February Is “National Pet Dental Health Month”

The Myth: Cats don’t need dental care.

The Truth: According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, about 70% of cats under the age of 3 will develop some form of dental disease, ranging from tartar buildup to resorptive lesions.  Resorptive lesions are the number one cause of tooth loss (because there is no way to save a tooth once the body has begun to reabsorb it), and between 50-75% of cats will have at least one resorptive lesion in their lifetime.

The Myth: Bad breath is not a reason to take your cat to the vet.

The Truth: Bad breath, or “halitosis” in vet-speak, is not only unpleasant for you, but also is a classic indication of dental disease.  Cats can’t tell you when they aren’t feeling well, so it’s important to pay attention to the little things.  In addition to halitosis, some other common symptoms of dental disease include:

• Loss of appetite
• Dropping food
• Head shaking or tilting
• Pawing at the mouth
• Being abnormally aggressive or reclusive
• Decreased grooming
• Bleeding
• Salivating
• Chattering jaws

If you notice any of these signs, it might be time to see your veterinarian.

The Myth: Dental disease is just a cosmetic problem.

The Truth: Dental disease is not only painful for your cat, it can also be dangerous.  If bacteria from the mouth gets into the bloodstream, it can cause damage just about anywhere, including the lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys.

The Myth: Feeding dry food will keep your cat’s teeth clean.

The Truth: Cats typically don’t chew their food, so unless the kibbles are too large to swallow whole, it is unlikely that your cat is getting any teeth-cleaning benefits from dry food.  There are dry foods out there with some teeth-cleaning action, but these should be given as treats, not as your cat’s main food source.  The most effective way to prevent tartar buildup between cleanings is to brush your cat’s teeth.

Visit http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/Brushing-Your-Cats-Teeth/Entire-Video for more information on brushing your cat’s teeth.

Tritrichomonas foetus

• It is a recently recognized parasite in cats.
• This is a single-celled protozoon organism that can cause large bowel diarrhea in cats.
• It is a parasite common in purebred and shelter cats. No breed of cat is immune to this organism.
• Based on a survey of cats at an international cat show, approximately a third of the purebred feline population may be infected with this!

How could my cat become infected with this parasite?

• This is a parasite that is shed in the feces from an infected cat.
• The organism can live up to 3 days in the feces so a shared litter box is a common method of transmission.
• Mutual grooming can also transfer the parasite.
• Cats can come down with clinical signs within days or up to years after exposure.

• Testing for Tritrichomonas foetus is still not routine in most veterinary clinics.
• A routine fecal float test will not detect this parasite.
• It is necessary to have a freshly voided fecal sample or preferably, a direct fecal smear collected by a veterinarian to have a proper sample for testing.
• The organism can be seen using a microscope, can be cultured using a pouch test, or the DNA can be identified using a PCR test.
• This can be difficult to diagnose so a negative test does not rule out Tritrichomonas foetus infection.

• Ronidazole is the only drug felt to be reliable against this organism, but it has to be compounded into a capsule for accurate dosing, is not approved for use in cats, and has some potential side effects.
• Treatment considerations need to be discussed carefully with your veterinarian.

 The good news is that 88% of cats will resolve their diarrhea within 2 years, whether we treat or not.

However, most of these cats will remain as carriers (a source of infection to other cats).

• Catteries that currently or periodically have bouts of diarrhea and have tested negative for common parasites such as Giardia, Coccidia, or Helminths (worms) should be tested specifically for Tritrichomonas foetus.
• Catteries should also consider baseline testing to look for carriers even if they are not seeing bouts of diarrhea.
• All new cats entering a cattery should be tested for Tritrichomonas foetus.

These summary facts have been taken from:

An Owners Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment of Cats Infected with Tritrichomonas foetus, a 24-page guide written by Dr. Jody Gookin, available free online at JodyGookin.com.

Genetic Test Available to Test for the Gene Mutation that Causes Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Maine Coon Cats

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common form of heart disease in the cat.  We have received the following information from The Veterinary Cardiac Genetics Laboratory at North Carolina State University, which will be of interest to all cat owners, especially Maine Coon cat owners.  More information is available at ncsu.edu at the vgcl info site.

In many breeds, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an inherited disease.  A genetic mutation responsible for this disease has been identified in the Maine Coon cat breed.  It is important to note that humans also get hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and there are many genetic mutations that have been identified in people.  This is likely true for cats as well, but to-date there have been only 2 genetic mutations found that cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats, one found predominately in the Maine Coon cat, and one found predominately in the Ragdoll cat.

