Getting Your Cat to the Vet

GETTING YOUR CAT TO THE VET

Providing good health care, especially preventive health care, can allow your cats to have longer, more comfortable lives. However, this cannot happen unless they see the veterinarian for needed care. Many cats dislike going to the veterinarian, and that starts with the difficulty of getting the cat into the carrier. If we can make this step easier, the entire veterinary visit is usually less stressful.

The following tips will help make veterinary visits easier for you and your cat. 

Understanding your Cat's Behavior 

• Cats are most comfortable with the familiar, and need time to adjust to the unfamiliar. The visit to the veterinarian is often difficult because the carrier, car, and the veterinary hospital are usually unfamiliar. Respect your cat's need for time to become familiar with new situations, people and places. 
• Stay calm. Cats can sense our anxiety or frustrations, which may cause them to become fearful or anxious. 
• Cats do not learn from punishment or force. Give rewards to encourage positive behavior. For example, if your cat is sitting calmly in or near a carrier, give a treat. Likewise, rewards can be given to help your cat become familiar with the type of handling that may be encountered at the veterinarian (e.g., handling paws, ears and mouth). A treat is what is highly desirable to your cat, which may be in the form of food, play or affection. Be persistent and reward every time. 

Helping Your Cat Become Comfortable with the Carrier 

The goal is for your cat to learn to associate the carrier with positive experiences and routinely enter voluntarily. 

• Make the carrier a familiar place at home by leaving it in a roorn where your cat spends a lot of time. 
• Place familiar soft bedding inside the carrier. Bedding or clothing with your scent can make them feel more secure. 
• Place treats, catnip or toys inside the carrier to encourage the cat to enter at home. Often, you will first see that treats are removed from the carrier during the night. 
• It may take days or weeks before your cat starts to trust the carrier. Remain calm, patient and reward desired behaviors. 
• If you still have trouble, you may need to assess the carrier itself. 

Getting an Unwilling Cat into the Carrier 

If your cat needs to go to the veterinarian right away, and is not yet accustomed to the carrier, the following may help: 

• Start by putting the carrier in a small room with few hidhg places. Bring the cat into the room and close the door. Move slowly and calmly. Do not chase the cat to get it into the carrier. Encourage the cat with treats or toys to walk into the carrier. 
• If your cat will not walk into the carrier, and your carrier has an opening on the top, gently cradle your cat and lower it into the carrier. Another option is to remove the top half of your carrier while getting the cat to go into the bottom half, and then calmly replace the top.
• Use familiar bedding inside the carrier. Consider use of synthetic feline facial pheromone (Feliway®) analog spray in the carrier at least 30 minutes prior to transport to help calm the cat. 

Coming Home - Keeping the Peace in a Multi-cat Household

Cats are very sensitive to smells, and unfamiliar smells can result in one cat no longer recognizing another. Aggressive behavior can occur when one cat senses another as a stranger. These suggestions can help avoid problems between cats following a veterinary visit: 

• Leave the returning cat in the carrier for a few minutes to see how all of your cats react. 
• If all cats appear calm and peaceful, let the returning cat out ofthe carrier. 
• If you sense tension between the cats, or if previous home-comings have resulted in conflict, keep the cat in the carrier and take it to a separate room to avoid potential injury from an upset cat. Provide food, water and litter box for a minimum of  24 hours while it regains the more familiar smell of home. 
• If there is still stress after this time, contact your veterinarian for more advice on slower introduction or medication to help the process. 
• A synthetic feline pheromone (Feliway®) can help provide the sense of familiarity.
  For future visits: 
• Use familiar bedding or clothing with your scent, as it retains the smell of home and helps with reintroduction. 
• Use a synthetic feline pheromone (Feliway®). 
• Bring both cats to the veterinary practice together. This can prevent future conflict as both cats will carry the scent of  the clinic. 

What Type of Carriers are Best?  

