay or an over the counter pet dewormer for internal parasites. For the congestion, you can try steam treatments by keeping her in an enclosed bathroom with the hot water running for 10 to 15 minutes. Saline nose drops for infants once daily can also help loosen up secretions and congestion to help her breathe a little easier. Sometimes cats do not eat well if they cannot smell their food. Over the counter antihistamines can also sometimes help with decongestion, but you will need to contact your veterinarian for proper dosage based on her weight. If she does not show some improvement quickly, I would encourage you to find some way to bring her to your veterinarian for more intensive care. [less]My 5-month-old kitten loves yogurt (plain, not fruit). Is this OK? - Sherry Ford Ruffer from San Pedro, CA Yes, in small amounts this should be fine. After they are weaned from their mothers, kittens lose the ability to digest lactose (the main milk protein) and become lactose [more]Yes, in small amounts this should be fine. After they are weaned from their mothers, kittens lose the ability to digest lactose (the main milk protein) and become lactose intolerant. If fed large amounts of dairy products, this could result in diarrhea, cramping and gas. In small amounts, however, there should not be a problem. Yogurt has the added benefit of providing probiotics (beneficial intestinal bacteria such as lactobacillus and acidophilus), which can help maintain the health of the gastrointestinal tract, although there is some argument as to whether the bacteria actually survive the stomach acid to make it through to the lower intestine where they are of most benefit. Start with just a small amount of yogurt and watch her stools carefully, if she shows any signs of diarrhea or intestinal upset, discontinue using the yogurt. [less]My 16-year old pomeranian has been sneezing for a week and now she seems to be swollen on the right side of her face along the nasal passage. She has had grass blades stuck in her nasal passage before, but we were able to remove them when she partially expelled them through sneezing. She isn't tender to the touch and I can't see any grass. - Nancy from San Diego, CA A foreign body such as
grass blades in the nostrils is a
common reason for persistent
sneezing, however they usually
do not cause a swelling of
the side of the face [more]A foreign body such as
grass blades in the nostrils is a
common reason for persistent
sneezing, however they usually
do not cause a swelling of
the side of the face unless
there is an infection and an
abscess of the tissues around
the nose. Another possibility
would be an abscessed tooth.
The roots of the upper teeth
are very close to the nasal
cavity and an abscessed root
could cause both swelling on
the side of the face as well as
an infection that breaks
through the bone into the
nasal passages causing a persistent
sneeze. Fungal infections
in the nose are also
known to cause swellings on
the side of the nasal passages
and can sometimes cause
severe deformities of the
nose, usually in cats. In an
older dog, however, I would
be very concerned about the
possibility of a tumor. I would
strongly recommend an examination
with your veterinarian
to have the swelling evaluated
and probably an anesthetized
oral and nasal examination
with x-rays of the nose and
teeth as well as a biopsy of
the area if cancer were suspected.
Early diagnosis and
treatment is key to a successful
outcome whenever you are
dealing with cancer. [less]
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