Quarterly Newsletter

Spring 2003

BLOCKED CATS

An imbalance in a cat's urinary pH (the level of acidity in the urine) can allow the formation of crystals which, in great enough quantity, can act like a plug in the exit to the bladder. This is commonly referred to as a urinary blockage.

We don't understand why, but we tend to see a higher amount of blockage cases in the spring than we do during the remainder of the year. If you notice your cat straining to urinate, or making more frequent trips to the litter box without seeming to leave anything behind, you may be dealing with a blocked cat or another urinary condition.

If your cat is diagnosed with a urinary blockage, there are various methods of treatment. Frequently, we need to sedate the cat and place a urinary catheter until the blockage is cleared. IV fluids to correct electrolyte imbalances are also important.

In some cats, blockages are a recurring problem. Most of the time, we can keep this condition under control with a change in diet, by giving them a food that adjusts the pH of their urine, preventing the crystals from forming. However, giving this food to cats with certain other health conditions can aggravate those conditions, so it is advised not to begin these diets without the advice of your pet's veterinarian.

ABSCESSES

Ah, spring. That glorious time of year when a young cat's fancy turns to love ... A time of courtship and of caterwauling, of cat fights and the inevitable abscesses. An abscess is a pocket of infection underneath the skin. They are usually caused by some sort of puncture wound, like a cat bite. Cat bites are notorious for causing infection because of the high amount of bacteria in a kitty's mouth.

Of course, abscesses are not limited to cat fights, any puncture wound has the potential to develop an infection. The quick healing ability of felines lets the skin close over the infection before the body has a chance to clear it out. With nowhere else to go, the dead cells build up, causing the pocket underneath the skin.

Whatever the cause, the best treatment is usually to drain the abscess and run a course of antibiotics. Occasionally, we will need to sedate the pet and place a drain to keep the wound open until the body's natural defenses can clear out the rest of the infection.

Since we cannot control our pet's movements every hour of the day, it is impossible to prevent every abscess from occurring. Having your pet spayed or neutered will reduce their propensity to roam, which will in turn reduce their exposure to circumstances where a potential abscess causing injury may occur.

FOXTAILS

Foxtails are a persistent problem that we see year after year. They are a plant seed with a long tail, usually wheat colored once the plant has dried. The end of the seed is very pointed. Covering the body of the seed are barbs that face backwards from the point.

While their physical construction is designed to assist the seed in moving from place to place, it is rather obnoxious for the pet involved. Once a foxtail is embedded in the skin, it is difficult, if not impossible, for the pet to remove the seed without assistance. The foxtail will continue to migrate through the body due to the muscle contractions in the surrounding tissue. Occasionally, we have to chase a foxtail for weeks, or even months before it comes to a head and we are able to remove it.

When dealing with foxtails, the best defense is a good offense. If there are foxtails in your area, or if your pet roams through areas that are not mowed down, check them daily or whenever they return from roaming for any plant passengers that they may have picked up. Common places for foxtails to hide are between the pads of the feet, in the ears, and even up the pet's nose. However, foxtails can worm their way in almost anywhere, and we have pulled them out of eyes, tails, abdomens, and probably any other place you could care to think of.

Signs to look for include general pain in an area, such as limping or licking at an area, excessive head shaking or sneezing, or signs of an abscess including swelling or draining sores. Because of their propensity to migrate, prompt treatment and removal is essential. This is especially true for foxtails in the ears or eyes, because these areas contain delicate membranes that could be permanently damaged if prompt action is not taken.