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Older cats have special health needs and may require more attention and care than younger kitties. The aging process varies between species - if you own a senior dog, your cat may not be considered a senior, even if they are the same age! You should consider your cat a senior around 10 years of age. As your cat ages, changes occur in his physical condition that warrant more frequent visits to the veterinarian. If medical problems are recognized and treated when they are first detected, the treatment may be easier for your cat and less costly for you. Twice-a-year wellness examinations are recommended in order to diagnose medical problems during the early stages.

A geriatric exam is more extensive than a simple check-up and includes a complete physical exam, oral and rectal examinations and a recording of body weight and body condition. The veterinarian will also examine your cat's ears, eyes and various internal organs. Some laboratory work may be done, including a complete blood count, urinalysis, fecal exam and perhaps endocrine blood tests and other complementary examinations. Establishing a base line is an added benefit and can ultimately help, should there be any changes, even small ones, to your cat's health.

As cats grow older, their organs may become less efficient and they may be less resistant to infections and other diseases. As a responsible cat owner, you want your cat to remain healthy and active for as long as possible. It is important to be aware of any condition that may warrant our attention.

General Tips for Your Aging Cat

Diet - There are several reasons why a special diet may be needed for an elderly cat. He or she may be less active than a younger kitty and, therefore, may require fewer calories. The digestive organs may become less efficient in digestion and absorption, and a highly digestible diet may be more appropriate. Phosphorus and protein content may need to be decreased if your cat has kidney problems. Under certain circumstances, the vitamin and mineral needs of an elderly cat may change as he or she ages. Some of the special senior feline diets have mineral and vitamin content carefully adjusted to help provide the appropriate balance for elderly pets, especially those with failing kidney or heart functions.

Joints - As your cat ages, joint pain and stiffness may develop. This may mean that your cat becomes less active and his or her energy level may decrease. Your cat may become tired more easily and want to nap more often. Muscle tone tends to reduce, which may further reduce your cat's ability to run, jump and climb. This decrease in muscle tone and exercise also contributes to the stiffening of joints.

Senses - Hearing, sight and smell can all become less acute with age and you may need to make allowances for these changes. Watch these changes. Unfortunately, hearing aids and contact lenses still have yet to be fit for cats! Be cognizant of indications of impaired sight, such as bumping into furniture, or loss of hearing, such as if your cat stops reacting to its name or familiar sounds. Eye infections, cataracts, decreased night vision, or even blindness is common; however, these can also be symptoms of a larger problem.

Dental - Older cats are more likely to develop tooth and gum conditions. If your cat has sore gums or loose teeth, he or she may be reluctant to eat, or it may cause food to drop out of his or her mouth. Gum disease not only leads to loss of teeth, but can also cause heart and kidney infections if bacteria enter the bloodstream through enflammed gums. Examine your cat's mouth regularly and ask us for advice if the teeth or gums do not look healthy.

Urinary - Urinary incontinence or inappropriate urination is common in an aging cat. Inappropriate urination may also be the result of a urinary tract disorder, prostate problem or symptomatic of a larger problem. Changes to your cat's litter or litter box location may also trigger urinary issues. Consult our veterinary staff if your cat suddenly becomes incontinent or begins to urinate more frequently.

Behavior - As your cat ages, his or her behavior may change significantly. You might interpret this as simple aging, but it actually might be due to a treatable geriatric disease like cognitive dysfunction. Some typical signs include confusion, disorientation, decreased activity, changes in the sleep/wake cycle, loss of litter box training, or signs which suggest a decrease in your cat's interest in, or ability to interact with, his or her environment or with you.

Kidneys - Excessive thirst and frequent or uncontrolled urination are often signs of kidney problems or diabetes. Since the kidneys process and eliminate waste products into the urine, it is important that these organs remain healthy. If your cat's kidneys are not functioning properly, your vet may recommend a diet specially designed for kidney problems. These diets contain a low phosphorus level, to slow down the progression of the disease, and a lower protein level to reduce the build up of harmful waste products in the blood.

Coat - As cats get older, their temperature sensitivity increases because their coats are often poor and not as resistant to temperature changes. Tolerance of cold temperatures and wet conditions decreases, and the need for a dry, draft-free, sleeping area is a priority. If your cat does go outside, do not leave him or her outside for long periods of time in cold or wet weather. In hot and humid weather, use air conditioning and/or fans to help keep your cat cool.

Grooming - Provide regular grooming. This helps to remove dead hair and prevent hair balls that may cause vomiting or intestinal impaction. Grooming also gives you a chance to inspect your cat for parasites, skin disorders and unusual lumps or lesions that may require our attention. Besides the health benefits, many older cats enjoy the extra physical contact!

