Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas to all our furry friends and their carers!

We look forward to seeing you again in 2014.

We are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. If you have an emergency on those days please phone the Animal Emergency Centre on 6280 6344.

Yoda liked our Christmas tree when he visited recently

Signs of dental pain

We take a dental Xray of some painful canine teeth

Cats are determined to hide any sign of pain or discomfort from us. The observant owner may notice one or more of the following if they are really on the ball:

• not grooming properly, leaving coat matted, loose or scurfy
• eating on one side of mouth or tilting the head to one side when chewing
• resenting stroking around the face/jaw
• not enjoying handling at all
• keen hunter not interested in hunting any more
• keen warrior not interested in fighting any more
• not wanting to play with tug toys
• throwing food to back of mouth to chew
• bringing unchewed, unlubricated food up within 10 minutes of a meal
• hesitating at food bowl even though clearly hungry
• not crunching kibble
• preferring moist to dry food when used to prefer dry to moist and vice versa
• bad breath
• eating only a little but going back to the bowl often
• drooling
• pawing mouth
• swollen face
• bleeding from mouth
• grinding teeth

Training your cat to tolerate the AeroKat...

The coughing cat

Nick enjoys some fresh air

Nick's carer wasn't sure if he had a hairball or was coughing until we saw him at the hospital. He crouched down with elbows out, hacked and hacked and then swallowed - he was definitely coughing.
To help you work out whether your cat is coughing have a look at this video. Some people mistake 'hairballs' or vomiting for coughing.
When we listened to Nick's chest he had a wheeze, which his owner had also noticed at night. His wheezing has been much worse this spring and summer.
We decided to Xray Nick and found that he had thickening of his bronchial walls, typical of chronic bronchitis or asthma.
Like humans, cats can have frightening episodes of not being able to breathe. They panic and can die if not treated with a bronchodilator like Ventolin immediately.
Nick is now on steroids and is training his owner to use an AeroKat inhaler.

Vaccinations and regular check ups

Bella has her annual check up

Because cats are so good at hiding illness and discomfort it is imperative that they have a check-up at least once a year. Cats older than 9 years of age may need a physical twice a year especially if we identify any problems.
During the examination we check their eyes, mouth, teeth, ears, heart, lungs, skin, joints and belly for any abnormalities. Many cats start having dental problems as early as 3 years old. Skin disease, allergies and gut upsets an happen at any age.
We discuss the optimal diet for your particular cat because every cat is an individual.
Behavioural problems like inappropriate urination, yowling or attacking often come up in discussion, too.
If your cat is likely to go into boarding or other stressful situations then we recommend an annual vaccination for enteritis (also known as panleukopenia or parvovirus) and the two flu viruses (calicivirus and herpesvirus). This vaccine is also known as the F3 or 3 in 1 vaccination.
Inside cats who don't go into boarding may need less frequent F3 vaccination.
Cats who go outdoors or who may escape home, particularly if they fight, require an FIV vaccination against feline AIDS every year. It is important that cats receive the FIV vaccine boosters exactly 12 months apart.
We also give or recommend the best worming and flea treatments for your cat during the annual visit.

Allergic dermatitis

Does your cat scratch or groom more than normal? or are patches of fur missing perhaps with areas of broken, red or raw skin?
If you answer yes to any of these questions your cat may have allergic dermatitis - the feline equivalent of human hayfever.
We will rule out flea allergy dermatitis - very common - and food allergy, which is less likely, before deciding that your cat has allergic dermatitis.
A treatment specific for allergic dermatitis in cats has just been released. Atopica is designed for cats so is easy to administer and in cat-size dosage bottles. It relieves the irritation, allows the skin to heal and the hair to grow back within 6 weeks.
Your cat will soon be back to her/his happy, beautiful self.

Weight Loss

Cino (and Cino's mother) are worried that he is losing weight despite a hearty appetite. Burmese are more likely than other breeds to develop diabetes so we checked his blood glucose first. It was normal and so were his kidney and liver tests.
Hyperthyroidism is more common in older cats like Cino who turns 12 shortly. However the blood test showed that his thyroid is functioning normally.
Cino occasionally vomits. Because everything else seems normal we will zero in on his intestinal tract. First we will try a diet that will minimise inflammation in his stomach and intestines. If we don't get any response to that we will scan him from top to bottom for abnormalities.
Some cats suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, which may escalate into mild or, less frequently, severe lymphoma. Many of these bowel conditions are treatable and well-managed cats do well.