The best carriers are inexpensive hard-sided carriers that open from the top and the front, and can also be taken apart in the middle. An easily removable top allows a cat which is fearful, anxious or in pain to stay in the 

bottom half of the carrier for exams. Your veterinarian can often do the exam in the bottom of a well-designed carrier. Avoid carriers that require a cat to be pulled from or dumped out for an exam.  

Choose carriers that are sturdy, secure and stable for the cat, as well as easy for you to carry. Carriers should be seat-belted into the car to keep your cat safer and to reduce the bumpiness of the ride. 

Some cats like to see out, whereas others are less anxious when the carrier is covered with a blanket or towel to prevent seeing the unfamiliar.

Pet First-Aid Kits

April is National Heartworm Awareness Month in the United States and every animal hospital / veterinary office makes a conscious effort to promote heartworm testing and heartworm preventatives more than usual, though all veterinarians promote heartworm prevention year round. Often missed is the fact that April is also National Pet First-Aid Awareness Month.

If you have a companion pet, it is essential to have a pet first-aid kit at home. Not only can it keep your pet alive in an emergency, it can save you an after hour emergency vet visit if it is a minor injury. There are kits that you can buy at many pet stores, but most of them do not contain all the items you should have. We recommend  creating your own kit and it should have the following items:

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Betadine
• Dosing syringe
• ice packkaopectate
• bandages & gause
• Benadryl elixir or capsules
• Non-stick bandages
• Adhesive tape
• 81mg aspirin
• Digital thermometer
• Safety gloves
• Anticeptic cleaning wipes
• Alcohol wipes
• Your veterinarian's phone #

With a basic first-aid kit you will be able to treat minor injuries and emergencies. Here is a list of basic home treatments for dogs.

POISON - 1 to 3 cups of milk or water slowly with dosing syringe. (Then bring pet to veterinarian)

VOMITING - 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of pepto (1 teaspoon = 5 ml)

PAIN - 81mg aspirin (1 tablet per 10 pounds) 

INSECT STINGS - Benadryl (1mg per pound), ice pack

BURNS - Cold wet cloth, apply Neosporyn

CONSTIPATION - 1 teaspoon of milk of magnesia

CUTS - Ice pack and pressure to stop bleeding, wash then apply betadine and bandage

DIARRHEA - 1 teaspoon of Kaopectate per 5 pounds

HEAT STROKE - Hose or bath in cold water until temperature of pet returns to 102 degrees F.

KEEPING YOUR PETS SAFE AT HOME

Of the more than 167,000 calls handled by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center each year, more than 90 percent of the cases involve accidental poisoning. The first line of defense for protecting pets is knowing which substances pose the biggest threats to your pet's health. Here are some key culprits.

MEDICATIONS. Both over-the-counter and prescription human medications can be toxic to pets. Overdoses of pet medications can also pose problems. Since dogs can chew through plastic containers, make sure that medications are stored out of reach of pets. Storing them in a locked cabinet is the best option. When deciding where to store medications take into account how high your pet can climb or jump.

INSECTICIDES. If you use insecticides, keep pets out of the area until the spray is dry and odorless. Drying times vary widely, so be sure to follow label instructions.

RODENTICIDES. Rodent killers can be fatal to pets. Rodenticide poisoning can cause lethargy, internal bleeding, seizure, kidney failure and sudden death, so it is crucial to keep your pets away. If your pet has ingested a rodenticide, take your pet to the veterinarian right away. Make sure you bring the box of the rodenticide with you.

HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS. Several types of household cleaners are toxic to pets. Make sure that floor cleaners are pet-friendly. High PH cleaners like drain openers and oven cleaners are toxic to pets.

LAWN-CARE PRODUCTS. Pets need to be kept out of the yard while you are applying fertilizer to your lawn. Generally, wait until sprays are dry or granules have been watered in and are dry before letting your pet out. While not as toxic as chocolate, cocoa bean shell mulch can cause milder versions of the same symptoms as chocolate ingestion, such as vomiting and diarrhea.

