Holiday Dangers for Pets-Food, Tinsel, Flowers, etc.

Pet holiday dangers: food, flowers, electrical items, tinsel, etc.

1. Dangerous wrapping—Brightly colored bows and ribbons are a festive and enjoyable part of the holiday season, but remember that ribbon can be extremely dangerous for cats. If ingested, it can cause a cat’s intestines to bunch and get twisted, and in many cases this will need to be remedied with surgery. If left untreated, this can be fatal.

2. Hanging ornaments—From a cat’s perspective, low-hanging ornaments on a tree are just begging to be swatted at and then played with on the floor. If there are any low-hanging ornaments on your client’s tree, be sure that they are made of materials that a cat can’t chew or otherwise destroy and ingest.

3. Poisonous plants—While poinsettias have long been believed to be extremely dangerous for cats, the danger they pose when ingested by a cat (stomach upset) is not as bad as some other common holiday plants, such as mistletoe, pine tree needles, amaryllis lilies, red azaleas and paperwhites. If your client has festive plants, make sure they are somewhere a cat won’t be tempted to chew on them. If you are unsure if a plant is poisonous, or are concerned that your cat may have eaten something dangerous, have your client call you or the ASPCA’s animal poison control center (888-426-4435) for more information.

4. Candles—A cat probably isn’t going to be too intrigued by the candle itself, but a wayward swishing tail can easily knock a candle over, causing a host of problems. Clients should candles out of reach, and make sure they stay vigilant around lit candles. The last thing they need over the holidays is an injured cat or fire damage to their home.

5. Holiday foods—While it may be tempting to give a cat just a nibble of turkey or other holiday food, encourage your clients to resist the urge. Rich foods can upset a cat’s digestive system, which could produce unpleasant effects. Also, cats should never be given any type of bone, as they can splinter and cause internal injuries to a cat.

6. Stress—Cats like routine and predictability, so when their schedules or environments change, they can become upset. If your client is planning on having holiday guests and their cat isn’t used to entertaining, create a safe, quiet space away from the action where the cat can have some peace and quiet. Dr. Brunt, CATalyst Council’s executive director and a feline veterinarian for more than 20 years, adds, "Be sure to have food, water and a litter box available in this secluded area so your cat can be comfortable away from your gathering."

7. Tinsel—Like ribbon, tinsel is almost irresistible to cats and, if ingested, it can require surgery to extract. Which would your client rather live without: tinsel or a night at the veterinary emergency clinic?

8. Cats given as gifts— Every companion animal deserves a home where it will be wanted and well taken care of. Shelters nationwide report an uptick in new arrivals right after the holidays, when people surrender the "gift pet" that they may not have wanted.

9. Christmas tree water—The water that keeps a tree fresh is frequently treated with chemicals that can make cats sick. Be sure that cats can’t access the tree water.

10. Travel dangers—If your client is traveling with their cat during the holidays, be sure that their cat is properly secured in a carrier and that he or she has adequate identification, including a microchip. That way, if they get separated, their cat has a way to be reunited with them. Also, prior to leaving home, encourage your client to find contact information for a veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian in the area they’re visiting, so that, if their cat gets injured or becomes ill, they know where to go to get their cat the care and attention it requires.

Kitten Weaning by Mom Naturally and Continue to Feed Past Six Weeks

This is why we didn't let our kittens be adopted until they were 12 weeks old and argued AGAINST them being removed from their mother at 8 wks. (Of course, only two eventually left the house at 12 wks.) I had read many articles about kitten growth and read that 12 weeks should be more standard and that 6 weeks is only based on when kittens begin to start eating and that kittens are not done growing and learning from mom at 6 weeks.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170915165217.htm

"Early weaning increases aggression and stereotypic behavior in cats. Based on the study, the recommended weaning age of 12 weeks should be raised by at least two weeks. Delaying weaning is an easy and cost-efficient way of improving the quality of life of cats."

Taking Care of Senior Cats

One day you have a kitten; six years later and it's now a "Senior"; ten years later and it's considered "OLD"!  Meanwhile, the cat may be running around acting still very much like a kitten. There is a lot to be aware of as a cat ages; and a lot more to prevent.