Cat Friendly Clinic

We were thrilled to hear that we have been awarded the Cat Friendly Clinic gold standard!
This is awarded by the International Society of Feline Medicine to veterinary practices that meet very strict criteria. We planned Canberra Cat Vet to conform to their standards but still had to do a lot of work to document our efforts.
We had to demonstrate that Canberra Cat Vet:

• understands the unique needs of cats and has made veterinary visits more cat-friendly
• understands how to approach and handle cats in a gentle, empathetic and caring manner
• has good standards of equipement for investigating and treating feline diseases
• has a high standard of facilities and care for hospitalised cats.

Cat body language

It's easy to misinterpret our cats' body language. Watch this great video to find out some of the common signals our cats are giving us.

Whitie's big night out

Whitie ready for his surgery

Whitie came home with a sore paw a few days ago and has got lamer and quieter since.
When he came in to see us we saw a cut on the side of his paw but once we had him under anesthetic and could clip the hair away we found a big abscess.
With the pus drained and pain relief on board Whitie is feeling heaps better.

Feed the cat more meat!

Cats are carnivores and have quite complex dietary needs. Vets are now strongly advising that cats are fed a primarily wet diet. This means good quality canned or pouch foods coupled with meats like chicken, rabbit, roo, beef or lamb. I like to feed the meat as stir fry strips or chunks so that my cats chew on them and clean their teeth.
To protect their kidney and bladder health cats must consume water in their food as well as drinking it. Cats on wet foods have a much higher intake of fluids than cats on dry foods.
A good quality commercial food is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. In the wild cats consume very little carbohydrate ie wheat, maize and a lot of animal, not plant, protein.
In our busy lives we are forced to feed our cats some dry food for convenience sake but wet foods should provide the bulk of their intake.

Flea allergy

Kaiser has been out enjoying the warmer weather - and so have the fleas! 

Poor Kaiser has been grooming more than usual and has lost some of his beautiful coat  especially over the rump. Normally cats are only mildly irritated by fleas but Kaiser is allergic to flea saliva. Just one flea bite causes intense and long lasting itchiness.

To make Kaiser more comfortable we must try to eliminate all fleas from him and his environment.

Capstar or Comfortis kill the fleas and paralyse flea mouthparts preventing deposition of saliva.

Every month his owners will give him Advantage, Revolution, or Comfortis  to keep flea numbers as low as possible.

Because fleas spend most of their life cycle off the cat as larvae and pupae in bedding, carpet, dirt and leaves they will have to wash his bedding in hot water and dry it in the sun.  They should also vacuum carpets and furniture often. they may decide to call a professional to fumigate the house.

Kaiser has had an injection of cortisone to block the allergic reaction and give relief from the intense itching.

Niles has his spring clip

Niles came in for his annual check-up, clip and dental examination today. Because his coat gets so matted in spring his carer opts to have him clipped all over every year. Eleven year old Niles passed his physical exam and blood tests with flying colours. 

He had a general anaesthetic so that we could scale and polish his teeth and take out one decayed canine tooth. 

Niles does not like the clippers and the matts were perilously close to his skin so Nurse Eliza clipped him while he was still asleep.  

He was very frisky when he woke up, demanding a late breakfast asap! 

Niles before his clip

Nurse Eliza does a thorough, stress-free clip

Niles in his smart blue coat ready to go home

Fat Cats

Time for a diet, Tiny!

Obesity in cats is no joke.  Every day I see cats with arthritis, diabetes, bladder problems and liver disease as a result of overeating and lack of exercise.  (Where have we heard that before??!) 

Just a 20% increase in weight – a 1kg increase in a 5 kg cat – makes a cat obese.  Cats hide their fat under their bellies and along their ribs so their owners often miss the early signs of expansion. 

