Tiger, Tiger sitting tight

Tiger is just on his way home after having his blood pressure checked. He sat quietly while we wrapped a cuff around his arm. He thought the cold gel we put on his wrist for the Doppler probe was the worst part.
Because a cat's pulse is so small we have to amplify it with the Doppler. We pump the cuff up until we cannot hear the pulse and then slowly let the air out until we hear the pulse. At this point we read his blood pressure from the dial.
Tiger has a heart murmur and kidney problems. Heart disease often lowers the blood pressure but kidney failure increases it. Fortunately Tiger's blood pressure is normal.

Finding Nemo...

We found this Nemo in the peak of health when he came in for his 2 year old check up yesterday. He had a little plaque on his molars and will include some meat strips or Greenies in his diet to stop it building up any more.

We vaccinated him for enteritis and flu, and wormed him with the spot-on Profender before he hopped back in his cage to go home. We'll see him again this time next year.

Skin infection

Missy-Moo has a very unusual bacterial infection in the skin of her belly. Two weeks ago she visited us with lots of 'pepper-pot' draining holes on her belly. The skin was thick and spongey. She hadn't complained to her family about it but they noticed she was spending a lot of time keeping herself clean.
After surgery to remove the worst of the inflamed and infected skin and to take samples to send to the lab she started on antibiotics that we thought might be effective against the most likely causative bacteria.
Two weeks later the lab has found the culprits but hasn't identified them or found the most appropriate antibiotic for her yet.
Today we took Missy-Moo's stitches out and her belly is looking much, much better. Her owner commented that she has been playing more and is getting back to her happy self.
Missy-Moo is not impressed with daily tablets, but will have to continue with them for many weeks yet. If she stops too soon the infection could flare up again.

Love is in the air!

Mika has been trying to find a way out into the wild world for the past 3 days. Her yowling, rolling and over-the-top affection are driving her family crazy.
Although she is only 4 months old she has come into season and could fall pregnant if she found a tomcat outside.
Cats will often start to cycle as the days get longer in August and September, even if they are barely out of kittenhood themselves.
Mika's carers have booked her in for a spey next week. Once cats start cycling they keep it up every 2-3 weeks until they fall pregnant - and Mika's owners don't want their beautiful Burmese to have motley kittens!

Diabetes

Mini checks out her blood glucose this morning

Cat diabetes is very similar to human diabetes. Slimming down and a particular diet help control or even cure it.
However diabetes in cats always requires an intial intense period of insulin treatment and, unlike humans, cats require a high protein diet to overcome their diabetes.
Mini visits us every Thursday morning for a blood glucose test. Her carer gives her an insulin injection twice a day with her meals. Until we find the best dose for her she will visit us every Thursday for a weight check and a blood glucose check.
Mini had already lost her extra kilos when she was diagnosed so she didn't have to go on a weight reduction diet. High protein diets help keep cats' blood glucose down and reduce the insulin dose though. 

Medications in food

This morning I received a very sad email from a cat whose carer is adding chicken flavoured medicine to his food:

Dear Dr Kate,

I'm writing to report  on the appalling conditions the slaves are forcing me to live in. For the past two and a half  weeks my life has gone from good to bad. I was running the place, had that rotten new dog playing right into my paws. 

Then the slave took me to see you. As the problems started shortly after my visit I thought it was best to make my complaints directly to you (my constant complaining to the slave has not resulted in any improvement in my conditions...) 

Initially I was forced to take some revolting medicine - it made me gag and froth and retch - but I do feel better now. My cough has completely gone.

Now they think they can hide "chicken" flavoured poison in my food. I’m not stupid enough to fall for their tricks! 

I went on a hunger strike and refused to eat, hoping my protest would guilt them into feeding me something normal - it didn't work. I have cried and whinged every minute of the day. 

Yesterday I gave in and ate the food with the poison in it - just to lubricate my throat, you understand. I just couldn’t go on with my tummy rumbling so much. 

Today I managed to climb up on the fridge where they keep the dog treats (why didn’t I figure this out years ago??). I've threatened to stay here on the fridge and/or throw myself off if conditions don’t improve ie if THEY DON’T FEED ME DECENT UNADULTERATED REAL FOOD!

They are ignoring me. Dr Kate, please help me! Talk to them for me. Please....

Regards Gus

Gus enclosed this photo of his poor suffering self:

Poor Gus! He will feel so much better if he relents and eats his 'adulterated' food. Already the antibiotics for his chest infection have reinvigorated him! The asthma medicine that his carer is putting in his food will make him feel better every day.

Senior health screening discount

Have you booked your older cat for a senior screen yet? Coco has been reading about the advantages of 6-12 monthly checks for cats over 10 years of age and is worried that some of her friends might miss out on the Hills senior screening program.

Hills are offering a $20 discount on the cost of a check up and any tests that have to be done. Just go to Hills senior screening to print your voucher out. Book a check up with us and bring the voucher with you.

(No worries if you haven't got access to a printer - just ask our receptionist to print a voucher out for you)