Here's an article about taking care of a senior pet. It suggests monitoring weight and getting the cat to lose weight; monitoring activity levels; and watching for signs of physical changes. 


https://catfriendly.com/cat-care-at-home/senior-care/10-tips/#.WdvSSgkrIAA.facebook

It's Getting Cold Outside-Keep HCM Cats Warm and Indoors

As a reminder: it's getting cold in the world, in general, at this time of year. Keep your HCM cats indoors, keep them out of cold windows and drafts, keep their rooms well heated. Stress causes congestion, and fighting to stay warm causes stress on the body. 

Glaucoma in Cats-How to Tell If Your Cat's Eye Pressure is Increasing

There are many illnesses that are difficult for pet owners to assess in cats because our cats can't tell us how they are feeling. We can only watch and observe for changes in behavior and those looks on their faces or in their actions that say "I'm not doing well." One disease is glaucoma. Unlike other diseases that cause the eye to produce goop (herpes), or appear to be red and bloody (uveitis), or make the second lid appear (injury, other diseases), glaucoma may be impossible to detect at home. Your cat may paw extensively at the eye; may shake its head. Blood veins may appear pronounced as the disease in the eye is at its worst. The pupil may become dilated or fixed, not contracting as much as the other eye. But really-that could be anything. If you find your cat pawing at the eye, shaking its head, and especially if you do find goop running out, bloody eye, second lid coming down, take your cat to the vet. Your vet can check pressures, and put in drops to lower pressure. The cat would need drugs for the rest of its life to keep pressures low. Your cat doesn't have all of the same options humans have of various surgical techniques to lower pressure but some techniques can be deployed (including lens replacement which is what is done for cataract surgery.) Many cats face having eyes removed. Untreated glaucoma-for pets and humans-can lead to optic nerve damage and loss of vision. The increase in pressure will also make the cat sick-just as with humans-vomiting, dizziness, lack of eating, etc.

It may not be a bad idea to have pressures tested in your cat once a year or anytime you feel the cat is troubled by an eye. 

None of our cats have glaucoma but we know humans who do and it can be difficult for humans to detect it in themselves-even if they have annual eye exams-as the symptoms for them appeared as headaches, spotty vision when they bent over and came up again, etc.-signs they and their doctor thought were simply related to sinus trouble. Until it wasn't. 

More links:
(Cornell)
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/…/Health_Information/glaucoma.cfm

https://www.petassure.com/…/051510new…/05152010article1.html

(2011 study)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3348181/

(2017 article)
https://canna-pet.com/glaucoma-cats-causes-signs-treatment/

This is separate from cataracts which will appear as a white or milky cover over the cat's eye as it grows.

Cataracts in Cats

Cataracts are not life threatening but can be the result of an injury to the cat's eye which may be life or vision threatening. Cataracts themselves cause a loss of vision. Cataracts-as in humans-will appear as a white or milky white spot that grows over the eye. Healthy cats may have surgery to remove the lens and have a fake one replaced. There may be drops that will be used. If you see a white glaze forming over the cat's eye, or if the cat seems to be pawing at the eye, or if you see goop running off, or any other changes to the appearance of the eye, the cat should see the vet as soon as possible to address the issue.

None of our cats have cataracts so far. 

More links:

http://www.petwave.com/Cats/Health/Cataracts/Treatment.aspx

https://canna-pet.com/understanding-cataracts-cats/

http://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/cataracts-in-cats

Atenolol Drug Shortage-You May Need a Compounding Pharmacy

There is a drug shortage for Atenolol, a very important medication. Atenolol is often prescribed for HCM cats. It works to lower the heart rate and blood pressure by working on the heart muscle. It is vitally important that the heart rate and blood pressure come under control for an HCM cat. Most cats with HCM have a high heart rate. A damaged heart should not be overworked and stressed. Lowering the heart rate also helps to lower blood pressure, although Atenolol is only one drug that the cat might need to lower blood pressure. 

Our vet cardio released this statement:

"Some of you may already be aware that there is a nationwide shortage of this medication due to a production issue. Many pharmacies are running low, which is becoming an issue for our cardiac patients who are receiving it.