Even if your cat seems perfectly healthy, regular geriatric check-ups are important to manage many of the changes associated with aging. Cats over seven years of age should have a veterinary examination twice a year. A complete geriatric health maintenance program can provide a means to target age-related health problems, institute preventive health care measures, and detect any disorders early enough to provide appropriate medical treatment. Cats can be the most rewarding when they reach middle or old age; they know you, have a special routine, and have spent years as a companion to you. Maintaining the health of your aging kitty is a part of your mutually beneficial relationship and can provide both of you with many more years of love and companionship.

Large-scale dog breeders - commonly referred to as "puppy mills" because of their ongoing breeding of puppies - have often been suspected of placing potential profits above the needs of animals. While their actions are monitored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), investigators have recently discovered that the agency responsible for regulating the breeders was not acting as swiftly as it should have when breeders violated laws.

In a report released by the USDA’s Office of the Inspector General, the enforcement process used by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Animal Care Unit was found to be ineffective against breeders who had violated the Animal Welfare Act. "The agency believed that compliance achieved through education and cooperation would result in long-term dealer compliance and, accordingly, it chose to take little or no enforcement action against most violators," the report stated.

Education, the report also found, was unfortunately not enough in most cases to stop breaches from occurring. On subsequent visits to 4,250 breeders who had been cited for violating the Animal Welfare Act, "inspectors found that 2,416 repeatedly violated AWA, including some that ignored minimum care standards," acknowledged the report.

Not enforcing the act may have had grave consequences for animals at facilities across the country. According to a May 25, 2010 Associated Press article on the subject, 27 dogs died at an Oklahoma breeding facility "after inspectors had visited the facility several times and cited it for violations." Adding to the problem, investigators also found, is the fact that inspectors often did not properly cite and document violations as they occurred, leading to less frequent inspections of problematic breeders.

Bringing these charges to light also brings the hope that things will change. USDA Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that the department will move quickly to refine the enforcement process, according to Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Both the HSUS and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) advise against buying a puppy from a puppy mill and advocate adoption instead. To learn more about how you can help fight puppy mills, visit www.hsus.org or www.aspca.org.

Abscesses in cats are serious conditions. Unlike abscesses in humans and dogs, for example, they function deep below the skin and like the legendary iceberg, this unseen portion does most of the damage. An abscess in a cat is not "just an abscess" as so many people offhandedly observe. It is a condition which requires medical attention and antibiotic therapy.

Despite the great natural resistance of cats to infection, abscesses are common and are caused by a break in the skin through which bacteria enter. All cats carry lethal bacteria in their mouths and these bacteria cause the vast majority of cat abscesses when they are left behind in a bite wound.

Bite wounds from fighting are the most common causes of cat abscesses. Young male cats often suffer from abscesses at the base of the tail. This location usually denotes a bite wound inflicted by a mature tomcat who has been defending his "territory" by attempting to bite off the testicles of inexperienced competitors. Mouth abscesses, especially in older cats, often come from lack of dental care.

Two Cats Fighting

The most common symptoms of an abscess are heat and swelling of the skin, at the site of the infection. The owner can usually feel a soft lump at this location and it is obvious (from the cat's reaction) that the area is painful. The cat's temperature rises, and he (or she) may refuse to eat. Often, the original bite wound can be seen.

Neglected abscesses may extend into the deeper body tissues, unnoticed by the cat's owner. The infection can enter the bloodstream causing a septicemia (blood poisoning) with subsequent damage to the heart, kidneys and other vital organs. Sometimes this damage can be detected clinically; however, it is usually not detected until later in the cat's life. It can also shorten the animal's lifespan by several years. Sometimes, such septicemias become overwhelming and actually cause the cat's death at the time of the abscess. Bite wounds in the tail or the limbs may set up a bone infection necessitating amputation unless early treatment is initiated. Bone infections are extremely difficult to treat. Ear abscesses often spread to the brain causing convulsions and a slow, painful death.

Cat Recovering from Extensive Bite Wound Abscess
Note the Elizabethan collar around the cat's neck.
This is necessary to keep him from licking the wound.

Abscess wounds on the flanks, or other areas where the skin is loose, may lead to what is called cellulitis. Instead of localizing in one lump, the infection spreads under the skin throughout the loose tissues. Very often, the cat is extremely toxic (suffering the effects of blood poisoning) and requires extensive medical treatment. If this infection is near the spinal column, it may even enter the spinal cord and lead to complex nerve damage. Advanced cellulitis can even kill a cat.

Treatment

Many cat abscesses break down, discharge a considerable volume of pus, then appear to heal spontaneously, only to flare up again. This recurrence is due to the unique tendency of a cat's skin to heal more rapidly than the tissues it covers. Since the skin has healed and the deep-seated infection has not drained adequately the infection returns.

