New paws keep cat on the move

Oscar is a lucky kitty.

He lost his two hind legs in an accident with a combine harvester, but a veterinarian took him to a neuro-orthopedic surgeon.

The surgeon made peg legs for Oscar and watch the video to see how well he gets around.

Not counting the surgery, the cost was $3,000.

Here's an Associated Press article by Maria Cheng via yahoo.com.

The artificial paws were designed to be fused to bone and skin.

The veterinarians then inserted the peg-like implants by drilling them into Oscar's ankle bones in his rear legs. The metal implants are attached to the bone where Oscar lost his paws and were coated with a substance that helps bone cells grow directly over them. The cat's own skin then grew over the end of the peg to form a natural seal to prevent infections.

After rehab training, Oscar was on all four feet in less than four months.

Pretty amazing.

Update on Kate

Sorry about the lack of blog posts over the last week.

I had to go to Gannett headquarters in Virginia for a couple days for training, and, let's face it, it's been a week. And not in a good way.

A week ago Saturday, Kate woke up around 4 a.m. and was stumbling around the house. I have wood floors and practically no floor coverings, and if she ended up on the floor she couldn't get up.

And when she did get up she would walk to the left. At times, in the kitchen, she would just go in circles to her left or she would walk through the house always turning left. Oh, and it was raining. Kate hates when it rains. And there were some pretty big thunder claps. Kate hates when it thunders.

I had to go away Monday and Tuesday for the training and I was panicking about leaving her. My neighbor was going to come in three times a day to let her out and feed her, but she couldn't have managed Kate if anything happened.

I called the vet, and when he finally returned the call, it was a half hour from closing. He said to bring her right over. He said he didn't think it was a complication of the renal failure. He said it seemed more like a neurological deterioration of some sort.

He suggested, since I was going away, to board Kate at the vet's so they could monitor her and run some tests. That took a load off my mind.

They only did a blood test, and it showed the kidney damage is progressing. That was expected.

I called while I was gone and the vet said she was doing well, was able to stand on non-textured surfaces and was eating.

When I went to pick her up Wednesday, it was raining again. Kate wasn't doing well. The vet said possibly the damp conditions were aggravating her arthritis, and he gave her an nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory.

Getting her home wasn't easy. She was yowling most of the way, something Kate never does. Fortunately, I asked a neighbor to sit in the backseat with her and keep her calm. She wrapped a towel around Kate and that helped a lot.

Finally, we got home and Kate's back legs really weren't functioning all that well. They were crossing at times, and occasionally the top of the paw would end up on the ground. I had to use the towel (it's red and, by the end of the exercise, it was quite hairy) to lift up her hindquarters.

She was better Wednesday evening.

Since then she's been OK. It rained a little Friday morning but it didn't seem to bother her. She actually came to the door when I came home from grocery shopping.

I put a large rug down on the floor next to her so she has some traction. A neighbor gave me a comfy dog bed her poodle wouldn't go hear, so Kate has a choice.

Actually I found that she had even another choice, much to my surprise.

I got home Thursday and opened the patio door. Usually I can see Kate on one of her beds from the door, but she wasn't there. I had blocked off part of the kitchen and living room so she couldn't go too far afield.

My heart skipped a beat until I got in the living room and turned on the lights. There was Kate, on the couch, as nice as you could please. (Photographic evidence above.)

Frankly, I didn't think she could still get up on the couch, but I was wrong. My real concern was whether she could get off the couch.

And she could.

So that's why I haven't been blogging. I've had my mind elsewhere, and on top of that, Wednesday and Thursday were crazy busy in the newsroom.

I'll keep you updated on Kate.

Photo: Michael Woyton/Poughkeepsie Journal.

Few pets getting swine flu

The Associated Press is reporting there are a few confirmed cases of pets infected with the H1N1 flu virus, otherwise known as swine flu.

The virus ... has been diagnosed in only a few cats and ferrets since it emerged in April. Veterinarians say they don't know if that is because so few animals have been tested or because so few have the disease.

"I think we're probably going to be seeing more (pet) cases in the future. There is more focus on it so people are looking harder," said Dr. Kristy Pabilonia of the Colorado State University Department of Veterinary Medicine, which confirmed two new cases in cats on Friday.