There are a couple of options:
1) Continue calling around to pharmacies in your area since some pharmacies still have it in stock.
2) Get it compounded at a specialty compounding pharmacy. We prefer to use Wedgewood for our compounding needs. Atenolol can be made into tablets, capsules or liquid suspension. See the link below for more info..."

If you or your vet are unable to find Atenolol locally, here are two reputable pharmacies you can try:

http://www.wedgewoodpetrx.com/search/atenolol.html

https://www.roadrunnerpharmacy.com/

Also, Google "compounding pharmacy" for your area. You may find one locally. Your vet would call in a script for them to fill. 

Protect Wires and Stop Cats From Chewing By Using Various Items

I'm using various items to protect wires and cords throughout the house from the one cat in the house-Roxanne-that likes to chew on them when she's anxious. I ordered the black coiled wire covers from Amazon to cover all cords and wires. It comes in different width sizes. My husband ordered the Power ADD metal phone cord from Amazon. They also sell laptop cords. It's supposed to be chew proof. Let's hope.

There are various types of materials one can find at Amazon (and other online sites) to protect pets from chewing. Simply do a word search at Amazon or Google for cord protectors or chew proof cords.

Here are the links:
Coil cord: https://www.amazon.com/…/B00…/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00…

Power ADD cord: https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Lightning-3-…/…/ref=sr_1_7…

Bette Develops Diarrhea Due to Antibiotics; Problem Resolved with Sweet Potato

Bette is doing much better (see September 7 post.) She has developed diarrhea since Monday after a few days on the antibiotic. She is already getting Forta Flora in her food. I have added a teaspoon of baby sweet potato and that seems to have helped firm up her stool enough. For diarrhea, as long as it is not more than once a day-sweet potato, mashed banana, rice, rice water-are good home remedies. Add these to the food or give by mouth with a syringe if using baby sweet potato/banana. Forta Flora mixed into the food adds a probiotic which is suppose to help make a better gastro system (this is a really good product to use for any cat even if there are no gastro issues.) Had it been watery and or constant-more than once a day-these methods and maybe anti-nausea, anti-diarrhea medication from the vet, or IV fluids from the vet (to replace lost fluids) would help firm up the stool. There was a time when Kaopectate could be used safely (do not use Pepto Bismol) but I've since read that the formula changed and can be deadly for pets. The products have an aspirin related product which is toxic or can be if given in large or frequent doses. It's due to how a cat's body processes the aspirin. (And HCM cats may already be on aspirin for blood thinning therapy.) And some vets may not be aware of the change in Kaopectate. Be wary of any online/store anti-diarrhea medication. Check the ingredients to make sure the list does not include salicylates or bismuth subsalicylates.

Here's a Cornell University vet link about diarrhea:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/…/Health_Information/diarrhea.cfm

(From the link below:)
"Bismuth subsalicylate is the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol. Aspirin is also known as acetylsalicylate. In other words, both kaopectate and Pepto-Bismol contain aspirin derivatives...salicylate itself can cause toxicity, which is a special problem in cats, who clear the drug from their systems very slowly. This makes them susceptible to buildup of the drug to toxic levels...can interfere with other drugs that are commonly administered to pets. These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Rimadyl, Metacam, and Deramaxx as well as steroids such as prednisolone, prednisone, and dexamethasone...dogs also can suffer toxicity. Of significant concern is the risk of seemingly paradoxical exacerbation of gastrointestinal signs for which Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate might used, since salicylates can cause upset stomach in both dogs and cats."

Does Pepto-Bismol Work for Cats and Dogs? | Catster

A few weeks ago, a client at the emergency clinic where I work mentioned that she frequently gave her cat Pepto-Bismol to prevent gastrointestinal upset....