OTHER HAZARDS. Other seemingly innocuous items can be hazardous to your pets. Artificial fire logs can cause vomiting and possible foreign-body obstructions. Hair relaxers and alkaline batteries pose the same hazard as high PH cleaners. Antifreeze is one of the most potent toxins in the average household. Several foods and plants can be toxic to your pet. Visit www.animalmedicalcenterfla.com/articles for a complete list of poisonous foods and plants.

Zoonotic Diseases in Pets

Zoonotic Diseases are a shared threat between you and your pet!

There are several zoonotic diseases that affect people. These include:

• Cat scratch disease cat scratch fever)
• Enrilichiosis
• Giardia
• Leptospirosis
• Lyme disase
• Rabies
• Ringworm

Zoonotic diseases that can be transmitted from your pet to humans. There are proven ways to protect both you and your pet from these diseases.

To protect your family:

• Wash your hands often when touching, playing with or caring for pets.
• Never handle the stool of any animal without wearing disposable plastic gloves or using a plastic barrier.
• See your veterinarian and make sure your pet is protected against zoonoses and other disease threats in your are.

To protect your pet:

• Ask your veterinarian abot flea and tick control.
• Brush and inspect your pet for ticks after each oting.
• Don't let your pet drink from standing water outdoors.
• Don't let your pet come into contact with feces or urine of other animals,
• Remove food, garbage or nesting materials that may attract disease-carrying widlife.
• Make sure your pet is up-to-date on all vaccines that yourveterinarian recommends. 

Vaccines are important for your pet's protection, but it is the physical exam once or twice a year that will keep them healthy. Cats and dogs often hide symptoms of health issues until they can no longer hide them. A physical examination can catch problems or issues early.

Caring for your Senior Pet

The life cycle of our family pets can be divided into several phases, similar in many ways to our own stages of life. We pass from newborn through adolescence to adulthood on our way to becoming senior citizens. Unfortunately our pets pass through these life stages within a relatively condensed time period:

A general rule of thumb is that our pets age approximately seven years for each one of our years.

However, the rate at which any individual pet ages is determined by many factors including breed, size, nutrition, and lifestyle. You can find your pets approximate human-equivalent age in the chart to the right:

If your pet falls into one of the senior stages outlined to the right don't worry. Just as with people, pets are enjoying longer, more active and healthier lives than ever before. The goal of senior pet care is to provide your pet with the best quality of life for as long as possible.

To help accomplish this goal, we have designed Senior Wellness Programs including physical examinations, preventative vaccination and parasite control programs, client education materials, and appropriate diagnostic tests, all focused on preventative health care. The early detection and treatment of medical problems together with the recognition and prevention of disease risk factors can result in many additional years of good quality life for your pet. Working together, we can help insure our loyal friends enjoy the longest and healthiest life possible, sharing the gift of their companionship well into their "Golden Years".

Senior Wellness Program Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Senior Wellness Program?
Our Senior Wellness Program consists of 4 components: 1) Regularly scheduled office visits including complete medical and behavioral history and a thorough physical exam. 2) Preventative vaccination and parasite control measures. 3) Client education materials focusing on preventative health care through the recognition of risk factors and early intervention. 4) Selected diagnostic testing for the early detection of subclinical disease.

How often does my Senior pet need to be examined?
Generally speaking, healthy Young Seniors (see age chart) can be evaluated on an annual basis, usually in conjunction with their regularly scheduled office visit for annual vaccination. Due to their increased risk for age related problems Seniors, Super Seniors, as well as other pets with chronic or existing problems should be examined on a semi-annual basis or more often if recommended.

Does my Senior pet really need vaccinations and parasite control?
The time-honored practice of annual vaccination for our family pets is now a controversial subject in veterinary medicine. As with any medical treatment, there are benefits and risks associated with vaccination. The need for specific vaccinations will vary with your pet's lifestyle and risk factors. Young, active, outdoor oriented pets will have increased exposure to certain preventable diseases compared to older stay-at- home companions. You should discuss the vaccines recommended for your pet with your veterinarian at your annual wellness visit since research into this subject is ongoing. Similarly, although fecal examinations and heartworm testing may still be recommended on an annual basis, the need for other parasite control measures (fleas, ticks and intestinal worms) will vary with your pets' lifestyle. Efforts to control these potentially debilitating parasites will be tailored to the needs of your particular pet.

