How To Get Your Vet Questions Answered Or Seek A Second Opinion
Are you confused about your pet's diagnosis or treatment or perhaps unsatisfied with your pet's general care? It is not uncommon for people to be confused or upset with their pet is sick or injured; stress may hinder thinking and memory.
Here are some tips to facilitate good communication for getting the answers you need, or perhaps finding a new pet care provider.
Related Reading
Photo: Veterinary exam room © Janet Tobiassen Crosby DVM
Dealing With Unexpected Grief
VetMed Forum Host Jaime Glasser DVM writes: "My good friend returned home yesterday after a trip far away from home. She knew as soon as her husband picked her up at the airport something was wrong.
He told her the kitten that they had tried to rescue had been hit by a car in front of their house and killed. She was immediately overcome with grief.
Now my friend is feeling remorseful that she had not spent more time with her kitten before leaving on her trip. She felt she did not really get to say goodbye..."
Photo: Sadness by SashaW on Flickr
At what age should I take my new kitten to the vet?
A new kitten! Welcome to the family. Along with shopping for all of the "new necessary" items like food, dishes and litter boxes, be sure to schedule in some time for that first vet check. The earlier, the better.
Read this new kitten FAQ to learn what age you should take your new kitten to the vet.
Photo credit: Kitten at the Vet © Bill in Ash Vegas on Flickr
Three More Ferrets Infected with H1N1 Virus
The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) has reported that 3 more ferrets have tested positive for the H1N1 virus. The ferrets were part of a household of 9 ferrets, and it is suspected that all may have had the virus.
The ferrets became ill about a week after the human family had an "influenza-like illness." The ferrets did not all become ill at the same time, but when sick, they presented with fevers above 103F (normal for ferrets is 100 to 103°F or 37.7-39.4°C), sneezing, coughing and nasal discharge.
All ferrets and humans have recovered uneventfully. Read OVMA press release
Virus confirmation
According to the AVMA, the H1N1 samples were confirmed as follows: "Nasal discharge samples were collected on Oct 27th and were later reported as positive for Influenza A. Further testing at NVSL confirmed the isolates as pandemic influenza H1N1. All 9 ferrets have recovered well." Read news brief
A total of 4 ferrets have tested positive in Oregon to date, the first ferret H1N1 case was confirmed on 9 October 2009. That ferret recovered as well.
Related Resources - H1N1 and Pets
- Frequently Asked Questions by Veterinarians about 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus
From the AVMA - Frequently Asked Questions about the 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus and Pets
From the AVMA - H1N1 and Animals News Archive
From Veterinary Medicine at About.com
Photo: Princess Buttercup the Ferret by GenGlo on Flickr
My Dog's Teeth Are Worn Down. Should I Be Concerned?
This dental FAQ looks at a common problem, especially for dogs: worn down teeth. Learn what causes teeth to wear, what's "normal," with age and what is considered a dental emergency.
If your pet is experiencing excessive drooling, not wanting to eat, chattering teeth or malodorous breath, please see your vet for a dental examination.
Infected teeth and gums are often painful and may influence the overall health of your pet, particularly the function of the liver, kidneys, and heart. Prevention of dental disease promotes health and reduces tooth loss due to infection. Read more.
Photo credit: Belle Smiles by GenGlo
Potpourri and Pets Don't Mix!
The holidays are a time of cozy warm gatherings, with the delicious smell of cookies in the oven and the woodsy smell of pine tree. If you don't have cookies baking or a real tree, you can create the atmosphere by using candles or one of the many potpourri products available.
Be warned though: these products can be very dangerous to pets! Read more...
FDA Issues Alert for Vetsulin® Insulin
The FDA has released an alert for both veterinarians and people who care for diabetic pets who use Vetsulin®.
The Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health brand of insulin, Vetsulin®, is a porcine insulin zinc suspension used to manage diabetes in dogs and cats. A problem has been found in the production of this insulin, and the levels of crystalline zinc insulin vary - sometimes too much, sometimes too little.
Forum: Cat ingested small amount of detergent
A VetMed Forum Guest writes: "My cat was vomiting and just not acting like himself. Took him to the vet and she noticed a small amount of something blue on his paw. Apparently a very small amount of liquid laundry detergent (Xtra brand - no bleach) must have dripped and he stepped in it and licked it." Read full post
Good Safety Warning
Thanks for posting this question - it is a good safety reminder that pets will often lick off medications, flea treatments, shampoo residues, plus any other stuff that gets in their fur; sometimes with toxic effects.
Related resources:
Photo: Barnie the Cat in the laundry room by Janet Tobiassen Crosby DVM
H1N1 and Animals - News Index
Stories about the H1N1 virus is in the news daily, and can be overwhelming. This H1N1 news archive is focused on animal cases of H1N1.
According to the CDC, the swine version (influenza type A H1N1) was first isolated from a pig in 1930. To date, The H1N1 cases documented in turkeys, ferrets and a cat have caught the H1N1 virus from humans, not the other way around.
Stay informed, but do not panic
Common sense prevention - washing hands, wearing a face mask or covering your cough, and isolating sick individuals is important to reduce spread. Please see your doctor or veterinarian when feeling ill.
Animal H1N1 News: Timeline of animal-related H1N1 stories
For human H1N1 information
please see Patient Empowerment Guide Trisha Torrey's H1N1 Swine Flu 2009 FAQ.
Related News Stories
- How to diagnose influenza in pets
From the University of Guelph - The Cat Who Got Swine Flu
From the New York Times
Image: Negative stain EM image of the 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus - C. S. Goldsmith and A. Balish, CDC
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H1N1 (Swine) Flu Confirmed in Iowa Cat
For the latest news, please see the H1N1 and Animal News Archive
H1N1 and Pets
The question has been circulating for months, can dogs and cats catch the H1N1 flu? While no one could say for sure, infectious disease experts felt that dogs and cats were not as susceptible as humans, pigs, and then later turkeys and ferrets.
Today, the answer is different
It has been confirmed that a cat has caught the H1N1 virus from humans. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported that a cat became ill with H1N1 virus after 3 members of the family became ill with influenza-like symptoms on November 4, 2009.
"[A] 13-year-old indoor cat in Iowa was brought to the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, where it tested positive for the H1N1 virus. The diagnosis is the culmination of collaborative efforts between IDPH, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Advanced Host Defenses, Immunobiotics and Translational Comparative Medicine, USDA, and IDALS Animal Industry Bureau." Read full report
The good news is that the cat and human family members have are recovering uneventfully. Learn more about this cat and how influenza is diagnosed.
Staying Calm
It is important not to panic. Cats, ferrets, pigs and turkeys have caught this virus from people, not the other way around. Read more...