CATSTER.COM

Bette Going Out of the Box and Vomiting Up Clavamox; Replenishing Lost Electrolytes

Bette became very ill last night after seeing the vet and I almost took her to the ER but was able to resolve it at home. Bette's been going out of the box on occasion this summer. But she's gone out of the box seven times since the beginning of August, four of them in the last week and a half. And this weekend, she was sleeping a lot but with a tired look on her face. And she's not been eating as much-although she's not lost weight. Due to her cystitis, whenever she eats cat food she shouldn't eat, she has bladder issues and goes out of the box. And it's hard to keep her out of other cats' food when we are feeding six of them at the same time, even if two are in another room. And usually, I give Methigel to acidify her urine, going on the assumption that it's not acidic enough, that the pH is off, that her bladder could be irritated, and that she may have crystals (having been prone to them when younger.) And we have increased her valium as needed in the past. But Methigel, a bit more Valium, and keeping her out of the other food, didn't lead to any changes in behavior. So, then I wondered if the cats were fighting overnight when she used the litterbox, something Jimmy is prone to do when he's in a mood. We actually bought a camera this summer (a post from June or July) to put in the laundry room because that's where she keeps going. We have pads covering the washer and dryer which she targets. (This has been going on since 2010 when a few of the cats got the idea to use the washer and dryer as a litterbox. Because it's cool to the touch? Now it's just Bette.)

So, we saw the vet yesterday. Her urine showed high WBC so that shows an infection. There were no crystals. Still waiting on blood work to see if there are any other issues. Scan looked fine. But when the vet palpated the bladder area, Bette winced and tightened up. That's an indication that the area is uncomfortable. They drew the urine via needle with the scan and drew blood. But when it came time to give sub-q fluids, she revolted and bucked like a horse and tried to bite the vet techs. They couldn't control her. I heard the commotion and went to the back room and tried to assist. That didn't change her. So, I suggested we go back to the exam room which for some reason, maybe because it's smaller, calms the cats when they are upset. And yes, Bette was quieter. But I also held her. I wrapped the towel around her front; they put a hard collar on around her head; and I wrapped my arms and body around her and held her tight. She couldn't move when they put the needle in for the fluids. And she gave up trying to move. The vet prescribed Clavamox liquid as the antibiotic.

When we got home, she ate and I gave her Clavamox. But them vomited up almost immediately. Then slept. Then when we gave her valium in the evening, she vomited that up. Then I gave her Cerenia to quiet the vomiting and she vomited that up. Each time it sounded as if she were choking. It's a horrible sound for such small amounts of fluid that she gave up. At 10 p.m. we tried the Clavamox again. She then spent the next hour and a half vomiting up small and large amounts of fluid. By this time, she was not moving, was only sleeping, and refused to eat. The Clavamox also made her foam so much that there is no way she was keeping any of it down.

So, I don't know if the vomiting was caused by the Clavamox but I do know that once they begin to vomit, they can continue just because their gastro systems become upset. And the more they vomit, the more electrolytes they lose. And the more of those they lose, the more they may continue to vomit. So, I gave her 9mls of water by mouth at 1 a.m. and she kept it down. Then I made up sugar water (usually corn syrup but I was out and used maple syrup mixed with water.) I added a pinch of salt to the sugar water (sodium and glucose are electrolytes) and gave her 6mls. She kept it down. We went to bed. She got me up at 4 a.m. and seemed to want to eat. So I gave her some food. She ate. I gave 6mls of water, and 3mls of sugar water. She kept it all down. She ate again at 9 a.m.. I gave her valium and Clavamox at 9:30 and she kept it down. And I gave more water and sugar water. I chased the Clavamox with sugar water which decreased the foaming.

So, she has kept it down all day and she's up and almost normal in disposition. Which is good. But we will change the antibiotic since Clavamox makes her foam too much and might be the reason for the gastro upset.

From experience I know that a cat cannot go too long-as in hours-without replenishing the lost electrolytes from vomiting; and that sugar water is a good source of energy when a cat is not eating. Giving her water, sugar and salt helped to replace a bit of what was lost and helped her regain some strength and ability to feel better and to eat. Had she continued to vomit last night, I would have gone to the ER where she would have been given sub-q fluids with electrolytes and possibly an anti-nausea shot which some cats have received before. Had she vomited today after Clavamox, I would have gone to the vet or ER and she likely would have received the same treatment.

So, so far she's on the mend. As for the infection, we are awaiting blood results. We will do antibiotics for 14 days and then retest the urine and she how she seems to respond to the exam. And then monitor going forward.