What can I do at home to help insure my Senior pet's continued good health?
You can play a vital role in maintaining your pet's health by observing your pet carefully for early signs of potential health problems. During wellness visits, we will provide you with a Home Health Watch Checklist which details the signs of the most common medical problems seen in our senior pets and what can be done at home to help prevent these problems. If age related problems do occur, we can work together to educate you so you can carefully monitor your pet's condition at home and be aware of when further follow-up care may be needed.

What is the reason for recommending laboratory tests for my apparently healthy senior pet?
What are you looking for?
It can be very difficult for us to detect the early sub-clinical signs of age-related disease in our pets. Many treatable or preventable diseases may have no observable signs early in their course. This is why physicians often suggest routine laboratory tests during our own physical exams.

Early diagnosis is an important key in the preventative health care of pets and is possible only through routine laboratory testing of apparently "healthy" animals.

The following is a description of the most commonly suggested diagnostic screening tests together with the most frequent abnormalities discovered:

Complete Blood Count (CBC) - Blood test to evaluate the number and type of red, white, and clotting cells. Abnormal values can be associated with bacterial or viral infection, anemias, clotting diseases, and certain types of cancers.

Chemistry Profile (Chem) - Blood test to evaluate the function of many internal organs. Abnormalities can indicate systemic disorders including diabetes, kidney or liver disease, and electrolyte abnormalities.

Urinalysis (U/A) - Urine samples provide valuable information about kidney function as well as screening for infections, tumors, or bladder stones.

Cystocentesis (Cysto) - the direct removal of urine from the bladder with a needle. The safest, cleanest, easiest method of urine sampling, especially in cats.

Thyroid Level (T4) - Blood test to measure the amount of circulating thyroid hormone. Deficiency is common in dogs resulting in lethargy, weight gain, and dermatological problems. Increased levels are common in senior cats resulting in weight loss, increased appetite and thirst, and heart problems.

Radiographs/Ultrasound - Imaging studies allow visualization of many internal organs including the bladder, liver, spleen, kidney, pancreas and heart. These are especially useful in diagnosis of cardiac problems as well as abdominal growths and tumors.

Hurricane Season In Full Swing

Luckily for us Irene passed us by. Hopefully our friends up north will be okay. Yet it raises a few questions in pet health. Just because the storm missed Florida by heading north east, does not mean that dangers for your pets don't remain. Friday and Saturday will bring record breaking or near record breaking high temperatures to Florida as hot air is pulled north behind the storm. Hopefully you bought extra supplies in the preparation for the possibility of a storm hitting Florida. Please remember that with the heat index reaching 100 degrees this weekend, that heat exhaustion can be an issue for you and your pet. If you are bringing your dog to a dog park or out for a long walk, or if your cat or dog lives outside, please make sure to bring extra water for them, or if your pet stays outdoors make sure they have water available and a shady area to get out of the sun and the heat of the day. Remember heat exhaustion can be deadly to pets and people alike.

Animal Medical Center Pet Sitting Services Now Available

Animal Medical Center always strives to offer the best veterinary care available for your pet. We are proud to offer a new service to our client, PET SITTING SERVICES

If you are going on vacation and don't want to board your pet, are spending too many hours at work to properly take care of your pet, we can help! Our pet sitting specialists can take care of your dog or cat at home, walking, feeding, giving medications, cleaning litter boxes and spending quality time with your pets. Overnight care is available. Call Animal Medical Center for more information or visit http://www.animalmedicalcenterfla.com/pet_sitting.html

A Quarter Can Kill Your Best Friend

Dogs are best known as man's best friend, but they are also known for eating almost anything. Today we had a specialist in who used an endoscope to remove a quarter from a dogs stomach. If you have a cat or dog, make sure that you child proof your house. We have had the same specialist in to remove several items from dogs and cats including rubber bands, hair bands, coins, string and yarn. In the veterinary field items have been reported of light bulbs and pad locks.

