Animal Hospital News

posted by Dr. Deb on March 20th, 2012 in Cats

Lower urinary tract, or bladder,  disesae is very common in cats. 

Signs of bladder disease in cats include:

There are several cuases of Bladder Disease in cats:

• Urinary Tract Obstruction .   Crystals can form in the urinary bladder that can accumulate in the tip of the urethra, particularly in the narrow urethra at the tip of the male cat’s penis, preventing urination.  This is LIFE THREATENING!  Any cat that is showing signs of urinary distress and is not urinating at least small drops of urine needs to be taken to a veterinarian immediately!  Urinary Tract Obstruction is first treated by your vet by relieving the obstruction.  Cats with this condition are usually in a state of metabolic shock and will require hospitalization and IV fluid therapy for at least 24 hours.  Then your veterinarian will make recommendations for home care to try to prevent the obstruction from recurring.  These may include very strict diet changes and medications.  This condition is most common in young to middle aged male cats.  Although female cats can also develop urinary crystals that require treatment, they don’t get urinary obstructions as often because their anatomy allows the passage of crystals more readily.  Learn More in this Video
• Urinary Tract Infection.  This is the first thing most people assume their cat is suffering from when they see signs of urinary distress.  But, this is actually the LEAST common cause of lower urinary tract disease.  Actual bladder Infection is most common in cats over the age of 10.  Cats that are under the age of 10 are NOT likely to have infection.  But, your veteirnarian still needs to check for it whenever a cat shows signs of urinary pain as infections are actually the easiest cause of urinary tract pain to treat.
• Inflammatory Cystitis (also called “Stress Cystitis”, “Interstitial Cystitis”, “Sterile Cystitis”, “Feline Urologic Syndrome”).  This is the cause of 80% of Lower Urinary Tract Disease in cats.  It is a condition of inflammation in the bladder that can be just as painful as bladder stones or bladder crystals or infection without any infection being present.  This condition is triggered, in part, by the “high stress” nature of the cat’s nervous sytem wiring.  Any stress, phsychological or physical, can be manifested by bladder inflammation.  This inflammation is often severe enough to cause bleeding in the bladder that is seen by owners as bloody urine, often somewhere around the house rather than in the litter box.  This condition is often intermittent.  A cat may show only mild signs of discomfort thatseem to go away on its own.  But don’t let your cat be in pain hoping that it will just “go away”.  It might, but it will be back unless you get help and take action to minimize recurrences.  The sooner you get kitty some help, the less painful she will be, the less cat urine you will have to clean up around the house (the honest-to-goodness reason this disease is so annoying to most owners), the healthier your kitty will be.  There is no single treatment for Inflammatory Cystitis, so it can be a frustrating condition to deal with. 

        Here are some recommendations for Home Care and Prevention of Inflammatory Cystitis in Cats:

• Treat the Pain with medication from your veterinarian.   Otherwise, the pain just causes more stress which leads to more inflammation and more pain.  (DO NOT GIVE CATS HUMAN PAIN MEDICATION (TYLENOL, ASPIRIN, IBUPROFEN OR OTHER ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES OR PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS– THEY CAN BE DEADLY TO CATS!)
• Increasing water intake is KEY to treatment.  Provide a running pet water fountain, kept clean and fresh.  Offer several fresh sources of water around the house daily.  Feed more canned food than dry (there is a trade off with oral health here, so discuss the relative aadvantages with your vet).  Add a teaspoon of chicken or beef broth or tuna juice to a quarter cup of water once of twice daily as an extra water “treat”.
• Cosequin for cats helps some cats by suppporting the mucus layer that lines and protects the bladder from inflammatory factors in the urine
• Feed a Low Carbohydrate diet.  Carbohydrates are pro-inflammatory in cats.  One of the target organs in cats for inflammatory mediators is the Urinary Bladder. 
• Maintain a Lean Body Weight.  Fat cells actively release inflammatory factors into the blood stream all the time.  Since the urinary bladder is target organ of inflammatory factors, obesity contributes to urinary bladder inflammation/ cystitis.  Obese cats are significantly more likely to develop painful baldder disease than lean cats.  If your cat is overweight, work with your veterinarian to help your kitty lose weight to minimize the chance of recurrences.
• Identify and remove psychological stressors for your cat:  is there intercat aggression?  Changes in the household routine?  Stranger cats outside?  Construction in the neighborhood?  Discuss this with your vet or seek a veterinarian who does Behavior Modification Therapy.  If you the physical signs of illness in cats was subtle, the signs of pshychological stress in cats can be even more difficult to identify without the help of someone trained in the “finer” aspects of cat psychology.
• Psychoactive medications or supplements may be needed to help your kitty “tune down” his nervous system.  Your veterinarian can help you determine if this would be a good option and which might work best for your individual kitty.
• Feliway- “happy kitty pheromones” from wall diffusers placed strategically around the home can significantly decrease anxiety in cats.  Read More                     
• Role of Stress in Cat Cystitis video is a MUST SEE for owners whose cats suffer from cystitis pain.