Brush Cat's Teeth-A Guide to the Inside of the Mouth

If your cat’s bad breath keeps the two of you from snuggling or you wish you could give your dog a mint, it could be the first sign that he has dental disease, a painful condition caused by bacteria infecting his gums and teeth. What’s even worse, it can lead to serious health issues as infection spreads throughout the body.

https://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/aaha_guidelines/dental_care_guidelines.aspx

Don't Declaw a Cat

Declawing cats is torture and unnecessary harm to cats. It should be banned.

"Declawing is an amputation. It removes part of the cat's toe bones along with the nail. "

http://www.npr.org/2017/02/16/515036397/a-declaw-law-veterinarians-divided-over-n-j-cat-claw-bill?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20170217

Kedi-The Movie

In March, we saw the film "Kedi" about the lives of cats in Instanbul. Kedi is cat in Turkish. There are thousands of cats that live on the streets in Instanbul and elsewhere in Turkey. It's supposed to be a sweet, cute cat picture that also somewhat discusses their issues of living on the streets. I found it difficult to watch knowing that in general, they were mostly orphaned, many depending on humans to feed their colonies; many dying of disease (cancer is mentioned); seeing poor, abandoned, sick kittens or poor kittens with their mother at the mercy of the elements. We see one poor almost dead kitten that a male cat had beaten up. There was no mention of spay/neuter, catch/release programs; no mention of vaccines against rabies and such; no mention of fleas that must be rampant or the need to control; or the smell of waste that must be everywhere (cats will urinate against anything for sure but there's a lack of dirt in the city [which is mentioned] for them to deposit waste.) The cats originally came from ships that docked in Instanbul from around the world and the population grew unchecked over hundreds of years. There are a few cats with distinct personalities that are mentioned and followed. The filming is unique. It's at the ground level and follows the cats, somehow into the holes and hideaways where they exist. We also hear from the many humans that interact with the specific cats and others who feed colonies. It is worth watching so do see it if you can or Netflix, Hulu, etc.

Don't Let Pets Eat Motrin, Ibuprophen, Aleve, etc.; Don't Let Cream Meds Transfer from You to Pets

The article is from 2015 but a good reminder. Do not allow your meds to be transferred from you by touch, to your pets. Creams are easily transferred if we do not wash the product off of our hands completely; or if you need it on your hands, maybe wear plastic gloves if you must touch your pets or their food. And do not give your meds to pets without asking the vet first. It is likely that if your pet needs a med, the vet will prescribe one. Even if it is a human brand, the amount a pet will need, or how it is dispensed, may be different from the human version. And if you drop a pill of yours, prescription or over the counter, find it and do not let the pets lick or eat it. Ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve, etc. are deadly to pets in human amounts. 

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/04/20/400994162/humans-use-of-pain-relief-creams-proves-fatal-to-felines?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=morningedition&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20150421

Prevent Heartworm-a Killer Condition-Use All Around Flea/Tick/Mosquito/Heartworm Protection

We use "Revolution" which stops ticks, fleas, heartworm, etc. Some owners use, along with flea preventative, additional heartworm medication which isn't necessary with Revolution. 



https://www.facebook.com/heartwormsociety/photos/a.10150170475710713.412298.238333230712/10158929760705713/?type=3

Annual Exams-What the Vet Does, Should Do, What to Expect

I would add getting heart echos. Should be part of the protocol.

http://catfriendly.com/keep-your-cat-healthy/veterinary-care/veterinarian-looks-exams/

Whisker Fatigue Is Ruled a Thing That Can Keep Cats from Eating

Cat not eating? Could be whisker fatigue?? We already use mostly saucers so ours shouldn't have fatigue. But who knows.

"As soon as she replaced Moon’s dish with a wide, shallow one that did not have rims or sides that brushed against his sensitive whiskers, both Moon and her other cat, Rupert, were much happier at mealtimes. Their chin acne, another common problem in cats, also cleared up...Whisker fatigue is a fairly new diagnosis, one that many (but not all) veterinarians take seriously. When cats have to stick their faces into deep bowls and their whiskers rub up against the sides, the experience can be stressful, prompting them to paw the food onto the floor, fight with other cats or grow apprehensive at mealtimes...(a type of bowl discussed) They are made of stainless steel, which — unlike plastic — will not harbor the bacteria that can lead to chin acne...“that repeated stress isn’t giving the cat any additional information.” He added, “We don’t want them to have associations of stress while eating.”...Often, a regular plate will work just fine as an antidote to whisker fatigue, according to many cat owners."

