The pathologist says that Oscar's lump is an apocrine cyst. It is benign and we managed to cut it all out so that there is no chance of it recurring.
Oscar is recovering well and both he and his family are very happy that the lump is benign.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Oscar has a lump off
Oscar is a beautifully mannered senior Russian Blue who has graciously allowed us to publish the photographs of his journey through Hall Vet Surgery today.We removed a lump from the side of his neck because lumps in cats' skin are often tumours with the potential to spread or at least cause considerable local discomfort.
Oscar has the hair clipped over his jugular vein so that we can take a sample of his blood. We tested his blood to make sure his vital organs would handle the anaesthetic.
Nurse Elissa tests Oscar's blood in our laboratory
Oscar under general anaesthetic with the hair clipped from his neck and the lump clearly visible
Oscar in surgery with Nurse Suzanne monitoring his vital signs
The surgical site after the lump was removed
Oscar recovering from his surgery
Oscar has the hair clipped over his jugular vein so that we can take a sample of his blood. We tested his blood to make sure his vital organs would handle the anaesthetic.
Nurse Elissa tests Oscar's blood in our laboratory
Oscar under general anaesthetic with the hair clipped from his neck and the lump clearly visible
Oscar in surgery with Nurse Suzanne monitoring his vital signs
The surgical site after the lump was removed
Oscar recovering from his surgery
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Dog Flea and Tick treatments kill cats
Flea and tick treatments containing Permethrin are poisonous to cats. Although labeled as dog-only products and labeled as toxic to cats, spot-on permethrins have caused 166 reported deaths in cats in the last 2 years in Australia.
Brands of dog spot-ons that caused cat fatalities include Bayer Advantix, Exelpet Fea (and Tick) Liquidator, Troy Ease-on, Purina Total care Flea Eliminator Line-On and Duogard Line-On. These are safe to use on dogs but even the smallest amount can be fatal to cats.
Cats have become very ill after grooming their canine housemates. Even rubbing up against a dog who has had a recent permethrin application has made cats ill. One cat was intoxicated by a brush shared with the recently treated family dog.
In a recent Australian survey owners reported that they did not notice the warning on the permethrin spot-on packet or that the vendor of the product did not draw it to their attention. Some had lost the packet with the warning on it or mixed up the dog and cat pipettes. Others used one dog pipette to treat many cats or used the end of the dog’s pipette in an attempt to save money.
Protect your cat from permethrin poisoning by only buying cat products for your cat, always reading the label, and keeping dogs and cats separated for 24 hours after the dogs have been treated with a permethrin product.
Brands of dog spot-ons that caused cat fatalities include Bayer Advantix, Exelpet Fea (and Tick) Liquidator, Troy Ease-on, Purina Total care Flea Eliminator Line-On and Duogard Line-On. These are safe to use on dogs but even the smallest amount can be fatal to cats.
Cats have become very ill after grooming their canine housemates. Even rubbing up against a dog who has had a recent permethrin application has made cats ill. One cat was intoxicated by a brush shared with the recently treated family dog.
In a recent Australian survey owners reported that they did not notice the warning on the permethrin spot-on packet or that the vendor of the product did not draw it to their attention. Some had lost the packet with the warning on it or mixed up the dog and cat pipettes. Others used one dog pipette to treat many cats or used the end of the dog’s pipette in an attempt to save money.
Protect your cat from permethrin poisoning by only buying cat products for your cat, always reading the label, and keeping dogs and cats separated for 24 hours after the dogs have been treated with a permethrin product.
Missing Russian Prince
A local motel owner phoned us recently about a Russian Blue who had turned up on his doorstep. The cat’s owner had stayed at the motel a few days before and the cat, a true Russian prince, had taken leave overnight.
Although the owner had searched everywhere the cat had not returned before she had to travel on. She left her phone number but the motel owner had tried it repeatedly without result and was left with the cat.
Nikolai arrived at the surgery with his collar and name, most indignant that his lift had left without him. The collar had no address or phone number on it and we couldn’t find a microchip with our scanner. The phone number the motel owner had been given was disconnected by this time and we presumed that the woman must have been in the process of moving.