The American Veterinary Medical Association, the AP reported, said while it is rare for flu viruses to jump between species, there is no evidence people can get the swine flu from pets.

Whether doctors are treating humans or pets, they give the same advice: Wash your hands, cover your mouth when you sneeze and limit contact with others if you are ill.

Symptoms in pets may include lethargy, decreased appetite, fever, runny nose and eyes, sneezing, coughing and changes in breathing patterns. Because there have been only a few cases, Pabilonia said vets have limited information about the severity of the disease in house pets.

And medical officials urge people to not share human medications with their pets. It could be as dangerous to your pet as the disease.

Cat declawing update

The L.A. city council public safety committee has proposed a ban on cat declawing.

See a report in the Los Angeles Times "L.A. Unleashed" blog here.

The proposal was put forth by Councilmen Bill Rosendahl and Paul Koretz, who said the procedure caused "unnecessary pain, anguish and permanent disability" to cats, according to the report from the L.A. Times' David Zahniser.

This follows reports that Santa Monica and West Hollywood have instituted bans on the procedure. San Francisco gave its initial approval to a ban Tuesday.

Beverly Hills is one vote away from a ban on declawing. Here's a story from the Los Angeles Daily News.

Looks like California is well ahead of the rest of the country, though a new state law taking effect Jan. 1 restricts cities from banning declawing.

Cat declawing outlawed in Santa Monica

Santa Monica, Calif., has axed a controversial veterinary procedure.

On Tuesday, the Santa Monica city council banned cat declawing.

Here's an article from the Santa Monica Daily Press by Melody Hanatani.

The ordinance, which will take effect 30 days after a second and final reading next month, will prohibit onychectomy — also known as declawing — and flexor tendonectomy from being performed on cats, a surgery that is likened to cutting off the last joint of all 10 human fingers.

Proponents of the ban have argued that declawing is not only physically painful, but leaves cats more vulnerable to abandonment and relinquishment because of the behavioral changes that take place following the procedure, including urinating and defecating outside of litter boxes and biting because clawing is no longer a viable defense mechanism.

Those who opposed the ban said eliminating the option for pet owners would mean more cats abandoned or euthanized.

Only one councilman — out of seven — voted against the ordinance. Councilman Richard Bloom said the ban would lead to "a far worse outcome for the cat," and he proposed an amendment.

His proposed amendment to the ordinance that declawing be allowed only to prevent abandonment, relinquishment and euthanization after veterinarians counsel pet owners on alternatives was shot down. Another amendment that prohibits licensed medical professionals to package declawing with other surgeries was also denied. Councilman Bobby Shriver, who did vote for the ban, supported the amendments.

The article said that the ban comes shortly before a new state law taking effect Jan. 1 restricting cities from banning declawing. West Hollywood is the only other California city with such a law.

Pets with dementia

As it happens in humans, even pets can get dementia.

A new book by Dr. Shawn Messonnier called Unexpected Miracles (Forge Books) talks about cognitive disorders in dogs and cats.

Messonnier, a holistic vet who has a radio program on the Martha Stewart Sirius/XM channel uses the book to describe how holistic medicine can help animals when conventional treatments don't work.

His Web site — petcarenaturally.com — has an article about cognitive disorders in pets. Read it here.

While the condition appears new, it is not and has been recognized by veterinarians for many years. There are a number of clinical signs in pets with cognitive disorder. These signs are often accepted by owners as normal signs of aging, when in fact they are signs of a (usually) treatable condition. Owners must be taught that any of these signs warrants a full evaluation. Education must begin before the first geriatric visit. Regular geriatric examination, ideally every 6-12 months, will facilitate communication and allow for early diagnosis of cognitive disorder and other conditions often seen in geriatric dogs.

Common signs in dogs and cats with cognitive disorder include:

• Wandering aimlessly
• Vocalizing for no reason
• Getting stuck in a corner
• Increased daytime sleeping
• Seeking less attention
• Loss of house training
  

Messionnier stresses that these signs can mimic other conditions, like cancer and hypothyroidism, so vets should do a full checkup prior to making a diagnosis of cognitive disorder.

Drug treatment is available, he said, but some might consider the cost — $125 per month for a 30-pound dog — prohibitive.

Natural alternatives, including herbs, thyroid supplement and nutritional supplementation have been found to be effective, Messionnier said.