You love your best friend or friends, you treat them like family, but do you treat them like children? Make sure that you put items that could be dangerous to your pets. These items include foods that are poisonous to pets (visit our website for more information), items that they could swallow (I.E.) string, yarn, small items like coins, twist ties, earings and any other items that could endanger your dog or cat.

Laser Therapy for Cats and Dogs

Animal Medical Center is now offering the latest technology in health care for your pet. This FDA cleared, deep-penetrating light allows relief of pain through the release of endorphins and stimulates the injured cells to heal at a faster rate.

Laser Therapy can be used for several disorders including:
• Pain Relief • Wound Healing • Arthritic Conditions
• Intervertebral Disc Disease • Pyotraumatic Dermatitis
• Post Surgical Pain Relief • Degenerative Joint Disease
• Lick Granulomas • Degloving Injuries • Gingivitis
• Dermatological Conditions • Otitis (Ears)

The therapy laser increases circulation, which reduces edema, inflammation and pain, reduces pain by stimulating an endorphin release and radically excites the energy carrier in the cell (the ATP) to heal the cells in 1/3 to 1/2 of the normal healing time.

A laser does nothing negative to normal cells so you cannot over treat a pet with laser therapy.

Laser treatments are cumulative and one builds upon another. The laser can be used effectively as a one-time treatment in acute cases but is used in a series of treatments for best effects, especially in chronic cases.

Are You READY? Don’t wait for disaster to strike. Create an evacuation plan to protect your dog and/or cat.

Floridians are all too familiar with hurricanes, but how many of us plan ahead for the safety of our pets. We are quick to run out and buy bottled water and flashlights, and to stock up on crackers, granola bars, and tuna fish, but how many of us are truly prepared to protect the smallest members of our family? Buying extra dog and/or cat food is a good start, but not enough. In the case of an evacuation are you and your companion ready?



It was once considered okay to leave pets in a safe place in your home, but if it isn’t safe for you, it is not safe for your dog or cat. A good place to start in preparation is crate training your pet. As a storm approaches animals may get frightened, and unless they are used to being placed in a cage, it may be impossible to get them in one during a crisis. Also practice evacuation drills, making sure you can fit the cage or carrier in your car, and if you have multiple pets make sure you have a plan to transport them. Also make sure that your pet’s I.D. tags are up to date, and include an alternative number such as your cell phone, so you can be reached if your pet becomes lost. After Katrina in 2005 thousands of pets wound up in shelters across the country to be adopted out because their owners could not be found.



The same way you need to prepare a hurricane supply kit for yourself, you should have one prepared and easily accessible for your pets. Include a supply of pet food, water, any needed medication, a food and water bowl, their medical records stored in a waterproof container, and sturdy leashes and collars.



If you choose to go to a shelter, or to leave the state of Florida before a pending storm approaches, and can not take your pet with you, Animal Medical Center offers boarding in a safe, sheltered environment. Before, during, and after a hurricane or tropical storm, we have technicians at the hospital to stay with the animals and ensure the safety. The hospital is protected by storm shutters, and all animals are kept in the safety of our cages and runs. The animals are walked regularly prior to and after the storm passes. Our staff as always is here for the health and wellbeing of your pet.

Vaccines for Pets

To deliver the best medicine for our patients we are incorporating updated information with current vaccination recommendations. Vaccines should be customized for each patient based on risk for exposure to disease. With the introduction of recombinant vaccine technology to veterinary medicine has broadened our professions ability to provide safe and effective vaccines. Here at Animal Medical Center the veterinarians use their discretion in the selection and use of vaccines. Canine and feline vaccination guidelines have been developed as a rational vaccination protocol.
There are core vaccinations which are recommended to all dogs and cats. Noncore vaccines are considered optional and are not necessary in all dogs and cats. The decision to administer or not to administer a particular vaccine is the responsibility of the individual clinician after reasonable assessment of the patient’s risk. Here at Animal Medical Center each pet receives a comprehensive physical exam and a customized vaccination strategy based on the pet’s needs before vaccines are administered. Risk for exposure and infection to diseases for which licensed vaccines are available varies significantly depending on factors such as housing, age, travel opportunities, and health status of the patient.
It is recommended for our clients to be careful of vaccination clinics that are providing noncore vaccines (Pet Supermarket and Petco through Luvmypet.com) without determining need based on risk factor along with comprehensive examination and medical needs.

