CAT HEALTH & MEDICINE

Dear Doctor – Can I feed dog food to cats?

Q My husband and I live in an elderly community, with plenty of pet lovers. Our neighbor recently lost her toy breed dog,...

Diagnosis: Feline Hyperthyroidism

A cat — especially an older cat — that displays a voracious appetite but continues to lose weight should be examined without delay by...

Feline Pre-Hyperthyroidism

Over the next few months, tabby Silver developed several classic signs of hyperthyroidism: increased appetite combined with weight loss, anxiety, hyperactivity and increased vocalization. Wizards signs were less dramatic, but still pronounced: the large tuxedo cat lost weight, and, because of his overcharged metabolism, persistently sought out the coldest.

Dear Doctor – Confused about Anal Sacs

Letters to Tufts Veterinarians - Anal Sacs, Socialization

Be Proactive!

Earlier this year, one of my oldest friends mentioned some of his concerns about his cats health. It was at my urging six years ago that my friend David adopted Callie - a young tortoiseshell kitten unsuited to living in a horse barn, and urgently in need of a good home. …

New Advances in Treating FIP

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is one of the deadliest viral diseases of cats. It occurs as a result of a cat being infected with feline coronavirus (FCoV). Coronaviruses, in general, can affect many different species. For example, they can cause intestinal and respiratory disease in dogs and pigs, and are a cause of the common cold in humans. In cats, the most common type of coronavirus is the intestinal form of the virus. …

Compounding Medications for Your Cat

Thanks to progress in veterinary health research, a vast array of medicines are readily available today for the treatment of virtually any feline disease or behavioral disorder. Many of these medications can be administered only by veterinarians or qualified technicians in animal clinics or hospitals, while others can be administered at home by a cats owner. …

Your Cats Dental Health

Among all feline health problems, the most frequently observed disorders are those involving a cats teeth and their surrounding tissue. Indeed, it is estimated that as many as 90 percent of domestic cats will experience a significant tooth or gum disorder at some point in their lives. To an extent, says veterinary dental specialist William Rosenblad, DVM, genetics play a role in determining which cats are more susceptible than others to dental problems. It is true,…

At Home Feline Dental Care

Dental disease - especially periodontal disease - is the most common of all feline diseases, says Dr. William Rosenblad. You can reduce or even prevent its occurrence by feeding your cat a crunchy diet and brushing its teeth daily. Following are the steps to guide you on brushing: Pick a time of day that will become a convenient part of your cats daily routine - and your routine as well. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and veterinary toothpaste. (Do…

How Ultrasound Can Help Your Cat

Developed in the late 1940s as a novel tool for examining the internal organs of humans, ultrasound is a technology that uses sound waves to create images of deeply seated, hard-to-reach areas of the body. The technology rapidly gained enthusiastic acceptance among physicians as a uniquely valuable diagnostic aid, and today an estimated 25 percent of all human imaging procedures worldwide employ some form of ultrasound technology. …