Proper medical care of a cat's abscess involves local surgery (wide excision, debridement and drainage) in order to remove the deep infection, allow drainage, and promote complete healing. This must also be accompanied by supportive antibiotic therapy. Abscesses that are draining satisfactorily may only require antibiotic therapy.

Following surgery, three to ten days of continued treatment and observation are usually required. The period may be longer if complications are involved. Following veterinary hospital discharge of the cat, the owner should notice an improvement in the cat's health. If there are any signs of an abscess re-forming, the cat should be brought back immediately for further treatment.

In July 2009, federal and state authorities in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas arrested 26 people and seized more than 400 dogs in what was described as one of the largest ever crackdowns on illegal dogfighting. The raid was just the latest in a series of high-profile cases involving dogfighting that began in 2007 when superstar NFL quarterback Michael Vick was convicted for organizing and promoting a dogfighting operation.

The July raid was the culmination of an 18-month investigation that started with a tip from the Humane Society of Missouri. Eventually, the investigation grew to include The Humane Society of the United States, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state agencies in the states involved in the rings. Though the arrests all occurred simultaneously, officials cautioned that the various dogfighting rings were not necessarily connected.

"This intervention is a momentous victory in our ongoing battle to end the cruel, criminal dogfighting industry," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, in a press release. "With each raid we get one step closer to ending this cruel blood sport."

Pit bulls are the breed most often abused and mistreated in dogfighting rings.

Underground dogfighting has long been a problem, but did not receive major national attention until Vick's arrest and conviction in 2007. According to statistics from The Humane Society of the United States, more than 250,000 dogs are forced to fight in dogfighting pits each year. There's no shortage of audience members, either: The HSUS estimates about 40,000 follow organized dogfighting circuits, while another 100,000 take part in informal dogfight matches, even though dogfighting is a felony in all 50 states.

Pit bulls are one of the dog breeds most commonly involved in dog fights. Usually, these dogs are trained, bred or conditioned to fight. In some cases, small animals, such as cats, rabbits or smaller dogs, are used as "bait" animals to train the dogs. When two dogs are placed in a pit to fight, the fight goes on until only one dog is left standing. The losing dog may be killed or abandoned by its owner; however, the "winning" dog does not fare any better. It may die as a result of injuries sustained in the fight or it will be forced to fight again.

The Humane Society of Missouri is leading the effort to shelter the dogs seized in the crackdown. According to the HSMO website, a total of 407 dogs were seized by federal and state officials and volunteers and veterinarians are helping care for the displaced dogs.

According to a New York Times report about the raid, prosecutors in Missouri said that members of the multi-state dogfighting ring routinely destroyed dogs injured in dogfighting matches by shooting them and burning the bodies. During Vick's trial, it was revealed the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback and his co-conspirators killed dogs that did not "fight well" and used hanging and drowning, among other methods, to kill the dogs.

The problem of dogfighting does not appear to be dropping out of the news any time soon. Only a few weeks after the multi-state raid, Vick completed his 23-month prison sentence and was reinstated by the NFL. He remains suspended from regular season play for at least six games, but could show up on the field later during the season - that is, if any team signs him. No matter what happens, Vick's career likely will be tainted by the stigma of his conviction, a fate far better than that suffered by the dogs he forced to fight.

1. What is the scientific word for a cat's whiskers?

A. Jactitatae
B. Oscillatae
C. Vibrissae
D. Quaverae

2. How many total whiskers does the average cat have coming from the 'whisker pad' (the puffy area between the top corners of your cat's mouth and the outer edges of his nose)?

A. 20
B. 24
C. 12
D. 16

3. How many times thicker than ordinary cat hairs are cat whiskers?

A. 2-3 times
B. 1-2 times
C. 3-4 times
D. 4-5 times

4. Whiskers are rooted very deep in the cat's face, in an area rich in nerves and blood vessels. Compared to cat hairs, how many times deeper in a cat's tissue are whiskers set?

A. 3 times
B. 4 times
C. 2 times
D. 5 times

5.Cat whiskers can give an indication of your cat's mood. When the whiskers are relaxed or pushed forward, which of the following is NOT how your cat feels?

A. happy
B. defensive
C. curious
D. content

6. It is okay to trim or cut your cat's whiskers.

A. True
B. False

7. Whiskers help the cat feel his way around. This is because whiskers are so sensitive that they can detect the slightest change in ...?

A. Air currents
B. Air speed
C. Air temperature
D. Air humidity

8.When can whiskers be a 'bother' to a cat?

A. When he is playing with string
B. When he sleeps on his side
C. When he tries to eat out of a bowl
D. When he is hunting

9.Cat whiskers fall out and are replaced.

