The Power of Love

At first glance, Paco was an unremarkable cat. Rather medium-sized, with a short haircoat of buff and white, he didn’t look remarkable. But my opinion was soon to change.

When I saw him on a house call that day his owner was concerned he hadn’t eaten than morning and “something wasn’t right”. As an experienced veterinarian, I give a lot of credence to what an owner observes about their pet – they live with the animal daily, I only do a physical exam at one point in time. Although Paco appeared outwardly normal, something in his eyes told me I needed to look more closely.
Since Paco had not been sick long, the blood test surprised me. Not only was Paco very sick, his kidney values were higher than any cat I’d ever seen…. not to mention higher than any cat who had ever gotten well.
Sadly, I reported the news to Paco’s “mom”, Helen. He was an old cat and his kidneys were failing. She understood when I said his prognosis was “very guarded”, but she insisted we had to try. Helen lived alone, was partially disabled, and after 15 years together Paco was her only immediate family.

As I started the I.V., I felt a bit silly talking to Paco, telling him his mom needed him to get better. Nonetheless I pursued the explanation, telling him he needed to hold still and let us try our best to treat him. He not only held still for the placement of the IV, but he never whimpered, or fussed when the next four days consisted of poking, prodding, and a continuous IV drip into his foreleg, not to mention a trip to the emergency clinic every night and a trip back to my hospital every morning. Miraculously, his kidney values started to improve, and continued to get better every day, until at last his appetite returned and he was able to return home. He was “back to normal” Helen said, except every once in awhile he would stare into space and “watch” the corner where her other cat had always slept. Her other cat had died the previous year.

Did Paco have a near-death experience during his illness that allowed him to “see” Callie in this world. Or was he just daydreaming? I’m guessing the latter, but even so, he turned out to be quite a remarkable cat. He proved even cats can be courageous, and taught me a lesson I will never forget --- never underestimate the power of love.

WHAT VETS WISH CAT OWNERS KNEW...

ABOUT KIDNEYS-
“My cat urinates big amounts – this means his kidneys are working, right?”
NO! In 90% of older cats with kidney insufficiency, the first sign will be a lack of ability to concentrate the urine. This requires these cats to get rid of more “water” along with the urine wastes. So actually, these cats’ kidneys may be marginal, and this is a good time to have your vet check things out!

ABOUT MICROCHIPS-
They save lives! Call your vet and get it done now!

ABOUT VET VISITS-
Just because your cat looks healthy does not mean it is. Cats are subtle creatures, and veterinarians are trained to look beyond outward appearances… Annual exams are a MUST for ALL cats. If your cat hates to travel, find a mobile or housecall vet, but don’t put this off.

ABOUT ARTHRITIS-
Many people think if their cat has arthritis there is nothing they can do. Actually there are many supplements or even medicines that can give an old cat a new lease on life. Talk to your vet about ways to help your cat feel more comfortable.

WHO IS DR. PURR?

My name is Sherry Zenor, and I am a cats-only veterinarian in Sarasota, Florida. I relocated from Iowa in 2003 and have found a purr-fect niche here on the sunny gulf coast doing veterinary housecalls for cats. I love the sunshine and the warmth (or, as my friends said "do you know how hot it gets in Florida?") . I love meeting new cat owners who want their cats to have the best life possible.

Sherry Zenor, DVM a.k.a. DR PURR

MEDICATING CATS

Ok, so your veterinarian has prescribed medication for Fluffy's ailment. Now, how do you get it down your cat? The good news is that options are more varied than before. One of the most helpful tools is a "pet piller" This allow you to get the pill further down the cat's throat and is helpful for many people. Click link for a video from Cornell on how to give a pill.

Nowadays many medicines can be prepared into a compounded form. This means a pharmacy will mix the medicine into a tasty liquid (well, tuna-flavored anyway), or sometimes into a "trans-dermal"... this refers to a "gel" that is applied to the inner hairless area of the ear, and the medicine gets absorbed through the skin.

