Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each and every Monday we deliver skilled recommendation instantly from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to lend a hand our readers higher perceive their cat’s well being and well-being.
Whether or not you’re a brand new puppy father or mother or a seasoned cat lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply solutions for your maximum urgent questions. From diet pointers and preventive care to troubleshooting commonplace behavioral problems, Dr. Paola is able to be offering insights that may stay your kitty satisfied, wholesome, and pussycat high-quality. Keep tuned for skilled steering on a spread of subjects that topic maximum to you and your cat, so you’ll be able to make knowledgeable choices and give you the highest imaginable take care of your hairy better half.
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Lend a hand! My Hepper Helps to keep Sneezing!
“Expensive Dr. Paola,
I followed Maggie (a Lynx Level Siamese) from a safe haven. She was once indexed as a stray, 4 to six years previous. She’s a fantastic cat, however this summer time (my first summer time together with her), she has began sneezing. Most commonly 1 sneeze at a time, however others as much as 4 to five instances in a row. She has transparent eye discharge, so I took her to a vet who by no means informed me what was once unsuitable however gave her a steroid injection. For two to a few days, Maggie was once out of it. She didn’t devour or drink a lot and slept always. All somewhat atypical for her. I known as the vet, and their reaction was once “she is mad since you introduced her to the vet.”
I don’t assume that’s it. Her sneezing stopped, and her eye discharge disappeared. It’s been about 8 weeks because the injection, and the sneezing is beginning up once more. Do you’ve got any tips of what I must have her checked for? ” – Bev
Hello Bev,
Thanks for giving Maggie the sort of loving house. From what you describe, her sneezing with transparent eye discharge is maximum regularly related to pussycat higher breathing infections, most often viral in nature. Cats which have been in shelters are recurrently uncovered to herpesvirus or calicivirus, and those could cause recurrent flare-ups, particularly right through instances of rigidity or seasonal trade. Environmental irritants comparable to mud or pollen too can play a job, however the ordinary development you realize makes a viral motive much more likely.
What actually sticks out is Maggie’s response after the steroid injection. Steroids are now and again used to lower irritation, however they may be able to additionally suppress the immune gadget. In a cat wearing a breathing virus, that may if truth be told make restoration tougher. Conventional momentary unwanted effects come with greater thirst or urge for food, however going off meals and water for 2 to a few days isn’t a commonplace or anticipated reaction. This means the medicine didn’t believe her and is essential to notice for long term care, as different remedy choices is also more secure for her.
Since her sneezing has returned, I like to recommend an intensive exam. A veterinarian can assess her nasal passages, eyes, and oral hollow space, and would possibly run exams comparable to a breathing PCR panel to substantiate if she is a service of herpesvirus or calicivirus. Tracking her urge for food and effort carefully can even mean you can know when intervention is pressing. If she ever stops consuming once more or develops coloured discharge, she must be observed promptly. It can be a good suggestion to discover a new veterinarian that you are feeling happy with, as nicely. Please supply them with all of Maggie’s earlier well being historical past to verify she will get the most secure remedy.
I’m hoping this is helping!
Dr. Paola
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Can I Give My Hepper Ice Cream?
“Is a small amount of ice cream bad for my cat, Callie?” – Barbara
Hello Barbara,
Whilst a small lick of ice cream isn’t more likely to motive lasting hurt, it’s not a secure or wholesome deal with for Callie. Maximum cats are lactose illiberal as adults, this means that that even small quantities of dairy may end up in digestive disenchanted comparable to diarrhea, fuel, or abdomen discomfort. Ice cream additionally accommodates sugar and fats that cats don’t have, and in some instances, synthetic sweeteners or added flavorings, comparable to chocolate, will also be unhealthy.
Since cats should not have style receptors for sweetness, they don’t if truth be told experience ice cream for the sugar however somewhat for the fats and creaminess. A more secure method to deal with Callie is to provide specifically formulated cat treats or a small little bit of simple cooked hen or fish. If you need one thing cool on a heat day, you’ll be able to even freeze slightly of cat milk and even cat-safe broth cooked with out onion, garlic, or added spices into ice dice trays and let her lick or bat them round for enrichment. You could even need to take a look at out such a 5 Do-it-yourself Hepper Ice Cream Recipes. This manner, she enjoys a amusing and secure selection with out risking tummy disenchanted.
Bon appétit!
– Dr. Paola
Lend a hand! My Hepper Received’t Pee in her Clutter field!
“Expensive Dr. Paola,
Bella gained’t pee in her clutter field. She is going to pee in different places, like on pee
mats or by way of doorways. What are we able to do?” – Robert
Hello Robert,
Thanks for achieving out about Bella. When a cat stops the use of the clutter field, the first actual step is to ensure there is not any scientific factor at play. Urinary tract infections, bladder irritation (pussycat idiopathic cystitis), crystals, or stones can all motive a cat to keep away from the field as a result of they affiliate it with ache. A veterinary take a look at, together with a urinalysis, is one of the best ways to rule this out prior to assuming it’s purely behavioral.
If Bella is medically wholesome, then the focal point shifts to her surroundings. Cats are very explicit, and such things as the kind of clutter, the cleanliness of the field, its location, and even family rigidity can affect their alternatives. Since she is the use of mats or going close to doorways, it suggests she desires a distinct substrate or is marking spaces related to territory. Providing a couple of bins in quiet spaces, experimenting with unscented fine-grain litters, and cleansing injuries with an enzymatic cleaner could make a large distinction. If rigidity is a part of the image, artificial pheromone diffusers and keeping up predictable routines regularly lend a hand cats really feel extra safe.
As a result of irrelevant urination has many imaginable reasons, a veterinary analysis is very important to steer the following steps. As soon as well being issues are dominated out, addressing Bella’s personal tastes and stressors most often is helping deliver her again to constant clutter field use. For those who to find you want additional beef up together with her conduct at this level, give us a decision at Pangovet. We will supply personalised steering adapted to Bella’s surroundings and wishes.
Perfect,
Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
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