Canine flu a growing problem?

USA Today reports some kennels are requiring dog owners vaccinate their pooches for canine influenza virus.

Here's the story.

Has anyone around the mid-Hudson Valley been required to get the shots?

Cue Abe Simpson

There's a line in the "Who Shot Mr. Burns?: Part 1" episode from the "The Simpsons" when Santa's Little Helper has to wear an Elizabethan collar.

Grandpa sees the dog walking by and says, "Hey, the lamp's running away."

Well, my little lamp didn't run away, but Kate has to wear an e-collar for the next two weeks.

Yesterday morning, I took her — after all these years — to have her teeth cleaned. And while she was under anesthesia, the veterinarian also removed a small growth on her eyelid that was making her eye produce some gunk.

Kate came through the procedures fine, though she was a little unsteady from the sleeping gas when I picked her up around 5 p.m. Her back legs really didn't start holding up their part of the bargain until around 7:30 p.m. or so.


I read — on the Enterwebs, of course — that dogs get used to having the cumbersome looking devices around their necks and can even eat, drink and sleep in them.

So I elevated her water bowl by using a coffee mug. To prevent the bowl from sliding around, I used some double-sided sticky carpet backing I had saved from when I had my stair treads installed.

Kate was able to drink her water easily, and I rigged her food bowl the same way.

I was going to title this entry "1 down and 13 to go," based on last night's experience. While Kate kept the collar on all night, it was not without a lot of effort on her part.

After a couple hours of sleep in a comfy bed, I went downstairs (the vets recommended Kate stay on one level and avoid stairs for a while) at 3:30 a.m. to check on her. She was sleeping peacefully.


That is, until I laid down on the couch, figuring I just sleep there for the rest of the "night," better to keep an eye on her.

Just as I was drifting off to sleep, Kate got up and tried to get the collar off herself. She walked around the living room and into the kitchen, stopping to successfully drink some water several times.

Finally after about 10 minutes, she laid back down and went to sleep.


About an hour later, she was up again, but only briefly as she tried a couple more times to shed her "collar of shame," as my friend Alice calls it.

Then she slept until well after I got up to start my day. She did manage somehow to get the collar off her head while I was in the shower. I reattached it and she went back to sleep.

Two weeks, huh?

And no, Kate, it doesn't matter which direction you point the collar. It doesn't help the reception on the TV.

Pet industry recession proof?

A new report by the American Pet Product Association said that total spending on pets in 2008 topped $43 billion, an increase of 4.9 percent over 2007.

And it seems 2009 is trending that way as well.

Bob Vetere, President of APPA, wrote the article you can see here.

He said it comes as no surprise that, as pets are increasingly important in their owners' lives, what people spend on them is reflected in the health of the industry, which is the eighth largest retail segment in the U.S., ahead of toys, jewelry, candy and alcohol.

[After the first half of 2008] the economy collapsed with the woes of Wall Street. However, the resulting impact on the pet industry reveals a promising resiliency even through the toughest of times. With the final spending figures for 2008 released and early indicators for 2009 interpreted, the pet industry has fared better than most. While no industry is truly recession-proof, the pet industry seems recession-resistant. One popular newspaper referred to the industry as “the antidote to the recession.”

Greater than anticipated growth, Vetere said, was in routine veterinary services and pet-sitting and boarding, growing at 10 and 6.7 percent over 2007, respectively.

Sales of food grew 3.7 percent of 2007, while over-the-counter medications grew only 2 percent.

We love our pets, it seems. Have any of you cut back? If so, how?

Please respond to the poll on the left side of this page.

Pug steps on it

There are easier ways to cancel a scheduled surgery.

Apparently, an Indiana pug couldn't think of anything else when it jumped onto the gas pedal of its owner's truck, sending it crashing into the — thankfully — empty waiting room of a veterinary clinic in Plymouth, Ind.

Here's the story from WSBT-TV in South Bend, Ind.

The dog, who was not named in the story (the owner was, and her last name is ... wait for it ... Mutti), was going to have knee surgery, which was postponed because of the accident.

No one was injured in the accident.

The economy and pets' health

Everyone I know is looking for ways to cut back during these financially and emotionally trying times. But skimping on your companion animal's health doesn't have to be one of them.

Taking care of your pet now can prevent costlier problems in the future.

