Cats can have hypos too!

Ivo is a diabetic on insulin. For many months his dose was stable but just lately we have had to increase it to control his blood sugar levels adequately.
The last dose increase was one too many. Last Wednesday night he was wobbly on his feet and looked a bit spaced out. His attentive owner soon realised he was having a hypo and gave him an early dinner. Within minutes he was back to his normal self.
Ivo spent a chilled out day with us today while we checked the fluctuations in his blood glucose. With the dose reduction we hope he will have a much better week this week.

Dr Kate meets Myanmar cats

Add caption

Sorry I've neglected you for the last month - I've been making some new friends in South East Asia.
This very friendly fellow lives in a monastery on Inle Lake, Myanmar. We were told that the cats sometimes perform for visitors but on the afternoon we visited they were very definitely on holiday, too. I had to pick this cat up before he roused even slightly.
Very few dogs live in the homes built over the water on Inle Lake but I saw cats on every window sill.

Thinking of a new pup?

Preparing to meet the new pup

How to tablet your cat

This is an excellent video on tableting a cat. Note how the assistant holds those front legs from behind and how the pill giver holds the head vertically. One thing they miss telling us is that it is important that the cat has a drink or food to wash the pill down. I squeeze a wet cotton ball straight into the cat's mouth after dropping the pill in.

oooo

Getting your cat in the carrier...

Does your cat put on the brakes and go all out to avoid the carrier? Try this technique, ably demonstrated by Mike Karg, an American cat vet.

Hayfever season

Thurston

Poor old Thurston has been scratching his face and ears non-stop since the blossoms came out last week.
Like his owner he is allergic to spring pollens. Unlike his owner whose eyes and nose stream in spring, Thurston gets itchy, mainly around his head. He has scratched the hair away above his eyes and made his skin bleed.
Scabs and little sores dot the back of his head and are scattered down his back.
His owners treat him for fleas with a monthly treatment so that fleas and flea allergy don't irritate him, too.
Thurston has gone home on allergy tablets and will feel more comfortable soon.
Next spring  he'll be living in Queensland.  Away from the blossoms he and his owner might enjoy spring more.

Lily toxicity

Day Lily

All species of lilies are toxic to cats. Indoor cats with little choice in plant munching material are most at risk as they will try any cut flower that comes into the house. 

Any part of the plant – flowers, leaves or stems - is dangerous. Even lily pollen licked off the coat destroys cats’ kidney tubules. 

Lilies proven to poison cats include: Easter Lily, Tiger Lily, Day Lily, Glory Lily, Stargazer Lily, Rubrum Lily, Asian Lily and the Japanese Show Lily

If you see your cat with lily on her coat, in her mouth or in her vomit don’t wait for signs of poisoning. The sooner we get it out of her system and start treatment to protect the kidneys the greater her chance of survival.

Affected cats vomit and are depressed within hours of ingesting lily. Some then seem to recover before starting to show signs of severe kidney failure a day or so later. Others continue vomiting, go off their food and get more and more depressed.

If emptying the stomach and medications to prevent absorption of the toxin are effective, the chance of recovery is excellent.

If your cat absorbs enough toxin to cause damage to her kidneys then her outlook is very poor. It is essential to seek emergency care immediately after ingestion of the lily plant.