OH MY WHAT TO DO!

Kitten season is upon us. In June and July in south Florida the number of kittens swells to the point that most shelters stop taking kittens. So it all began a week ago, a client dropped off two kittens, followed by five kittens dropped off a few days later and then one more the day after that who was loaded with fleas and had flea dermatitis (hair loss due to flea allergies). So now we have eight kittens that need good homes all young, all adorable. Call the animal hospital for more information. 954-741-2776

Why We Do What We Do!

Everyone who works in the veterinary field does so because of their love of animals, surely not because they want to get rich. Sometimes that love is hard, especially when a pet who has been coming to us for years passes away or becomes very ill. Then there are times when the true nature of the people who work in this industry shines. Here is a good example.


A stray Shitzu was brought in by a client. He was suffering from urinary problems and could barely stand, was dirty and in need of serious veterinary medicine. As a stray he had no one to take care of him. Julie our front desk manager found love at first sight, and offered to pay for his care. After a good bath and a lot of medication, that stray now affectionately called Mister Scruff, is well enough to go in for surgery. He has bladder stones that need to be surgically removed. He will be going in for surgery this afternoon and we are all praying that he comes out fine. Julie, after a few tears about the costs, knows that she has a new best friend who will be going home with her to stay soon.

Without the caring heart of people like Julie, so many dogs and cats would go untreated in this world. She is truly our hero of the week.

Cute puppies and interesting cases

It has been a while since we updated our blog, but as always we have been busy at Animal Medical Center. In the past few months we have had three cancer cases requiring chemotherapy, more skin issues than we care to count, (flea season is upon us!) puppies and kittens galore, and the addition of a few new staff members.

If you are not following us on Facebook and only on our blog, you are missing a lot. We will try to update our blog weekly with informative pet information and information about Animal Medical Center

So much goes on beside the scenes

So you have sat in the waiting room, been in a room, sometimes complaining about the wait, and perhaps you have been in the treatment area once or twice, but let me tell you there are a lot of things going on at Animal Medical Center all the time. Bathing, treatments, surgery, dentistry, emergencies and a full house of hospitalized patients.

Have you ever wondered where the doctor is while you are waiting for results?

Treating hospitalized patients or doing a surgical procedure or he may be handling an emergency that was rushed into the treatment area. He may also be calling a client to discuss their pets test results. 

And there are so many other little things that keep the hospital running at peak performance.

We average 6 to 12 loads of laundry a day, mostly towels and there is always scrubbing, mopping, sweeping up hair, dusting, cleaning up exam rooms and plenty of trash. We overload 3 forty gallon garbage bins a day.

There are always prescriptions to be filled and supplies to be ordered and unpacked. We average 20 boxes of medical supplies a week via UPS.

There are always dogs to be held...

Surgical equipment to be cleaned and sterilized  and always dogs to be walked and bathes!

On average there are two receptinists, five nurses and two doctors at Animal Medical Center to take care of our patients. Trust me when I say this is a busy place!!!

Bio Spot a danger to cats!!!!

On Friday an hour before closing we saw the horrors that Bio-spot for cats can cause. A client had given Bio-spot to her three cats. One cat had no reaction, one began salivating, so the owner bathed the cat and the cat was fine, the third however went into anaphylactic shock and had to be rushed to the hospital.

It took a bath, IV fluid therapy, 24 hour hospitalization, and a large quanitity of medication to save this cats life. Please don't take a chance with your pets, ask your veterinarian what they recommend for flea and tick prevention.

Don't let your cat go through this!!!