Nikolai is a handsome fellow. One of nurses fell head over heels in love with him and couldn’t bear the thought of such a prince being banished to a lowly cat shelter. She offered to take him home until the owner returned to claim him.
Only 2% of lost cats ever find their way back home from shelters. Most lack tags or microchip identification.
When your cat is microchipped the microchip number and your phone number/s are linked on a national register as well as on the local pet register. If he wanders or is lost then a vet or shelter can easily scan for the microchip and get in touch with you. If your cat tolerates collars, a tag with your phone details allows anyone who finds him to contact you.
We microchipped Nikolai in case he decided to inspect his kingdom again and he is happily waiting for his original owner to return.
Although the owner had searched everywhere the cat had not returned before she had to travel on. She left her phone number but the motel owner had tried it repeatedly without result and was left with the cat.
Nikolai arrived at the surgery with his collar and name, most indignant that his lift had left without him. The collar had no address or phone number on it and we couldn’t find a microchip with our scanner. The phone number the motel owner had been given was disconnected by this time and we presumed that the woman must have been in the process of moving.
Nikolai is a handsome fellow. One of nurses fell head over heels in love with him and couldn’t bear the thought of such a prince being banished to a lowly cat shelter. She offered to take him home until the owner returned to claim him.
Only 2% of lost cats ever find their way back home from shelters. Most lack tags or microchip identification.
When your cat is microchipped the microchip number and your phone number/s are linked on a national register as well as on the local pet register. If he wanders or is lost then a vet or shelter can easily scan for the microchip and get in touch with you. If your cat tolerates collars, a tag with your phone details allows anyone who finds him to contact you.
We microchipped Nikolai in case he decided to inspect his kingdom again and he is happily waiting for his original owner to return.
Tara's makeover
Tara had a problem with her long hair - she just couldn't keep it tidy, and she certainly wouldn't let her family fiddle with her pride and joy. Today she called it quits and allowed the nurses at Hall Vet Surgery to clip all those matts and knots right off. Her vet decided a general anaesthetic was the kindest way for the nurses to do a thorough and neat job without upsetting Tara so she spent the day in hospital for her makeover. In a few weeks she will have a respectable coat again and meanwhile she can enjoy summer a little more.
Tara's thickly matted coat this morning
Tara's thickly matted coat this morning
The new cool Tara this afternoon
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Nick the great Siamese Warrior
Nick, my sister’s Siamese, asked me to confirm the goodness of raw rabbit for cats’ teeth and condition. He lives in country NSW and often brings home feral rabbit (thousands are currently swarming the farm) to supplement the meagre offerings of his staff.
Nick’s favourite stashing place for rabbits and other treasures is under my niece’s bed. One morning my niece woke up to a crash and snapped on the light in time to see Nick disappearing under the bed with a 6 foot long brown snake hooked to his ear. After some commotion Nick emerged with his usual elegance leaving the snake writhing under the bed for the staff to clean up.
The family were left in a quandary. Should they rush him to the vet or not? In the end they did but the snake must have pushed his fangs through the ear and wasted the venom on the ground because Nick didn’t develop any signs of snake bite.
Most people only know that their cat has been bitten when he becomes paralysed by the venom next day. Antivenom, intravenous fluids and TLC save most cats from Australian brown snake envenomation.
PS Nick has flawless teeth and a perfect condition score at 12 years of age – from all that raw meat and exercise! My city cats can only dream of such freedoms and good health.
Monday, January 25, 2010
The dreaded vet visit
Most cats would rather not visit the vet. However, annual checks catch nasty conditions early and older cats with chronic issues need to visit much more often.
Carriers that I can lift the top off are ideal in the exam room because your cat can stay comfortably in his safe haven while I work around him.
Cats that use their carrier as an occasional bed or hidey hole at home seem most relaxed about being locked up in it for the car ride over. Some people find short trial rides in the carrier and car reduce anxiety (and constant cries for help!) further.
I like to speak in a soft low voice to my patients as I examine them. If you can remain calm and speak and move quietly too, your cat is more likely to stay relaxed. Even the most laid back puss will gratefully receive gentle petting and massage in a stressful situation.
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