Neutered cats, particularly neutered males, and cats that live indoors are more likely to be overweight. When kittens are neutered their energy needs decrease dramatically.  We need to reduce their daily intake by 25% and make sure we keep them playing and active.  

If your cat is already overweight consult your veterinarian before starting the diet.  Too rapid weight loss may result in a fatty liver, which is often fatal.  Aim to lose about 1-2% of the current weight per week.  For a 5 kg cat that is about 50-100 grams per week. 
Nurse Leanne runs a weight control clinic at Canberra Cat Vet. She will recommend a diet and a target weight for your cat, discuss exercise and encourage you through the difficult first days.

A 33% to 50% reduction in current food intake combined with exercise should be effective. If possible, cut back the dry food to less than 50% of the daily intake and offer more meat and canned food.  A good chew on raw stewing steak, chicken wings, a rabbit leg, osso bucco or lamb cutlets makes puss feel full and cleans her teeth as well.

Ensure that she does not have access to alternative food sources such as the meals of other pets in the household or friendly neighbours!

Increase the opportunities for exercise.  A cat tower and a variety of toys that you can rotate out of the cupboard are a good start. Tunnels and hideouts made from cardboard boxes are cheap and fun to play in.  You can join in the fun by tugging a simple length of ribbon or a feather along the corridor. This will trim your cats’ waist lines, increase their muscle mass and make them – and you - feel good.

Living with allergies AND cats

Ragi has a look around her new hospital

Do you suffer wheezing, sneezing, watery eyes and itchy eyes and arms around your cat? For me, these allergy symptoms are a small price to pay for the company of my cats – although some mornings when I wake with a heavy head and red eyes I wonder!

Cat allergies are not caused by cat hair as most of us assume. They are caused by a protein found in cat saliva, urine and skin cells, or dander. The immune systems of people with allergies mistake this harmless protein for a dangerous invader like a virus or bacteria and mount a full scale attack on it.

Here are some tips for minimising our allergy symptoms without giving up our cats.

• Made your bedroom a cat free zone
•  Reduce the load of cat allergens in your bedroom by washing or replacing bedding, curtains and pillows. Then cover pillows and mattress with allergen-proof covers.
• Open windows wide at least once a day to air the house and dilute the allergen load
•  Send your cat outside, preferably into an outdoor run, to disperse some of the dander
•  Eliminate allergen traps such as carpet, rugs and upholstered furniture as you can. Carpet accumulates up to 100 times more allergens than vinyl or wood flooring. If you can’t take it up steam clean it regularly and vacuum with a high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filter or us and allergen-proof vacuum cleaner bag.
• Brush your cat outside and/or in an outside enclosure to minimise contamination of your home with dander
• Wipe the dander away with a moist cloth or wipe to remove saliva and dander.
• Spray the house with anti-allergen sprays
• Use a low dust cat litter and ask non-allergic family members to clean the litter box frequently
• Take the antihistamines, decongestants, eye drops and aerosol inhalers your doctor recommends. Antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E also have anti-allergen effects.

 Don't let allergies come between you and your feline friend.

Canberra Cat Vet is open!

Gus recovers in his hospital bed

Tomorrow we meet a new kitten, check a few feline senior citizens and put our new dental suite through its paces. 

Gus couldn't wait for our official opening. He was very down on Monday morning and came in with a sore belly and very dehydrated. A night in our quiet, warm hospital on a drip has revived him enough to go home this afternoon.

Phone us on 6251 1444 for all your cats' health needs.

Setting up Canberra Cat Vet

Now that the building is finished we are busy setting up all our fantastic new cat-size equipment. Here is our Xray machine. Digital processing gives us beautiful clear images in no time at all.
Looking forward to a few pussy cats stalking through our rooms next week!
Call in and have a look any day next week. A special opening gift awaits our first 50 visitors!

Nearly there...

Already a few cats moseying around Canberra Cat Vet

The waiting room and reception area from inside

The fit out of Canberra Cat Vet has taken much longer than expected - but we are nearly there!
We are aiming for the beginning of September.
Watch this space!

DIY suitcase bed!

Find instructions on making this neat bed for your cat at DIY - suitcase bed. Your cat will love it!

