Ever wondered why your cats scratch the furniture? Cats use claw scratching mainly to mark their territory (by secretions from glands found at the nail base), basically saying “this is mine!” However it also serves to stretch the muscles and maintain the claws in good condition. They may also scratch to get their owners attention.
Scratching is normal behaviour for cats, so we need to provide some outlet for this behaviour so reduce the risk of more destructive behaviours don’t occur out of frustration. Cats prefer vertical surfaces that are stable and high enough for a full body stretch. They also prefer certain textures including sisal rope, rush matting, carpet, cardboard, leather and soft wood. Unfortunately our furniture often has just the right texture, and it doesn't take long for a cat to wreck your new furniture!
Horizontal scratching posts can also be used such as durable cardboard blocks. Scratching surfaces should be positioned near sleeping areas and at the entry to the house (where new smells are brought in). This is more likely to encourage your cat to scratch (mark their territory) on the post provided and not your furniture.
Scratching posts or blocks can be made more attractive by applying a new product called Feliscratch (from the makers of Feliway). Feliscratch encourages cats to scratch by leaving a scent (pheromone) similar to those left by the glands beside that cats claws, as well as creating a visual line to scratch on.
You can discourage your cat from continuing to scratch your furniture by temporarily covering affected areas with something like tin-foil (which they don't like the touch or sound of) or sticky paper such as Sticky Paws. Alternatively you can try placing scratching poles temporarily in front of these affected areas, to break the habit. It may help to spray new furniture with Feliway so that the cat doesn't feel the need to mark it as part of their territory.
We must remember that scratching is a normal and healthy behaviour for cats and providing the opportunity to scratch in the correct place is important for a happy cat.
It's been great to have some rain for the garden recently, but the return of the cold rainy weather means it is time to think about osteoarthritis in our pets. You may notice that your dogs are becoming a little stiff when they get up or that your cat no longer wants to jump. Maybe your pet is just sleeping more and we just think this is ‘old age’.
Animals often hide their discomfort and may already be in considerable pain once they actually start to show us signs of arthritis. Arthritis is caused by the reduced production of cartilage and synovial (joint) fluid and an increase in cartilage degradation in the joint. This effectively means a decrease in cushioning between the joints resulting in bones rubbing together, causing a low grade constant pain, swelling and reduced function of the joint.
There is no cure for arthritis however there are ways in which we can manage the disease to help maintain your pet's quality of life. There are four key ways in which we can approach treatment:
Regular gentle exercise can aid in maintaining good mobility, ideal weight and general health. Maintaining your pet at a healthy weight will relieve pressure on the joints. Cold weather can also reduce blood flow to the limbs, so keep your pet warm at night with bedding, coat or a heating pad. Jumping on and off a bed or out of a car can irritate joints, so provide a little step or ramp to help out.
There are two naturally occurring products proven to assist in treating the causes of osteoarthritis - glucosamine and chondroitin. These products are combined in a powder, capsule or treat form. There is no control of the quality of these products on the market as they are not classed as drugs so researching the reputable brands is important.
Pentosan polysulphate (more commonly known as Pentosan or Cartrophen) is given by injection under the skin. It has been shown to assist the treatment of arthritis and slow the progression of the disease by increasing blood supply to the joints and promoting healing. It is given once a week over a four week period and then monthly booster injections.
Omega-3 fatty acids (particularly DHA in dogs and EPA in cats), have been proven to help with arthritic pain and inflammation when given at high doses. You can give fatty acids as part of a balanced diet - eg Hills J/D diet; or as a supplement such as suitable sized fish oil capsules.
Acupuncture is a safe and effective alternative to drugs to help with the pain of arthritis and involves inserting needles into specific points in the body for therapeutic purposes and to relieve pain. Hydrotherapy can also aid with pain relief and mobility. In the water, the body weight load on joints is reduced so activity and even weight loss is aided. Hydrotherapy/swimming is generally only practical for dogs!
Anti-inflammatory drugs or other drugs for pain management can be prescribed for acute flare-ups or long term/end stage arthritis management. With all health issues, early intervention can assist with better management of this disease and help to alleviate pain that your pet may be experiencing.
We all like to indulge a little over the Easter period. We stuff out bodies full of good food and chocolate, which usually also means our four legged friends may find some of this food to indulge in. However, not everything we eat over Easter is good for our pets. So what foods are the most common toxins this time of year?