Any cat showing signs of urinary disease should be seen right away.  Keep in mind that cats don’t show signs of pain (weakness) until they can’t cope any more.  So, if you are noticing it, you can be sure kitty is a lot more uncomfortable than you imagine!  Your vet will diagnose the cause of the urinary pain and guide you toward the right choices to treat your kitty best!

posted by Dr. Deb on February 5th, 2012 in Cats, Dogs

 Professional Veterinary Dental Treatments are a lot different from the  ”teeth cleaning” or ”dental scaling” provided by groomers, kennels and other lay animal care givers without the benefit of general anesthesia.

Of course, The professional dental cleaning done by veterinarians is done under anesthesia so that the surfaces of the teeth under the gums, where painful periodontal disease starts, can be thoroughly cleaned then polished . Since pets are anesthetized for the deep cleaning process, your vet takes advantage by doing everything possible to restore oral health.  Your veterinarian can further evaluate underlying bone structure with radiographs, instill periodontal antibiotics around infected, but salvageable, teeth and perform extractions or oral surgery if needed.  It’s like you going to your dental hygienist, dentist, oral surgeon, and periodontist all at once– without voluntary cooperation! (Think how much that would cost if you did it all on one day!)

The best that can be done in an awake pet is a superficial scaling, removing the large chunks of calcified plaque (“claculus”).  The best behaved pets will tolerate a little more involved cleaning before tiring of the process. There is certainly  a benefit to this process, whether done by your groomer or veterinary assistant.  Removing the larger accumulations of calculus provides less area for bacteria to collect and certainly reduces the amount of smelly bacteria in a pet’s mouth.  This procedure may even extend the time between when professional veterinary dental treatments are needed.

But don’t get lulled into a false sense of security, just because you don’t see a lot of staining and plaque on the teeth.  If the gums are red or have lost their fine “knife edge” margin because of swelling, a professional cleaning should still be done.  Often, pet owners are amazed to discover that their pet has loose teeth (from periodontal disease) when there is no visible plaque on the teeth and gums actually look relatively healthy!  Certainly, any indication of loose teeth with or without gum disease warrants a thorough evaluation and treatment via a professional veteirnary dental treatment!

• Have your family vet evaluate your pet’s teeth every 6 month (with the rest of his comprehensive physical).
• Brush your pet’s teeth daily.   How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth   How To Brush Your Cat’s Teeth
• Ask your vet whether she will perform a superficial scaling if a professional treatment is not yet necessary.
• Have a professional cleaning done upon recommendation by your veterinarian.  For some pets, that may be only every few years, other pets may need professional help once a year.  Your vet will you give you the best advice to balance all the pros and cons of a professional treatment.
• Watch this Video from the Veterinary News Network 

Start ‘em young!

posted by Dr. Deb on January 22nd, 2012 in Birds, Cats, Dogs, Exotics, Hospital Announcements, Other

When our children are sick, we take them to the pediatrician.  When our pets, our furred and feathered children, are sick, we take them to the vet.  Veterinarians are Pediatricians, Pediatric Surgeons and Dentists for the furred and  feathered (even the scaley and slippery!).

But, we at Cimarron Animal Hospital are not just Veterinarians, Technicians and Assistants.  In today’s world of fragmented health care, we are your Whole Family Health Care Team.   When we care for your pets, we also care for you and your family.  We realize that, while some families are able to revolve around their pets, most families are strung out in all different directions.  Kids have elaborate school and activity schedules.  Pet Parents have complicated work or vacation schedules.  Some pet parents are completely new to pet ownership.  Some are old hands interested in new medical care techniques.  Some pet parents are elderly, with physical and memory challenges, but they need their pets more than anyone.  No matter how quiet or chaotic our lives, we  all rely on the solid constancy and unconditional love of our pets, every day.
  All of a family’s lifestyle facets and challenges have to be considered when caring for a pet– whether it’s basic care or more intensive medical management.  Sometimes, our staff members also act as family counselors, life coaches, hospice care consultants, bereavement counselors, shoulders to cry on or home delivery helpers– whatever it takes to help you and your family take care of the pets that are the glue in our lives.
  Every human who walks through our doors has issues and concerns about his pet, her family, their jobs.  It all filters down to us.  It’s all important to us if it affects your pet.  Every human we see is as much a part of our family as every one of their pets.  That’s why Pets, AND their People are Our Passion at Cimarron.
  Whatever you need, no matter how small, how silly-seeming, how complicated or challenging, just ask!   We are here for you, your pets, your whole family.

posted by Dr. Deb on January 7th, 2012 in Cats, Dogs, Hospital Announcements

Discounts, Free Exams and nail trims, Optimal Health Care all in easy Monthly Payment installments!  Bringing the kind of optimal pet care that devoted pet owners want, more affordably!

