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Newsletter
Spring 2011.pdf
Feline Health and Wellness by Laura O'Keefe, DVM Cats live, on average, about 14 years, but thanks to improvements in veterinary medicine and owner involvement, cats are living longer life spans, with many living to 20 years of age or longer. Spike, a female cat from Great Britain, was documented with a 31 year life span! While genetics and good luck affect a cat's life span, there are decisions that owners can make that can positively impact the health of their cats and contribute to their feline's longevity, oftentimes in the long run decreasing the cost of veterinary care by promoting wellness. Indoor felines tend to live, if healthy, about 2 to 3 years longer than outdoor or feral cats. Many outdoor cats sustain severe traumas or animal bites that can lead to sudden death or severe infections and abscesses. Outdoor cats are at increased risk for exposure to deadly feline viruses, transmitted from cat to cat through saliva, blood or other bodily fluids. Being indoors only, however, does not guarantee a full long life. A healthy lifestyle includes proper nutrition and preventative measures including annual wellness veterinary exams. Many outdoor cats have a role to play on the farm as barn cats, keeping the rodent population down. These cats are at increased risk for picking up parasites and other infectious diseases. Oftentimes, they are not as closely supervised or monitored as indoor only cats, so annual veterinary wellness visits are vitally important in keeping them healthy. Spaying and neutering cats contribute to overall feline health. Neutered cats are less likely to wander off and get into cat fights or sustain a trauma. Removing the reproductive organs of female cats decreases the risk of mammary cancer if spayed prior to the first heat cycle, and completely eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer, or the risk of a deadly uterine infection (pyometra). Other things you can do to keep your cats healthy include preventing parasites, and focusing on good nutrition by feeding high quality cat food and portion control to prevent obesity. We now know that while feeding dry (kibble) food often decreases dental tartar and dental disease, feeding both dry and wet food daily increases water intake, which is beneficial for the kidneys and urinary tract. Measured portions of food can help to control calorie intake, and therefore obesity. Cats allowed to free feed from a large bowl of dry food may snack on average 16 times a day, consuming too many calories, which can contribute to obesity. Overweight cats are at increased risk for diabetes, heart and joint disease, and chronic constipation, which can lead to megacolon, a serious and life threatening condition. Parasite control including annual fecal exams, topical flea and tick treatments, and regular strategic deworming are also important. Annual wellness examinations and vaccinations based upon risk assessment are recommended. Your veterinarian can help advise which vaccines are necessary. Wellness bloodwork can lead to early detection of disease. Oftentimes, cats mask serious diseases and illnesses. Bloodwork and other screening tests can lead to early detection and potentially circumvent a fatal situation. Additionally, bloodwork can provide a baseline for interpreting data at subsequent visits. The incidence of many diseases increase as a cat ages. Part of annual wellness exams is to determine if cats are at risk for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), two deadly and highly contagious feline viruses. All cats should be tested for these diseases at adoption, and outdoor cats should be retested annually. Dental care is critical to feline health. Cats need both home and veterinary dental care at all life stages. It is recommended to get kittens accustomed to teeth cleaning by gently brushing their teeth and increasing the amount of home dental cleaning over time. Diseases affecting teeth can cause pain and lead to infections elsewhere in the body. Regular dental prophylaxis prevents tooth root abscesses, bacterial plaques on heart valves, and blood born (systemic) infections that can lead to kidney, liver and joint infections. Regular visits to the vet are recommended. These include annual exams for healthy cats under age 7, or semiannual exams for geriatric cats. Routine screening tests (bloodwork, x-rays and blood pressure measurements for seniors) can help your veterinarian uncover problems early and improve your cat's longevity. Diagnosis and early treatment of diseases can reduce long-term expenses associated with your cat's healthcare. The first year of a cat's life in comparable to 21 years in a human's life. Each subsequent year is comparable to about 4 to 5 years in a human's life. So, as cats age, their health status can change and decline rapidly. At Hoof & Paw, we recommend annual exams for all felines and more frequent exams for geriatric cats or felines with ongoing medical conditions. An exam includes a complete medical history, a comprehensive physical exam and a fecal test for parasites. A junior wellness panel can be run for cats under 7 years of age inexpensively and can screen for diabetes, anemia, liver and kidney diseases. For mature cats and senior cats (7 years and older), we recommend a senior wellness blood test, which is more comprehensive and includes a urinalysis and a thyroid test. Hyperthyroidism is a common disease of older felines and is generally easily treatable. It is also recommended that senior cats have a semiannual or annual blood pressure screening as they are susceptible to hypertension which can be easily treated once daily with an inexpensive human blood pressure medicine. In conclusion, cats' health statuses can change rapidly and dramatically as they age and cats are very good at hiding their ailments. Annual exams and screening tests can help to detect common and potentially life threatening illnesses and can increase your pet's chance of living a longer and healthier life.
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