A. True
B. False

On July 30, Procter & Gamble Pet Care division expanded its July 25 pet food recall to include additional veterinary formulas and some specialized Eukanuba dry pet food products as a precautionary measure. The original recall, just five days earlier, involved Iams feline renal dry food formulas. Although no illnesses have been reported, the possibility of salmonella contamination prompted P&G to recall the following dry pet food brands:

-- Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas: All dry sizes and varieties, “Best Buy” dates: 01Jul10 - 01Dec11; All UPC Codes

-- Eukanuba Naturally Wild: All dry sizes and varieties, “Best Buy” dates: 01Jul10 - 01Dec11; All UPC Codes

-- Eukanuba Pure: All dry sizes and varieties, “Best Buy” dates: 01Jul10 - 01Dec11; All UPC Codes

-- Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin: All dry sizes, “Best Buy” dates: 01Jul10 - 01Dec11; All UPC Codes

These products are manufactured in one specialized facility where testing by the Food and Drug Administration detected salmonella. As a precaution, P&G is recalling the products voluntarily in cooperation with the FDA. The contamination is limited to this facility, but affects all the products listed above.

Consumers who purchased the specific dry pet foods listed should discard them. People handling dry pet food can become infected with salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after touching the products or containers. Salmonella can also be transferred to surfaces in contact with the products.

Pets infected with salmonella may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Left untreated, pets may become lethargic and develop diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Even healthy pets can become carriers and infect other animals or humans.

Consumers may receive product refunds by calling Procter & Gamble toll-free at 877-340-8823.

Cancer is an often life-threatening disease that many people think affects only humans. So, it often comes as a shock to many pet owners when their pet is diagnosed with cancer.

Cancer in animals is unfortunately not uncommon and is very similar to cancer in humans. Like humans, the causes of cancer can either be genetic or environmental. The common types of cancer seen in companion animals are diagnosed more frequently only because we can detect them more easily. These cancers involve the lymph nodes, limbs or skin tumors. Tumors located in organs or inside body cavities are more difficult to diagnose and are often not detected until the animal develops clinical symptoms.

Know the Signs of Cancer in Pets

There are a number of indications that an animal may have cancer. The best way to detect the commonly diagnosed types of cancer is for owners to carefully feel their animals all over once a week. It is also a good idea for owners to try and look inside their pets mouths once a week. Owners should pet their animals thoroughly once a week and feel for abnormal lumps, bumps, swellings, and any area that's just plain painful. Open, ulcerated wounds that take a long time to heal (or not heal at all) might be another potential sign of cancer.

Some non-specific symptoms of cancer include a lack of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, or diarrhea. Also, certain breeds are more prone to cancer than others. Breeds such as boxers, Bernese mountain dogs, and golden retrievers are overrepresented in the development of cancer. There have even been studies that have traced the family trees of dogs. These studies have suggested a genetic predisposition in certain families.

Bernese Mountain Dog

In order to identify the exact type of cancer, aspirates and biopsies are performed. Once the cancer is identified, it is "staged". This is accomplished by performing additional diagnostic tests such as lymph node sampling, ultrasonography and / or radiology examination.

Often, the diagnosis of cancer leaves owners feeling that there is no hope for their pet. However, many types of cancer can be successfully treated and these pets can return to a normal life.

Treatment depends on the type and location of the cancer. If possible, surgical removal of the tumor is performed. Some types of cancer are responsive to chemotherapy, which include a variety of oral and intravenous medications. Dogs and cats tend to tolerate chemotherapy well and rarely develop the same side effects that are seen in humans. Prior to treatment, blood and urine tests are performed to asses the overall health of the pet to be sure they are good candidates for treatment.

Before beginning a cancer treatment, many things need to be taken into consideration. Most important is the animal's quality of life verses the aggressiveness of the treatment. The same types of drugs that are used in human cancer therapy are used in veterinary cancer therapy. The chief difference is that we tend to use lower doses at less frequent intervals.

Chemotherapy is one form of cancer therapy offered at Veterinary Specialists of Rochester. Our primary goal is to obtain a cure. If a cure is not possible, the goal of chemotherapy is to provide a better quality of life for your pet. We recommend treatment only if it is appropriate for your pet.

Our chemotherapy protocols are designed so pets don't become terribly ill. In fact, many pet owners don't even realize that their pet has had chemotherapy. Less than 5 percent of the animals develop severe vomiting, diarrhea or a severe drop in their blood counts. Compared to the side effects of chemotherapy in humans, hair loss is very uncommon in pets.

For many people, their pets are more than just animals; they are members of their family. Usually pet owners want to do everything that they can to prolong their pets' lives and keep them feeling healthy. Chemotherapy is an excellent method for treating many types of cancer in pets.