It is important to understand that the absence of the mutation (a negative test result) in a cat does not mean that it will never get the disease.  A negative result is only saying that the cat does not have the only known mutation that can cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at this time.  In the future, additional mutations may be identified for which we may be able to test as well.

Likewise, it is important to understand that a positive test result does not mean that the cat will necessarily develop life threatening heart disease.  In fact, some cats that test positive will develop only a very mild form of heart disease and will live quite comfortably.  Other positive cats, though they carry the genetic mutation, never develop disease at all.  If your cat tests positive, we recommend an annual examination with an echocardiogram and discussion with your veterinarian, as there are treatment options if hypertrophy of the heart develops.  The test is important to help us screen, looking for the cats more likely to develop this disease, so we can identify and treat the disease in earlier stages.

This test is also very important if you have a breeding cat.  At this time, about 33% of Maine Coon cats test positive for at least one copy of the gene.  If we removed all of these cats from the breeding population, we would dangerously dilute the gene pool. (Remember that Maine Coon cats who carry this genetic mutation also carry other important genes that we do not want to lose from the Maine Coon breed.)  A positive test is reported as either heterozygous (the cat carries 1 copy of the genetic mutation) or homozygous (carries 2 copies of the genetic mutation).  We do not recommend breeding the homozygous cats.  If necessary, recommendations now are that a heterozygous positive cat can still be bred, but bred only to a negative cat so that we decrease the risk of producing more homozygous cats in the population.  As we move forward, we want to select more and more negative kittens from these lines to be used for breeding.

Keep in mind that we are continually learning about this disease and recommendations will be altered as we obtain more information.  Since September 2006, only Maine Coon cats have tested positive for this mutation, but remember that the search is on-going, looking for other genes that have mutations causing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in other cat breeds.  The test is run on either a blood sample or a cheek swab sample and is very easily obtained.  Please talk to your veterinarian about having your Maine Coon cat screened.

Holly, Jolly and Oh-So-Safe!  Of course you want to include your furry companions in the festivities, but as you celebrate this holiday season, try to keep your pets’ eating and exercise habits as close to their normal routine as possible.   Also,  be sure to steer them clear of the following unhealthy treats, toxic plants, and dangerous decorations:

O Christmas Tree

Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn’t tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet.  This will also prevent the tree water—which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset—from spilling.  Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria, and your pet could end up with nausea or diarrhea should he imbibe.

Tinsel-less Town

Kitties love this sparkly, light-catching “toy” that’s easy to bat around and carry in their mouths.  But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting, dehydration, and possible surgery.  It’s best to brighten your boughs with something other than tinsel.

No Feasting for the Furries

Make sure to keep your pets away from the table and unattended plates of food, and be sure to secure the lids on garbage cans.  Fatty, spicy human foods, as well as bones, should not be fed to your furry friends.  Pets can join the festivities in other fun ways that won’t lead to costly medical bills.

Toy Joy

Looking to stuff your pets’ stockings?  Choose gifts that are safe.  Long, stringy things are a feline’s dream, but the most risky toys for cats involve ribbon, yarn, and loose little parts that can get stuck in the intestines, often necessitating surgery.  Surprise your kitty with a new ball that’s too big to swallow, a stuffed catnip toy, the interactive cat dancer, or tons of play sessions together.

Forget the Mistletoe & Holly

• Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems.
• Many varieties of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested.
• Amaryllis can cause severe toxicity if the bulb is ingested (highly unlikely for a cat), but even nibbles on the leaves can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
• The Pointsettia plant can cause mild mouth irritation, drooling, or some self-limiting, mild vomiting if ingested, but is not considered highly toxic for your pets.

That Holiday Glow

Don’t leave lighted candles unattended.  Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock candles over. Be sure to use appropriate candle holders placed on a stable surface, and  if you leave the room, put the candle out!

Wired Up

Keep wires, batteries, and glass or plastic ornaments out of paws’ reach.  A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock, and a punctured battery can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus.   In addition, shards of breakable ornaments can damage your pet’s mouth.

House Rules

If your animal-loving guests would like to give your pets a little extra attention and exercise while you’re busy tending to the party, ask them to feel free to start a nice play or petting session.

A Room of Their Own

Give your pets their own quiet spaces for retreat—complete with fresh water and a place to snuggle.  Shy cats might want to hide out under a piece of furniture, in their carrying case, or in a separate room away from the hubbub.

We found this helpful safety information on the ASPCA national website.  For more detailed information, visit aspca.org.