Other options of "getting the pill down" include Pill Pockets, a treat with a hole to stuff the pill inside. There is also "Flavor-Doh", a tub of play-doh consistency dough to wrap around the pill to disguise the taste.
Sometimes a pill can be crushed and mixed into a small amount of canned food the cat really likes, however MOST medicines taste very bitter and cats can often distinguish the medicine, either by taste or sometimes even just by smell.

Feline medicine has progressed and many drugs have life-saving or life-extending benefits so don't give up. Work with your veterinarian and their staff to make sure the medicine you are to give can actually 'get into" the cat.

ARE YOU STACKING THE ODDS AGAINST YOUR CAT ?

Are you unintentionally stacking the odds against your cat?
Everyone wants their cat to live forever, but obesity in cats is becoming a huge health problem.

The scary statistics:
Overweight cats are four-and-a-half times more likely to develop diabetes.
Obese cats are seven times more likely to need care for joint disease such as arthritis
Obese cats are three times more likely to need veterinary care for skin conditions, usually because they can no longer reach all body parts to groom properly!
Obese cats are twice as likely to DIE in middle age (6-12 years old).
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
First, look at what you're feeding - both TYPE of food and AMOUNT of food.
Second, look at creative ways to exercise your cat. Many cats do not like to play alone, they want their owners to be involve. More play = more exercise. Get them moving.
Third, consult your veterinarian. They can guide you as far as what your cat's optimum weight should be.
Lastly, if your cat is seriously overweight, consider investing in a pet scale that weighs down to the ounce. Remember, you can't change what you can't measure. Even a few ounces can be significant that you're on the right track.

Remember, our cats count on us!

SUNNY's LAST WORD

FIV CAT STILL GOING STRONG

by Holly Maglothin
(Picture is actually Sunny, and below Sunny & Tulip)

I met Sunny in the winter of 1993-94, at my apartment complex in Des Moines, Iowa. He was a stray and was being fed by a neighbor in my apartment building. He was wild and quite defensive before I invested my time during that winter. I would sit on the cold sidewalk outside my apartment (yes, sometimes in the snow) on the coldest days of Iowa winters, and wait for him to come to me, then let him sit in my warm lap. After that, my neighbor lady, Harriet Glen begged me to take him to the country with me when I moved because “Sunny loves you so much!” This now 100 year old woman was the one to give Sunny his name. He breed is listed as “Domestic Shorthair” and he is an orange mackerel tabby with white.
My veterinarian, Dr. Sherry Zenor of Fleur Pet Hospital in Des Moines estimated him to be about 4 years old at the time. He was full grown, and had been on his own for quite some time. He was tested for FIV and it was positive. We neutered him in 1994 and afterwards I officially adopted him and took him to live with us in rural Winterset Iowa.
Since his diagnosis (which was confirmed by another test months later), he remained on our acreage. I have made sure he has received his FVRCP and FeLV and Rabies vaccines each year of his life with me. He has had an occasional dental cleaning, and I have fed him Science Diet ever since I took him home.
In December 1998, we moved further north to Manson, Iowa to another acreage, where Sunny adjusted fine to his new home. The following year he met a young “girl” named Tulip. They have been constant companions ever since.

We moved to another acreage in 2005, and he showed Tulip that it was fine to stay with us at our new home, and not try to find our old house (2 and ½ hours away).
In the fall of 2006 I took him to the local vet for his most recent check up. He received a dental cleaning but no teeth needed to be pulled and his blood work was in the normal range.
Sunny is now 17 years old and has lived his entire life outdoors or on an enclosed porch. Despite his FIV positive status, however, the only medical problem he has ever had is arthritis starting about a year ago. He is a very loyal and affectionate cat which means a lot to me since he started out so fearful and wild. I am glad we “took a chance” on Sunny because when he was diagnosed with FIV the disease was not yet well understood and many veterinarians didn’t think these cats had much chance of living a normal life. With proper care and good nutrition however, it was found many of these cats can live quite some time. Sunny is sure an prime example. Although he moves a bit slower, he still loves to be petted and brushed, and spends his golden years in the sun whenever possible.

ASK DR. PURR

To ask a question, click on comments after this article. Remember, your VETERINARIAN is your BEST source of information for your cat!