That is what Dr. Sheldon Rubin, president of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, said today on CBS's The Early Show Saturday Edition.

Rubin stressed that preventive care helps prevent illness, which in turn helps owners avoid much bigger veterinarian bills down the road if pets get sick.

He said:

Nationwide, we're definitely seeing the number of visits to vets down, but the emergency clinics are doing a lot better. People are putting off preventive care, and when the animal does have an issue, they put it off, hoping it will go away. Then, at one or two in the morning, it hasn't gone away, and suddenly it's an emergency.

See the full transcript of the interview here.

Rubin also suggested some things people can do to make sure their pets stay healthy longer. They included:

• Keep vaccinations current.

• Do routine checks on your pets at home, such as looking for lumps and bumps, dry skin, smelly ears.

• Flea, tick and heartworm prevention.

• Don't let your pet get too fat.

Vouchers for pet owners to offset vet costs

The people who make Advantage, the topical flea treatment for dogs and cats, are offering coupons to encourage pet owners to take good medical care of their charges in program called Help Your Pet, Get to the Vet.

In these challenging economic times, many pet owners are facing difficult choices about how to pay for and prioritize their pets’ care and wellness. And unfortunately, veterinary visits and preventive veterinary care are often cut due to financial struggles and concerns.

To that end, through Feb. 28, dog and cat owners can try for a chance to receive a $20 voucher good toward preventive veterinary care, such as vaccinations, wellness exams, flea and tick treatment and prevention, heartworm medication and dental care.

Vouchers available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m ET every hour on the hour, up to 1,000 distributed each day.

To try for yours, start here.

Cat health research needed

There are 82 million cats in homes across America — you know who you are.

In spite of the fact that cats are the No. 1 pet in the U.S., felines receive less medical care than dogs. Also there is less medical research on cats than on dogs.

Because of that, the Morris Animal Foundation has started the Happy Healthy Cat Campaign to help eliminate suffering and premature death in cats.

Check out the Web site to find health warning signs and common health problems for cats.

There is plenty of information on the site for cat owners, as well as veterinarians and scientists.

The foundation will also increase funding for feline health research and the training of new scientists.

Healthy Kate

We went to the vet first thing this morning for Kate's annual checkup and rabies shot.

The old gal is in good shape, so the vet said.

And since Kate is over 13 years old, the vet recommended that we skip the teeth cleaning.

That means I can spend my economic stimulus check on something else — like gas for the car and my credit cards.

Nevertheless, I went to the pet store and bought a doggie toothbrush and toothpaste.

We already had one session, which Kate tolerated.

I'll be better about it this time.

Really.

Kate's annual checkup

I took Kate for her annual checkup and shots today. There was a little trepidation on my part because we were going to a new vet. Our previous vet in Shekomeko is just too far away, unfortunately. Kate doesn't travel well, and besides, I think it is important to have a vet/physician nearby.

The Shekomeko vet recommended someone in the area and I took her at her word. And after meeting the vet, I am pleased with the choice.

Kate is doing fine, considering she's 12 years old. She is "fit trim," according to the vet, and that is a good thing. There is some bluing of her eyes, which seems to be normal for her age. Heart and lungs sound good, too.

In six months, we're going to have a blood test done to see how well she would tolerate anesthesia, so the tartar on her teeth can be addressed. And I picked up a tooth-care kit today and promised to use it on a regular basis.

The old gal herself did not want to be on the examination table. She kept trying to jump over the nurse who was amazingly able to hold onto her.

I remember one time back in NYC when I took her to the vet for the annual checkup and shots and Kate would have none of it. She wiggled, she squirmed, she made every effort to get the hell out of there. But, alas, the shots had not been administered and the blood had not been drawn.

The vet was trying to insert the needle to take a blood sample and there were three of us surrounding Kate, attempting to keep her in one place until the deed was done. Yes, we were all covered in hair, only a small part of it our own.

The needle was poised, ready to find a vein or artery, which was necessary for the sample — and Kate bucked.

If it had been a movie, it would have been in slow motion. I saw the needle and syringe at once in the vet's hands begin an arching movement that traveled between the nurse and me and fly over my shoulder. It landed on the floor behind us.

Whew!

Today's shots were uneventful. Kate is a trooper. And she didn't even throw up in the car.

A good day.