Kitten care page added

We've added a page on bringing a new kitten home. Check it out!

Sunny Sunday afternoon

Nick checks out the daffodils

then snuggles up to Dr (Aunty) Kate

Tabitha diagnosed with kidney disease

Tabitha, a slim and active farm cat, is 18 years old and recently diagnosed with low grade kidney disease. She shows no outward sign of kidney problems - her weight has been the same for at least 10 years and she drinks no more than usual.
The kidney disease was revealed at her last senior check when she allowed her vet to take the usual blood and urine samples.
Treating kidney disease in the early stages is easy - a special diet, which preserves kidney function, and plenty of fluids in her food and water bowls.
She has taken to the special diet with gusto. Because it was introduced before the kidney disease affected her appetite she should live another 3 or 4 happy and healthy years.
Tabby visits her vet at least every 3 months to monitor her kidney disease, and to check her blood pressure and body weight.

Catte Latte?

Stop press - delayed opening date...

All of the balls we've been juggling to get Canberra Cat Vet open on Monday 12th August have come tumbling down - the floor covering won't be laid until then, putting our opening date back a week.

So Monday 26th August is now our projected opening date.

Our apologies for any convenience this causes you

Every pet deserves a healthy, pain-free mouth

Dr Christine Hawke, a veterinary dentist, believes every pet deserves a healthy, pain-free, mouth. Most pets hide mouth pain and discomfort. Regular check ups and dental treatments prevent gum disease, tartar build-up and loss of teeth.
Book your cat's check-up during Dental Health month in August and be sure your cat is not stoically hiding a painful mouth.

A week to opening...

The reception desk has a bench at the end for your cat carrier. You can just get a glimpse of the signature Canberra Cat Vet red through the opening.
The floor covering will go down in the next few days - and then it will be a race to install all our veterinary equipment before Monday 12th!

Choosing the right carrier

We like carriers with tops that unclip and lift off leaving your cat snuggled in the bottom.
This carrier is a cheap one from a reject shop and ideal for a trip to the vet (until the clips become brittle or break!)
We unclipped the top and examined a comfortable and relaxed FC in the bottom. When we were finished the top went on quickly and easily.
There are lots of versions of the same design around, some more robust than others. Steer clear of the ones that have a thousand screws or fiddly little clips.

Lex came in this strong but easy to dismantle - and reconstruct - carrier

Make vet visits easier

FC in for her annual checkup

Bringing your cat to the vet can be a stressful experience for you, your cat, the vet and the nurse.

Some cats yowl as soon as the car starts, others pee in the carrier every trip.

An upset cat is difficult for your vet to examine and stress skews some blood tests.

How do we make visits to the vet less stressful for all concerned?

Leave the carrier out permanently in your home.  Many cats will rest or hide in it or use it as a play thing, particularly if it has been about since they were kittens. Pop some treats in the carrier so that your cat associates it with a pleasant experience.

Apply Feliway spray to bedding in the carrier regularly and just before transport. Feliway contains a natural pheromone that relaxes cats.  Lining the carrier with a favourite person'sclothing may also calm your cat.

Withhold food before travel to prevent travel sickness and consequent negative feelings about car rides. Short practice rides followed by a good experience such as a favourite food help some cats to relax in the car.

Cover the carrier with a towel or blanket, or place one over the cat in the carrier so that she can hide if she needs to.

In the waiting room place the carrier up off the ground on a seat or bench and well away from other cats. If your cat is wide-eyed, trembling,or huddled at the back of the carrier ask the receptionist to put her in a spare quiet room.

Because cats hide illness and pain so well they need regular, scheduled visits to the vet to ferret out problems like arthritis, thyroid and kidney disease and liver and heart decline. Annual visits are adequate for cats less than 8 years old. Older cats need checks more often, especially if any problems have been identified.

Unfortunately, cats often don’t show us they’re sick until it’s almost too late.

Reducing the stress of vet visits means more frequent checkups and a longer, healthier, and more comfortable life for your feline friend.

Heading for 12th August!