Around the festive period we tend to have a lot more sweets and chocolate around. Chocolate, made from the beans of the cacao tree, contains a compound known as theobromine. Theobromine has a number of effects on the body. It stimulates both the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, raises blood pressure, has diuretic effects and in large enough doses can cause nausea and vomiting, seizures, coma and possibly death.
Just like chocolate lollies are also toxic for animals. Most lollies and sugar-free sweets contain xylitol which his highly toxic for pets. If your pet has lollies it can lead to lethargy, loss of balance, permanent brain damage, liver failure and death.
Similar to our friend the avocado, macadamia nuts are also dangerous to our pets. If your pet eats a macadamia nut it can cause severe abdominal pain, the inability to walk, and increased heart rate.
If you suspect your pet has eaten something it shouldn’t, call your local veterinarian immediately. Rapid decontamination (induced vomiting) is crucial. Remember to bring the packet/wrapper of the food your pet has eaten. Here is a handy website you can use at home, but always call you veterinarian if you are unsure or still have concerns.
http://veterinaryclinic.com/chocolate/calc.html
Having pets in our lives is a wonderful thing. Whether fur or feathers, scales or scutes, sometimes our pets bring home extra passengers – parasites! These parasites can be internal (endoparasites) or external (ectoparasites), and include worms, insects, and flukes. Internal parasites can cause tissue and organ destruction while external parasites can cause mild to severe skin irritation. Large infections of internal parasites can cause malnutrition and even death.
The most common endoparasites intestinal worms in companion animals include round, hook, whip and tapeworm. Next most common endoparasite is Heartworm. This is far more common in dogs than cats. Testing poop and blood tests can detect these intestinal and heartworm parasites respectively.
The most common ectoparasites include fleas, ticks, mites (demodex and sarcoptes) and flies. Sometimes a diagnosis of external parasites is simple with visualisation of the bugs on the skin. Other times a quick test such as a skin scraping or hair pluck is required to find the bugs. Understanding where the bugs may live, whether inside the ear canals or around the tail base, can help us locate the bugs on our pets.
There are many products available for the treatment and prevention of parasites in our pets. Selecting which to use is personal preference for the owner and even the pet. Price and ease of giving the treatment differs between products. As with all medications it is very important to read the instructions carefully, including age, pregnancy status and weight restrictions for some treatments.
If you have questions or concerns about your pets parasite control, you can call Our Pet Mobile Vet for a chat about what is best for your pet.
As now the weather is heating up precautions are needed so our pets don’t suffer from heatstroke.
Smaller pocket pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs and rats are more susceptible to the heat and struggle to maintain body temperatures. Pets that are overweight, have medical conditions such as heart issues or have short faeces (brachycephalic) such as Pugs or Persians are also more likely to struggle breathing/panting and need extra precautions taken to ensure they do not over heat.
The only way dogs and cats can cool themselves is by panting, they do not have sweat glands overing their body other than the soles of their feet. Thus they struggle to cool their bodies efficiently in hot weather. Pets should be kept well hydrated with access to cool water and cool air. Shade may not be adequate alone if the air temperature they are breathing is very warm. Avoid activity during the heat of the day. Of course, never leave in the car unattended, temperatures inside can rise quickly.
Symptoms of heat stroke are listed below and if you think your pet has been affected by heatstroke ACT QUICKLY. Heatstroke can become life threatening to the animal within 10-15 minutes.
The clinical signs of heat stroke include lethargy, inattentiveness or lack of coordination, excessive drooling, excessive panting, bright red or pale gums, increased body temp, vomiting or diarrhoea, increase heart rate and pulse, collapse, seizures, unconsciousness and even death.
If you think that your pet is suffering from the heat, SEEK veterinary attention immediately! Apply running cool/tepid water all over pet, focusing around the underside of the neck, inner thighs, abdomen and foot pads. Do NOT apply ice cold/chilled water as this can make the pet’s temperature raise more. Use a fan or the air conditioner during transportation to help with evaporation and cooling. Further stabilisation and support may be required at a veterinary hospital depending on the severity of the heat stroke as well as ensuring the pet is not cooled down too far.
If your call to us goes to voice mail, please leave your name, number, location and brief message. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Alternatively, email us at julia@ourpetmobilevet.com.au or via the form.