Our Healthy Pets

“When I consider what I like most about cats, I’d probably say it’s their mysterious demeanor. I never know why one of my cats will suddenly pounce on my computer keyboard, why another might hide for hours on Wednesdays, or what could possibly be going on inside the head of one who spends time shadow boxing in my bathroom. Just as their motivations and desires remain secret to us, they are also, unfortunately, masters at concealing any illnesses they might have. A cat can have a medical problem and even the most watchful owner may not realize it until the condition becomes full-blown.  

An unhealthy heart is an all too common feline problem, regardless of age. The good news is that heart conditions are best treated when found early. Additionally, early detection and treatment also give felines opportunities to live relatively healthy and happy lives. All you have to do is be proactive by routinely giving your cat a quick home-health examination. Don’t worry – it’s easy, fun and can even save a life.  

Let’s start by placing your cat where you can both be comfortable.  

First, look into your kitty’s eyes. They should be bright and clear. If you notice a film covering the eyes, it may be an exposed “third eye” or nictitating membrane, which is a thin tissue

Next, lift the lips to inspect the color of your cat’s gums. They should have nice medium-pink color, although some black cats may have naturally gray gums. When you press your finger on the gums, they should lose color; as soon as you remove your finger, the original color should return. Cats with heart problems can be anemic, resulting in very pale or blueish gums. Bright pink or red gums are generally not a good sign and might be indicative of a heart problem.  

The whiskers should be nice and long. Broken or thick whiskers may indicate that your cat is not completely healthy. Please take into account that some breeds, like the Devon Rex or the American Wirehair, almost always have short whiskers, so this isn’t a great test for these breeds. 

 Next up in your home exam, put your right palm on your cat’s right shoulder and your left on his left shoulder. Move your hands together, down the spine in the direction of the tail, slightly pressing downward to feel the ribs. If there is more than an inch to pinch, your cat might be carrying too much weight. It’ll probably come as no surprise that overweight cats are candidates for heart problems. Note that the hanging tummy is not an indication of obesity if you can still feel the ribs. More often, a hanging tummy can be due to a lack of particular hormones or some fluid in the abdomen.  

Feel the pads of your cat’s feet – they should be warm. Cold feet, on one side or all four, may be indicative of poor circulation, or possibly even a blood clot.  

Throughout your exam, pay attention to your cat’s breathing. Breaths should come steadily … not very deep and not too shallow either. Some cats with heart problems will appear to breathe with difficulty. If your cat starts to breathe through his mouth, or begins to breathe with effort, you may have a problem that needs immediate medical attention. 

In fact, if you notice any of these negative symptoms, I would suggest you consult with your veterinarian as soon as possible.  

I encourage you to record the results of these exams in a dedicated notebook. This will allow you to track changes over time, and it’ll be a handy resource for reporting changes in your cat’s health to your vet during normal check-ups. 

With any luck, your regularly scheduled monitoring might help to prevent a minor problem from becoming a serious one. 

Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place for your dear companions.”

Dr. Jane  

Healthy Pet Net Newsletter features Dr. Sarah and her video series relating to our canines and felines.

This video (part one of part two) Dr. Sarah talks about Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) is the term veterinarians use to indicate that “the bladder is inflamed and we don’t entirely know why”. FIC accounts for 60-70% of urinary disease seen by veterinarians in cats younger than 10 years of age, and is marked by cats that pee outside their litter box, distressed meowing when urinating and/or possibly bloody urine.

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As the owner of the blog and a rep with Trilogy, I do recommend and feed Lifes Abundance Cat Food as well as our premium canned cat food. I feel it is so imporant for BabyCat to consume concentrated nutrition and moist food.

 We like to post good news and happy stories but we also feel is our responsibilty to post any recalls that we become aware of dealing with our furry felines and cool canines.

“Response Products Voluntarily Recalls Advanced Cetyl M Joint Action Formula for Dogs Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk”

FDA link http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm208421.htm  

Contact:Trisha Hanson1-877-266-9757 

“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 12, 2010 - Response Products, Broken Bow, NE is voluntarily recalling Cetyl M for Dogs, lot numbers 1210903 and 0128010, due to a possible Salmonella contamination from the hydrolyzed vegetable protein component provided by Basic Foods of Las Vegas, NV. Tests conducted by Basic Foods to detect Salmonella produced negative results; however, Response Products has determined to recall the above-referenced lots. 

People who handle dry pet food and/or treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers. 

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. 

Cetyl M for Dogs was distributed nation-wide through direct sales, retail stores, veterinarians and online retailers. 

The above-referenced lots of Cetyl M for Dogs were distributed in either a 120-count bottle (shipped between January 8, 2010 and April 2, 2010) or a 360-count bottle (shipped between February 11, 2010 and April 2, 2010). The affected lot numbers are as follows: #1210903 and 0128010. The lot number can be found directly above the bar code on the label. These lots were sent out in the time periods as set out above. This product is in tablet-form, is approximately the size of a dime and is light brown in coloring. 

To date, Response Products has received no reports of illness associated with the use of this product. Response Products recently learned that the FDA and Basic Foods of Las Vegas, NV, the producer of one of the components of the affected product’s vegetable beef flavoring, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, had detected Salmonella in Basic Food’s facility and had issued a recall on said component. The manufacturer of the vegetable beef flavoring used in Cetyl M for Dogs, tested the hydrolyzed vegetable beef protein for Salmonella and the results were negative. However, due to the concern regarding Salmonella in Basic Foods’ facility, it decided to recall two lots (only one lot affected our product) of said vegetable beef flavoring. The finished product manufacturer of Cetyl M for Dogs had tests performed on both the raw materials used to make our product and also the finished product, and all tested negative for Salmonella, however, it has issued a voluntary recall on two lots (see lot numbers listed above) of Cetyl M for Dogs. 

Response Products requires that testing for Salmonella and other harmful pathogens is completed during the manufacturing process. Even though the testing performed at each level of the process showed negative results for Salmonella, in an effort to produce the highest quality product for our customers, Response Products ceased distributing the dog product in the above-referenced lots and is issuing a voluntary recall on its Cetyl M for Dogs in the affected lot numbers. In addition to the testing listed above, Response Products sent samples from said lots, as well as from lot produced after those lots, to an independent laboratory, and all samples received a negative result for Salmonella. 

Response Products continues to investigate the cause of the problem and continues to be committed to producing a high-quality, effective product for dogs. 

Consumers who have purchased the listed lots of Cetyl M for Dogs are urged to contact Response Products or the place of purchase for further direction. Consumers may contact Response Products at 1-877-266-9757, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm CST.”