The builders are installing the cupboards today. Soon the floor coverings will be down, the painting done and, yes, Daisy, Canberra Cat Vet will throw open its doors after 3 long years of planning!  
Who will be the first feline to check us out? Watch this space!
(and phone reception at Hall Vet Surgery on 6230 2223 if you have a 'poser' cat who would love to be the celebrated one!)

Always visible

Recovery ward in progress

At the new Canberra Cat Vet Hospital we will watch your cat every step of the way from sedation for a procedure until it's time to go home.
Behind the glass your cat is snug and private and does not see what is going on in the rest of the hospital - but we can see any sign of discomfort or anxiety and respond immediately.
The builders have installed our windows - next step the floor!

The Cat in the Hat...

How about this one???

The life of a cat

My three pusses flat out this winter day...

Week 3 at Canberra Cat Vet

Dr Kate inspects the new operating theatre

This corner will be our fully equipped laboratory

We can watch our patients at all times

Week 2 at Canberra Cat Vet

Dr Kate inspects Canberra Cat Vet's consultation room

The wall cladding goes on

Angry cat

Jacque soaking up the little Canberra sun we had this week

Jacque has a little trouble with anger management. When a stray cat wanders into his domain he gets very worked up.
If people appear when he is one of his tempers he may attack them, inflicting nasty scratches.
He displaces his anger with the cat onto people.
Fortunately his carers came and discussed the problem with us and we instituted some preventative strategies. He is now a lot more laid back - and less scarey to his human companions. 
Additionally they use Feliway to make him feel safer and more comfortable. Initially, we also gave him some drugs to help him manage his anger.
Everyone is much happier!

The walls go up

Consultation room 

 This week we can step out the rooms and marvel that soon we will have a lovely quiet hospital where cats can visit their vet or recuperate in comfort.
We are on the forefront of a new movement in veterinary hospitals. Although special cat hospitals have been open in Sydney and Melbourne for some decades, smaller cities like Canberra and Hobart have only just taken the plunge.

In the UK and USA where cats are the most popular pet (ahead of dogs!) cat hospitals are springing up in every city.

Surgery and Pharmacy

Week one - Ground Zero

The builders have knocked down a few walls and ceiling tiles, and left the odd wire hanging. Now the transformation to cat hospital begins...

Go Mr Puddy!

Pointers for laser pointers

Does your cat love to chase a laser pointer? It's great exercise, keeps cats trim and is lots of fun - but don't forget to let your cat catch some solid prey before you turn it off!

Pointers for laser pointers - Veterinary Community Video - Find it all here.

Cat hospital for Canberra

Work begins!

The builders have started fitting out  Canberra Cat Vet, an offshoot of Hall Vet Surgery!
After 3 years of planning we hope to open the doors of Canberra's first cat only hospital at the beginning of August.
Watch this space!

Do you have more than one cat???

Then check out The Ten Commandments of Cat Management for lots of hints on keeping a calm and contented household!

Cats get arthritis too!

Cleo curled up with daughter Cinta

Sixteen year old Burmese Cleo was  slow to jump down off the kitchen bench when caught out last week. She poured herself down the side, landed with a thud and looked stunned for a moment before moving off.
When we X-rayed her elbows we were horrified to find that she had severe osteoarthritis. She had been covering it up - as cats do - for a long time before we noticed she was having trouble.
We then noticed that she is also reluctant to jump very high. She uses chairs to get onto tables and has stopped leaping up to sit in the sun on the windowsill. Her painful knees make her hesitate before jumping and she then scrambles up rather than jumping. Unwilling to miss the electric blanket at night she pulls herself up on to the bed.
We've set up boxes as steps onto her feed bench and the bed. We also play gently with her by trailing ribbons and batting balls to strengthen her muscles. To reduce the strain on her joints we've restricted her food and watched her weight.
She makes sure that she sleeps in a warm, well-cushioned sleeping area - our bed!
This winter she is also on pain medication and is doing remarkably well.

