Archives for August 2012

Although The University of Georgia has a bulldog for a mascot, it was cats that were the subject of a recent study that has been all over the news. What it revealed about a cat’s life after dark surprised the researchers – but it surprised the cat owners even more!

Sixty pet cats in Athens-Clarke County were fitted with “kitty-cams” — small, waterproof video cameras attached on collars to record evening activities. Each lightweight unit was mounted on a break-away collar and contained a radio-tracking device for tracking a lost camera.

Cats are hunters by nature, and while they tend to hunt more in warm weather, factors that didn’t influence their hunting habits were cat age, sex or time spent outside. They preyed on all sorts of reptiles, small mammals and invertebrates, but the most common prey was Carolina anoles or small lizards. Mice and rats didn’t appear on the menu very often.

Cat owners were a bit disconcerted that eighty-five percent of the cats were observed exhibiting at least one risky behavior, such as:

1. Crossing roads (45%)
2. Encountering strange cats (25%)
3. Eating and drinking substances away from home (25%)
4. Exploring storm drain systems (20%)
5. Entering crawl spaces (20%)

Males were more likely to take a chance, and older cats were less likely. The more time spent outside, the more likely the cat will engage in a risky behavior.

One of the most fascinating tidbits is that four cats found a second set of cat-loving residents to shower them with love, affection and food. These kitties actually came into the homes of their second set of “owners” for either food or affection.

You can read more about the study, and actually hear from the student who did the research on the UGA website .

We loved getting a cat’s eye view of the world – and we gained a lot of insight into why we see cats with unexplained injuries, maladies, and maybe, possibly, sometimes, those large bellies!

Image courtesy of Flickr and Gullevek

It started as a routine check-up last fall for our friend Grai, an eight year old Schnauzer. Enlarged lymph nodes prompted diagnostic testing that confirmed lymphoma. Thankfully — and due in large part to the Martin family’s vigilance — Grai’s cancer was caught early. Chemotherapy treatments began soon after, and Grai’s family supplied lots of old-fashioned TLC.

As the days of therapy progressed, Grai had his good days and bad days as typical of many cancer patients. Although the days were far from easy, it was evident that he had spirit and embraced life. The Martins lovingly cared for him in any way they could, and Grai was always a good sport throughout the sessions.

At Town N Country, we already loved this guy. After seeing him go through this, he held an even bigger chunk of our collective hearts!

At the end of April this year, Grai had his last chemo treatment. After one more month, the diagnostic labwork was repeated and revealed that Grai was now in remission! Yay, Grai, and congratulations to the very happy Martin family!

Here’s another shot of the handsome Grai!

Q. My dog is on the flea prevention you recommended. I’m positive she doesn’t have fleas, but she’s still scratching a lot. What gives?

A. There are several possibilities. Food allergies, skin conditions, or – fleas.

Recently we received a call about one of our favorite patients who had been scratching incessantly and was generally miserable. The dog had been on Trifexis, and we found no evidence of fleas on her. We had also ruled out the possibility of food allergies. We found out, however, that there were fleas in the dog’s yard – often a possibility when a home is near anywhere there are squirrels.

This sweet dog had probably been bitten by one flea, a flea that had died the moment it bit her. The bite, however, started an allergic reaction that got out of control.

We recommended some temporary relief with an allergy medication and a nice bath in oatmeal shampoo or from our pet spa. We prescribed steroid pills to halt the itching. Had she needed it, we would also have given medication for secondary skin infections.

Because she’s in an area where there are fleas, she may be bitten again. In that case, we’ll re-prescribe another course of steroids. For the time being, however, we’re happy to report that this sweet doggie is now comfortably enjoying the cooler weather we’re having this week – and that the scratching is gone.

If your dog or cat is still scratching, bring him in to see us. Incessant scratching can lead to some major health problems. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to keeping your pet healthy and happy.