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/05/well/family/feline-food-issues-whisker-fatigue-may-be-to-blame.html?smid=fb-share&_r=1

Safe Outdoor Cat Tent

We bought this from Amazon and have used it this week. Cats are getting used to it but they are calmer in it than the round nylon/mesh extra large pet tent I bought last summer. The mesh is small enough to keep out all bugs. Light weight enough to move around. Nothing to put together. Just push and pull until it snaps into place-slightly difficult but not prohibitive. Tall enough that they mustn't feel confined since they are calm. I put it in the shade on the grass during the day (I stay in the yard and garden but don't feel that I can leave them alone.) Then I put it on the deck at night so that the skunks don't get near it. Need to buy tent stakes which unfortunately don't come with it. But I have long metal stakes I can use. Be careful-there is another one that is similar (both are sold at Amazon and other online sites) but the mesh is larger and bugs get through.

https://www.amazon.com/FrontPet-Cat-Tent-Portable-Bringing/dp/B01N55U9GF/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497369266&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=cat+tent&psc=1

Be Wary of Constant Diarrhea and Vomiting-Possible Signs of Larger Issues; How to Combat

Cat vomiting or has diarrhea? If your HCM cat has become a chronic vomiter, (or has chronic diarrhea) it is potentially a bad sign of further heart failure, which has led to a decline in kidney function, which has allowed toxins to build up in the body. Or it could be a medication, or a clot, or too much or too little of an electrolyte (sodium, potassium are key). Supporting the kidneys is key. Giving your cat an overall vitamin, additional potassium, vitamin E, C, and iron will help support kidney function. Using Cerenia to combat nausea, and Zantac or other stomach acid calming medications, will ease the stress (discuss with your vet what is available and what is best, safe, and how much to use.) Combating diarrhea (another symptom of heart/kidney failure or of too much fiber or too much/too little of sodium or potassium) will help your cat eat, maintain weight, and maintain balanced electrolytes (which are depleted with chronic vomiting and diarrhea.) "Natural" ways to combat diarrhea are rice, rice water, banana, sweet potato mashed and put into food. Rice water can be given by mouth or added to food. You could use the baby food versions of banana and sweet potato (if they are plain) and add to food or cut with a bit of water and give by mouth; or cut canned sweet potato with water and give by mouth or add to food. These are all good binding agents. Baking soda will calm stomach acid but cats are not fond of it. (Is anyone?)

It's a see-saw: too little or too much potassium can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Too little hydration due to lasix (because we want to get rid of excess body fluid) will, also because with dehydration comes depletion of electrolytes.
One day you must give a potassium supplement, fiber, and water by mouth; suddenly the next day you find the cat is sick and you must skip the potassium, fiber, and water by mouth. Your cat may need stomach calming meds (listed above) for days; then suddenly seem fine for another week until it begins all over again. We went through this with Myrna in her last weeks.

Remember to always make sure your cat eats enough each day to maintain a decent weight. Cats that do not eat all day will be too run down to begin eating on their own again. Always give some water, tuna juice, plain meat broth, and sugar water (1/8 tsp per 3 oz of water mixed well-less if the cat is diabetic or has greatly lost kidney function) by mouth of 6-9oz four times a day until the cat begins eating enough on its own.

Here are three links to websites with more information.

http://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx…

http://www.felinecrf.org/nausea_vomiting_stomach_acid.htm…

http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/11-guidelines-conserva…

Hot Weather Keep HCM Cats Cool

So of course, it's summer and it's been hot. Not too humid thank goodness but our cats are living in the literal shadows of the house and in the basement where it is cooler (we lack central AC.) We are running fans, closing blinds, and running our portable AC units (they exhaust outside through a window without having to remove the window screen and they remove some humidity.) Remember, keep your HCM cat cool but not too cold, and run dehumidifiers to decrease heat and humidity (our house gets humid and sticky in areas not cooled or cooled enough by the portable AC units.) Any humidity makes breathing difficult for HCM cats and can lead to congestion (either through the dampness of humidity or the stress of breathing.) Keep cats out of windows-either because of sun or humidity-even at night when it's humid. Get portable temperature and humidity readers that run on batteries and can be found for under $15.00 (similar to the one linked here-but I'm not recommending this one or this site specifically.) You can place them in windows or rooms to tell you what is the temperature or humidity level and keep your cats out of that area as needed. I recommend running AC at 70-72. Any colder, and HCM cats can still be stressed and congestion may occur.