Cat fight abscess

Poor old Kingston has had a run-in with a local bully. Here he is showing off the swelling on the side of his face and waiting for the vet to anaesthetise him and lance it.
We have already given him a long-lasting antibiotic.
Fortunately he has had an FIV vaccination against cat AIDS. The virus is spread by cat bites.
A latex drain, called a penrose, will keep the wound open for a few days to prevent further pus build up. Once that is out he will heal rapidly.
Hopefully he will steer clear of trouble in future!

Cats only!

Thank you for listening Hall Vet Surgery!

From Wednesday 24th April we are trialling a cat-only consultation time from 6 - 8 pm every Wednesday evening. This will be a quiet, dog-free period so that cats are stressed as little as possible before seeing their vet.

Most cats find the vet surgery waiting room a stressful place. They can smell and see dogs and strange humans. Doors bang, dogs bark, people laugh and talk, cages clang.

On ordinary days we find that by the time cats reach the exam table many are very wound up. Vets and nurses find a tense cat hard to examine and results from blood tests are skewed by the body’s stress response.

While cats are hunters they are also prey. In their natural or familiar environment they are very efficient at defending themselves against perceived threats. 

When they are unable to act because they are trapped in a carrier or unable to hide they get ready to flee or attack.  The vet visit becomes very unpleasant for the cat, the owner and the veterinary staff.

Hall Vet Surgery wants to minimise your cat’s stress and make the vet visit a more relaxed and comfortable experience for your cat and you.

Look at the vet visit from your cat’s point of view and book your next visit for a Wednesday evening.

All in the family

Cleo grooms her daughter Cinta

Are the cats in your household stressed by each other? 

In their natural state cats live with their relatives - their mothers, siblings and offspring. We expect them to live in close quarters with total strangers and then wonder why they mark indoors, have bladder problems and overgroom - all signs of stress.

You know your cats consider each other family if they sleep together and groom each other, paying particular attention to each other’s heads. When all the cats in your household think of each other as family stress levels are low. 

More often in multi-cat households each cat considers the other as just another tenant of the house and would rather not share dining, toilet and rest areas. When forced to share tension levels between the cats will rise and fall. Occasionally we see outright aggression between housemates. Sometimes the only sign is the occasional spray of urine up the curtain or recurrent cystitis (inflammation of the bladder).

Check out your cats’ sleeping arrangements. If they are sleeping separately and not grooming each other with complete ease then make sure you have multiple resources available so that each ‘family’ can eat, drink and toilet in private. If you have three cats who do not groom each other then you will need feeding and water bowls, and a litter tray in three separate areas.

Home wanted!

Harry

Harry and Cino's people

Cino

are moving to Texas USA sometime after June and are looking for a fantastic home for their Burmese boys. They want to rehome them together as they have been together since they were kittens.
They have always been inside cats but go outside into a secure courtyard.
As they are getting on in years, they would prefer them to be only cats. However they have grown up with a golden retriever and a Labrador.
Their people will supply their paraphernalia, cat tower, crate, bed, litter box etc, and any food which may be remaining.
Harry, the red, is the more verbal one, he is the boss apparently and keeps our dog in line. He also has a penchant for hair ties which will go missing from the bedroom and turn up in his food dish!!
Cino, the brown, is the smarter, much more affectionate one who loves the rings from around milk containers. He will play with them for hours.
They have been very healthy all their lives apart from some dental problems. Harry has just been diagnosed with low grade kidney disease but is healthy and happy otherwise. 

They love them madly and would like to find someone who is a genuine cat person to love and adore them - and who doesn't mind being entertained.

Please phone Hall Vet Surgery on 6230 2223 if you think Harry and Cino might fit into your home.

Litter tray worries?

Food allergy

Kingston as a kitten

Kingston now

Poor old Kingston had a rough start to life! Almost from the moment his family brought him home for Christmas he had diarrhoea and vomiting. At first we thought it was the change of diet.
When it continued we tested him for infectious diseases like Tritrichomonas, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Clostridia and Salmonellosis. All tests were negative.
In January we and his family switched him to a low allergy diet and miracle of miracles his stools firmed up and he stopped vomiting! He also started putting on weight and playing more.
Food sensitivities and allergies are not common but when all the common causes of gastroenteritis in kittens are ruled out we have to consider them.
Good to see Kingston growing and happy with his  loving family!