Friday November 20, 2009
Barnie, my cat who recently decided to check out the clothes dryer, is back. He was my test subject for a new grooming tool for cats from FURminator. He has lots of long silky hair to deal with. I also tested out this tool on Greta, my 17-year old short-haired cat.
Did they like this new grooming tool? Read my Cat FURminator review, add your own review, and be sure to check out the photo gallery of the tool in action.
Related reviews
Photo: Barnie meets the FURminator © Janet Tobiassen Crosby DVM
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Thursday November 19, 2009
Good grooming encompasses many aspects of pet care. Whether your pet goes to a groomer or you do grooming tasks at home, good grooming is essential year round.
Besides looking (and smelling) good, proper care of your pet's hair coat, ears, teeth and nails will enhance your pet's health and reduce the potential for costly - and often avoidable - veterinary visits.
Photo credit: "Lulu with a brush" © Brief Gasp on Flickr
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Wednesday November 18, 2009
I just received a notification from the AVMA that a 10-year old male cat in Oregon has reportedly died from H1N1 infection. The cat was presented to a veterinarian on November 4 and died on November 7, 2009.
From the AVMA Flu Virus Outbreak page:
The Oregon state public health veterinarian has reported that a pet cat has died from presumed 2009 H1N1 influenza virus infection. The cat was one of 4 cats in the household and became ill approximately one week after a child in household had a flu-like illness.
Samples were obtained and tested (PCR) positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. Additional samples were sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) for confirmation and are still pending.
More from the OVMA
The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) reports that the cat presented with rapid shallow breathing, but did not show signs of coughing and sneezing. The three other cats in the household showed signs of sneezing and coughing in varying degrees, but none of them tested positive for H1N1. Read full OVMA report
The Big Picture
While this is a new twist to the H1N1 and pets story, it is important not to panic. All cases of pets becoming ill have been from humans transmitting the virus TO pets. Washing hands, covering coughs, isolating sick individuals and visiting the doctor/vet when sick are the mainstays of prevention.
The number of confirmed cases of H1N1 in pets is extremely small compared to the pet population in general. Many pets housed with humans who are ill from the flu have not caught the virus. Practicing good personal hygiene and environmental sanitation and isolating sick individuals will help keep your pets healthy.
Related Resources
Image: Transmission Electron Micrograph (TEM) of H1N1 virus virions in a tissue sample by CDC/ C. Goldsmith and D. Rollin
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Tuesday November 17, 2009
Second Confirmed Feline H1N1 Case
A 14-year old cat in Park City, Utah has been confirmed positive for the H1N1 (swine) influenza virus. This is the second confirmed feline case of H1N1, the first case was confirmed in an Iowa cat on November 4th.
Cat Catches Flu From Human
Like all other known animal cases of H1N1, the human family member was ill first with influenza symptoms. In this case, the owner of the cat was also diagnosed with H1N1. When the cat was presented to veterinarian Dr. Carl Prior, it was having difficulty breathing and upper respiratory problems. The cat is now "nearly recovered," according to the original story in the Park City Record.
Another cat in the Park City household has been isolated from the sick cat and family members and does not show any signs of illness at this time. Read more...