We are bonded more with our pets than ever before.  In today’s high stress world, many of us prefer a relaxing moment on the computer with a cup of tea at hand and a warm cat in our lap than the swirling hubbub of a party full of people. We want our furry companions to be healthy forever, but this high tech world has raised the cost of veteirnary care, along with everything else.

We, at Cimarron Animal Hospital, are dedicated to providing optimal wellness care to pets who are people, too.  So, we’ve been working to create a way for clients to be able to afford the kind of care that they want for their pet companions….  Wellness packages that cover optimal wellness care paid for in more comfortable monthly payments!

We have packages for young adults, middle-aged adults  and senior dogs and cats.  Cat packages are further broken up into inside only or outdoor lifestyles.  Each package is custom designed for the lifestage and species of pet.  Owners pay 25% down on the package and the rest in 11 monthly payments via credit card.

Our Pet Friends Forever (PFF) Wellness Packages Include:

Optimal Wellness Care:   2 Wellness Visits, Necessary vaccinations (based on lifestyle risk assessment), Wellness blood and fecal screen (age appropriate), Professional Dental Treatment, Blood pressure monitoring, arthritis screen radiographs or cardiac screen radiographs if needed.

                                              3 FREE Visits during the year for Anything

                                             2 FREE Nail Trims

    Discounts                  Substantial Discount on Dental Cleanings

                                             3% Discount on any payments made in cash

                                            10% discount on everything else if the package is paid in full, up front!

Peace of Mind   With the 3 Free Visits, you don’t have to hesitate and second guess yourself about whether it’ll be worth the money to come in– it’s FREE– just come in!  After all, a real, live vet, actually touching your pet,  who knows your pet personally is going to be able to give you better information about your pet, in your home, with your lifestyle, than Dr. Google!  And, if they are both free, why not do the best?

Special Care can be rolled in:  Pets with medical conditions requiring additional monitoring, chronic medications and special treatments can have that additional care rolled into the package as well, spreading ALL those costs out over monthly payments instead of bigger lumps at a time during the year!

Better than Big Box Vet’s Wellness Packages:  If your pet passes away or you decide to go elsewhere, you only have to cover the charges of the services rendered up to that time.  You do not have to continue paying all year (unless you still owe for services and want to continue monthly payments as opposed to a lump sum payment) if your pet dies or you move- as you would with the Big Box Vets.  We won’t trap you into paying for anything that we haven’t provided!  Furthermore, we have the flexibility to customize packages for our Arizona pets and pets with special needs.  Pets are individuals and should not all be treated the same!

For details on pricing, please call our office at  520 886-1125

posted by Dr. Deb on December 1st, 2011 in Cats

Does your cat run and hide when it’s time to take medicine?

Cats are usually difficult when it comes to taking medicine, leaving owners throwing their hands up in frustration and cats leery of coming out of hiding. Here are some alternatives to forcing a pill down Fluffy’s throat.

You can try Pill Pockets that are specially made for cats. It is basically a cat treat shaped like a pocket where you place the pill in order to disguise it from Fluffy. This will work with some cats and others will simply eat the treat and spit out a half dissolved pill. What can we say, a cat knows what it likes and will not be tricked…….or do we have more tricks up our sleeves?

For cats with impeccable taste, you can go to a local compounding pharmacy where the pills can be turned into a chicken or tuna flavored liquid that can be mixed into Fluffy’s food……yes, as easy as eating cake! For those do-it-yourself people, you can crush the pill and mix it in Fluffy’s tuna for the same affect—as long as tuna (or beef broth) is OK with Fluffy’s Doctor, of course!  Learn more from Prescription Lab Compounding Pharmacy

Last but not least, some medications can be given transdermally, (rubbed into the skin). Fluffy can get his/her medicine while receiving love from you, how awesome is that?! It is true; a spoonful of love helps the medicine go down!

For more tips and tricks on medicating cats, contact  us @ 520-886-1125