Remember to count the breathing of your cat to determine if they are having congestion (CHF) and need extra lasix or need a trip to the ER vet: one up and down chest movement at rest is one count. How many of those in 15 seconds? (Times by four to get a minute count.) 6/15 is normal. 8-10/15 may be signs of congestion. Count, wait 2-3 min. and count again. If the cat appears stressed, and after five minutes, has not improved (unless the cat is running or watching birds) then give an extra 5mg of lasix. If the cat has not improved in 15-20 min. or appears to get worse, take the cat to the vet. This applies to all times and all situations, not just summer.

Katharine Sees Cardiologist and Baby Loses Her Voice

Katharine saw the cardiologist for her annual check-up on Thursday and she is perfectly fine. No changes from last year. She has had a murmur; and she's Myrna's sister. But so far, so good. No heart disease in any of the siblings.

For whatever reason, Baby has somewhat lost her voice. For the past two weeks, she has occasionally squeaked or cried out a croak. Then last weekend, I thought it was permanent. I monitored her this week and found it was constant. Yesterday, she saw the vet. Nothing is wrong with her mouth or throat that they can see. In order to see anything further down into her throat or see her vocal cords, requires anesthesia and a scope. The vet believes that would be the next step if what she prescribed does not work. Her general health appeared fine upon exam. There was some upper airway noises (upper airway is not considered CHF.) But she is breathing well and eating so the assumption is that there is nothing stuck in the throat. For now, the vet is going on the assumption she has an infection-viral or bacterial-and prescribed twice a day doxycycline, an antibiotic in liquid form. Did she make any sounds at the vet? No, of course not. Not when I turned her on her back; not when I played with her tail; and not when I rubbed her tummy. She did shoot me looks that said "I'll get you later." So, once we were home and I removed her from the crate to give her the antibiotic, she croaked as loudly as possible in defiance. Then she bit me and drew blood. Sigh.

Jimmy Stewart and Roxanne See the Cardiologist June 2017

Jimmy Stewart and Roxanne saw the cardiologist today.

Jimmy was last seen in 2014, a checkup prior to having dental surgery to check his heart to see if he could have surgery.  He was fine then and he is fine now. Since he has been ill recently and seems to have trouble keeping on weight, it was a good time to have a recheck and rule out any heart issues.
Luckily, there are none.

Roxanne will continue to see the cardiologist annually to monitor her heart. She saw the cardiologist last October and the cardiologist saw some mild spots of thickening in the left vent. Those spots are still there but have not changed nor have any new spots of thickened areas emerged. We will continue to monitor her heart and her overall health and watch for symptoms. For now, all is normal.

They were both really good at the vet. Roxanne, despite giving her Cerenia (which helps combat motion sickness and vomiting) at noon-about 20 min. before we left-vomited in the car after being in the car for 15 min. The car ride was 35 min. She did not vomit coming home. Jimmy only hissed at the technician a couple of times but his hisses are never really loud or threatening. Unless he's really mad.

Here are the vet's notes:

"Roxanne's echocardiogram is unchanged in comparison to her initisal study...mild thickening of a cople of regions in her left ventricle...likely unrelated to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy given the lack of progression..."

For Jimmy-the good news is that his blood pressure is normal at 118. It was 150 at the regular vet's back in April when he was sick. 

Jimmy Is Sick Again This Month

immy presented this morning with diarrhea with blood and vomiting.

