How to be a Cool Cat on a Dog Day

Summer is in full swing nationwide, and we’re seeing a lot of days with soaring temperatures. In order to help your cat beat the heat, CATalyst Council, a national initiative comprised of animal health and welfare organizations working on behalf of cats, has the following suggestions for keeping your cat cool when temperatures rise:

1. Ensure your cat has access to fresh, cool water. “All animals need plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially when it is hot,” says Dr. Jane Brunt, executive director of CATalyst Council “Dehydration can occur very quickly and can be dangerous, leading to other complications. You may want to put out additional water bowls for your cat so that it’s easy for them to access in various parts of the house.”

2. Proper grooming is important. Brushing your cat can help reduce matting, which traps heat near the body and keeps the cat warmer than it would be otherwise. Grooming is also calming for many cats. If you have long haired cats, you may want to consider getting them a new “summer do,” and having their coats clipped shorter to help keep them cool.

3. Think twice before leaving your cat in your car. A study from Stanford University found that 80 percent of temperature rise in cars occurs within the first 30 minutes of leaving the car, and that even in cooler temperatures cars can quickly become very hot. For instance, at a 72 degree outdoor temperature, the interior of the car could become as hot as 117 degrees. The study also found that cracking the windows did very little to slow the temperature increase within the car. So, if you need to bring your cat with you while you are out and about, think twice before you leave it unattended in your car for even a brief period of time.

4. Keep your cat indoors. While cats have been described as desert animals, they don’t require the heat of hot summer months. By staying inside, not only will your cat enjoy an extended nap on the sofa, it will also enjoy having a safe environment while still enjoying the sunbeams. Keeping cats indoors also keeps them safe from predators, cars, parasites --which tend to be worse during warmer months-- and other dangers. “If you suspect that your cat is suffering from a heat-related illness, take it to your veterinarian immediately,” adds Dr. Brunt. Signs your cat may be overheated include panting, confusion, glazed eyes, agitation, vomiting or drooling, or staggering. Any of these signs should be treated as an emergency situation, and you go to your veterinarian immediately.

 Source: http://www.catalystcouncil.org/newsroom/?ID=155

When to Call the Veterinarian

Even the most attentive pet owners may find it challenging to identify signs of sickness in a dog or cat. Because sick pets are not able to verbalize their pain, we have the responsibility to watch for signs of illness in our four-legged friends. Paying close attention to your pet's normal behavior will help you better identify signs of illness when they occur. Sometimes, even the smallest changes in attitude or appetite may be caused by an underlying health problem.

Deciding when to schedule a visit the veterinarian can be also be a challenge. For example, vomiting is one of the most common symptoms of illness in pets, however, dogs and cats may vomit on occasion without actually being sick. So what symptoms warrant a trip to the veterinary clinic? When your pet displays lethargy or is not eating concurrent with vomiting or diarrhea or has reoccurring or bloody vomiting or diarrhea this is a sign that your pet needs veterinary care. Lethargy is also a sign of illness. If your pet has decreased energy or a lack of enthusiasm you should schedule an exam with the veterinarian. It is important to note if your pet tires more easily than usual or has unexplainable weakness. Pet owners should also contact the veterinary clinic if they notice poor appetite, lameness, frequent or abnormal urination, excessive scratching or licking, nasal discharge, constipation, an unusual bump or excessive thirst. 

It is an animal's instinct to hide symptoms of sickness because in the wild, sick animals appear weak to predators or may be shunned by their own kind. Domesticated dogs and cats have this same wild instinct which makes identifying illness especially difficult. Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic encourages proactive and preventative health care rather than waiting until your pet displays symptoms of illness. If you are unsure whether an appointment with the veterinarian is necessary, please call Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic to discuss your questions with our staff.  

Welcome Lorraine!

If you have been in to Maple Knoll in that last couple of weeks, you may have seen a new friendly face helping out with appointments. 

This is Lorraine! 

Lorraine is Veterinary Technician in training at Madison Area Technical College (MATC) and she is spending her part of her summer gaining valuable experiences interning at Maple Knoll. Lorraine can be seen around the clinic helping out with things like 4dx tests, holding pets during their physical exams, observing surgeries, preparing and reading lab samples, and much more. Lorraine currently has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Edgewood College and will be graduating from MATC as a Certified Veterinary Technician in May 2015. Lorraine and her fiancé have two kitties that she lovingly refers to as “My boys.” In order to get to know Lorraine a little better, we sat her down for a fun and quirky interview.

Q. If you could be on any T.V. show, what would it be and why?

A. “Switched at Birth because I have always wanted to learn how to do sign language.”

Q. Where is your ultimate vacation spot?

A. “Australia”

Q. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

A. “Super Strength because I am not very strong”

Q. If you were immortal for a day, what would you do?

A. “Skydiving… and bungee jumping”

Q. If you were reincarnated, what animal would you come back as?

A. “Dolphin”

Q. At which store are you most likely to max-out a credit card?

 A. “Best Buy”

In her free time, this fun-loving 24 year old woman enjoys reading romance novels and relaxing with her purrrfect little family. She is looking forward to the 4^th of July holiday when her parents will be at her house to visit. The staff at Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic has enjoyed teaching Lorraine the tricks of the trade and we wish her luck and happiness with her future schooling and career.  

  

Client Highlight: Tiffany Rose

 It is often risky for Chihuahuas to deliver puppies due to their small size.  This was the case with Tiffany Rose.

She was bred in December and went into active labor on February 19th, 2014. Her owner called on the morning Tiffany Rose went into labor with concerns because she had been in hard labor for more than five hours but had not yet delivered her puppy.

Tiffany Rose came into the clinic and after examination and an ultrasound to verify that the puppy was alive, the veterinarian and veterinary technicians began to prepare for a Cesarean section.  But then, just minutes before Tiffany Rose was to be prepared and sedated for the surgery, she was able to push the pup so that it was within reach.

Now, with some assistance from Dr. Julie and Abby, a technician, the puppy was delivered without surgery.  It was fortunate that assistance was immediately available because the puppy became lodged in the birth canal.

There were no other pups to deliver.  Tiffany and her pup were able to return home with the owners not long after the delivery.  It was a very exciting day for Tiffany Rose's family!

Patient Highlight: REMI

We got the chance to meet Remi when she was only 2 months old, she was a sweet and boisterous yellow lab puppy. We got to watch Remi grow up, when she was seven years old, she came in for her annual exam in August, her owner mentioned that Remi had a lump that the veterinarian should take a look at. An in-house test determined that Remi's lump contained mast cells. Mast cell tumors are the most common malignant (cancerous) skin tumors in dogs.

A few days later, Remi was back at the clinic for the surgical removal of the mass. Upon further testing, it was determined that although the tumor was completely removed it would likely reoccur. Because of Remi’s diagnosis, we referred her to the oncology (the study of cancer) department at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

Through careful collaboration with the veterinary school, the doctors and staff at Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic treated Remi with 6 rounds of chemotherapy. After the chemotherapy treatments were complete, it was determined that…. Remi’s cancer was in remission. Remi will continue to be monitored for any future problems but we couldn’t be happier for Remi and her family.