He was sick a month ago with blood in diarrhea and some vomiting and lethargy and poorly eating, and some weight loss (minor) which I posted back on April 11, 2017. Home treatment calmed the diarrhea but he was still lethargic so he saw the vet. His Cobalamin fasting and Folate fasting and Pancreatic Lipase tests were normal (no sign of pancreatitis; good absorption of nutrients, etc.) Blood work CBC/chem panel had questions but no definitive answers. He had high cholesterol; normal but edging up fructosamine test (for diabetes); high albumin; proteinuria of 30 in his urine. Diabetes? Cancer? Organ inflammation (like pancreatitis)? Kidney disease? Poor adrenal gland? Albumin is related to kidneys or dehydration. For cats it's typically dehydration but in humans, failing kidneys causes high level of albumin to be in the blood stream. High proteinuria means poorly functioning kidneys. Or it's a matter of how the urine was drawn with a needle. Vet had no concerns and said let's monitor and do a scan.

Next step was an ultrasound which he had Tuesday. They also took his weight. He dropped 11 oz in a month despite eating well and three times a day. What's the cause if he's eating as much as usual and if his Cobalamin and Folate tests were normal? The ultrasound showed no issues with heart, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, gall bladder, kidneys, or bladder. Again, vet said monitor.

Then today, we woke to find him sick with vomiting and diarrhea and blood in the stool. We scooped out samples; called the vet; and I took him in. They gave sub q fluids, a shot of Cerenia (calms stomachs after vomiting and helps cats feel better) and by the time we got home he was much better and has been eating. He is to take antibiotic Zeniquin for 30 days to cure any gastro issues. He is to eat a non-fish based food and we might try a hypoallergenic food. The vet thinks it may be a food allergy, including the weight loss but that there may be bacteria in the gastro system. For now I will stop all supplements except lysine and potassium just in case any are causing weight loss (however, he's been on them about a year with no issues.)

Jimmy at the vet

I think it's the herpes virus trying to come back stronger. When he was initially sick in 2009-2010 before we got it under control (with lysine and Forta Flora and vet trips every two months or so when he was too sick for home treatments) the virus would hit on schedule each month at the same time. It comes back under stress but there wasn't stress that we know of in March or early April. I think the virus has been appearing and I didn't take it seriously. He has had black discharge from his eyes-very slight-but it has always been a sign of the virus. While I've given him extra lysine, perhaps it was not enough. Perhaps he should have had antibiotics in April. Perhaps he had bacteria in his system that gets active with herpes or stress. Who knows. When he was given antibiotics in 2009-10 to fight the attacks, he presented with vomiting, diarrhea and a fever. No fever this time. But with blood in the stool, the belief is there might be bacteria. Luckily, stool samples were free of worms-hook, round, and something else (but not tapeworm: those you see from the rear not in the stool sample.)

And Jimmy is a sensitive boy. He was the one hit hardest and hit first with the herpes virus as he was the first sibling to be spayed/neutered (neutered of course.) He reacts strongly to smells and stress and changes and viruses and bacteria.

For now he is secluded where I can monitor if he's eating or has diarrhea and can seclude him from the other cats. I'll keep him secluded today and maybe tomorrow. I'll give him some rice water later to help bind up the stool.

And I researched glycerin (April 21, 2017 Facebook post) which is used in Jimmy's prozac. It has carbs-not good for prediabetic, diabetic cats. 1 gram of glycerin has 1 gram of carb. He receives one tenth of glycerin per dose so only one tenth of a carb. No need to change his medication.

New Drug Might Decrease Effects of HCM

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0168407

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/351/6273/617

New drug might help cats with HCM: "The novel drug, MYK-461, proved effective in a study of five cats with a naturally occurring form of inherited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)...eliminated left ventricular obstruction in five cats with HCM...MYK-461 was already shown to stop the thickening of the ventricle walls in mice."

Here's the paper about the new trial drug discovered for the treatment of HCM. Understand the drug treats obstruction, not something all HCM cats have; and it may not decrease the progression of the disease, just some physical issues of the disease. But only time will tell. Keep an eye on this drug. Let me know if you read more about future developments. I'll try to stay aware of it. "Treatment with MYK-461 reduced contractility, eliminated systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve and relieved LVOT pressure gradients in an exposure-dependent manner. Our findings provide proof of principle that acute reduction in contractility with MYK-461 is sufficient to relieve LVOT obstruction. Further, these studies suggest that feline HCM will be a valuable translational model for the study of disease pathology, particularly LVOT obstruction."