A Tale of Grass Tetany

                   

                    

                        Everyone should have a hero.  Mine is James Herriot of the All Creatures Great and Small book and television series.  If you’ve ever thought of being a veterinarian, you probably read these books or watched the shows; it is practically mandatory.  I gained a great deal of knowledge from them.  Now I don’t want to say I learned more about being a veterinarian from James than I learned in college, but it's probably pretty close, and I strive to be like him- the hero in almost every story.  I’m afraid, though, I may have turned out more like Tristan, James’ partner’s not-so-bright, trouble-making, “goof off,” younger brother.  Most of my co-workers would probably agree with that.

                        Life is full of stories.  Some end happily; some do not.  That is part of the adventure. Veterinarians’ lives are like that.  My other columns have been more of the fact-filled, “do this, do that” format.  This time I wanted to try something different.  Here is my attempt at an educational, and true, “James Herriot” story.

                        It was a perfect October day.  The air was clear and crisp, and the trees were in their autumn glory.  My patient was a “down” Angus cow at the far end of the pasture just in front of a woods.  From afar, the cow appeared to be dead, but as my truck bounded across the grass toward her, I could see that she was breathing.   The closer I got, the more agitated she became; she was now paddling her legs in wild convulsions.  When I got out of the truck and approached her, she threw her head at me in an aggressive manner.

                        What I have just described are the classic signs and presentation of a cow suffering from hypomagnesemia or “grass tetany.”  This is a metabolic condition that arises from low blood magnesium levels.  “Grass tetany” is commonly seen in cows, and sometimes in sheep, that are grazing lush grass pastures, usually in the spring or the fall of the year.  The rapid growth of the grass along with cool weather conditions results in decreased uptake of magnesium into the plants, making the plants deficient in this nutrient.

                        My assistant for this call was an extremely thin and elderly man who lived in an old house at one end of the pasture.  The owner of the farm had told me on a previous visit that this old man was deaf and could not speak.  Nevertheless, he proved to be a very capable helper.  I placed a nose lead, a tong-like device, in the cow’s nose to keep her head still, and my assistant held the rope to which it was attached.  I then administered a bottle of a calcium/magnesium solution intravenously, being careful not to give it too rapidly as this could kill the cow.  My friend did a good job of keeping just the right amount of tension on the rope, thus preventing the cow from thrashing about.  I would ask him to do things, and he seemed to understand, but I’m sorry to say that I couldn’t understand any of the sounds he would make in response.

                        Following the intravenous bottle, I gave the cow a second bottle of the same solution under the skin on the side of her ribcage.  With our treatment completed, my assistant gently removed the lead from the nose, then neatly wound the rope around the tongs and handed them to me.  I reached out to take them, pinching his fingers between the metal pieces in the process.  It was at this time that our communication problem ceased.  “Ow…you got my finger!” was spoken as clearly as I had ever heard anyone speak.  I apologized profusely and thanked him very much for his help.

                        The occurrence of grass tetany can be prevented by increasing the consumption of magnesium during the critical pasture seasons.  The recommendation is two ounces per head per day for cattle and one-third ounce per head per day for sheep, either incorporated into the grain mix or in molasses-containing blocks.

                        A few minutes after our treatment, the cow gingerly arose and headed into the woods with her calf.  After making certain my new friend’s finger wasn’t badly damaged, I thanked him again and was on my way.

Author:  Dr. John Jones
Image courtesy of Mister GC at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Should You be Breeding Your Pet?

                         If your pet is pregnant, either as a result of an intentional or accidental breeding, please educate yourself to prepare for a successful pregnancy and delivery, and healthy neonates.

                        Let me first state that I am not a proponent of pet breeding.  I continue to be saddened by the number of homeless pets overflowing at rescue facilities and animal shelters.  Your veterinarian can assist you in selecting a “pre-existing,” appropriate pet for your lifestyle and family, as well as provide you with breed rescue and animal shelter information.  We need more responsible pet owners, not more pet breeders.

                        But, if you feel strongly about breeding your pet or your pet is already pregnant, I urge you to gather as much information as possible right now about pet pregnancy, normal and abnormal deliveries (including caesarian sections), neonatal care, weaning, and vaccination and placement of offspring. Start with your veterinarian and schedule an examination for your pregnant pet.  You should plan to discuss nutrition and health requirements for the mother-to-be, delivery, when to call for help, and proper neonatal care. 

                        You may want to do some research at the library or talk with a reputable pet breeder.  Purebred breeders can be located by contacting breed association groups on the internet. Be aware that raising a litter is a lot of work, especially when the offspring are getting larger and more active after two weeks of age.

                        Most importantly, when you make the decision to raise a litter, realize that you become solely responsible for insuring that every member of that litter has a good home for its entire life.  That means if any of the offspring cannot remain in the home that you have placed it in, you should be prepared to accept that pet back, even after months or years have passed. For this reason, I urge you to make the decision to breed or not to breed your pet only after long and careful consideration.

                        Please be advised that pampered, small breed dogs often want to be “the puppy” themselves rather than take care of puppies.  These dogs commonly require C-sections and will not be very good mothers. You should also know that smaller dog breeds have smaller litters.  When there are fewer puppies in the uterus, the fetuses grow to a larger size thus increasing the likelihood of a life-threatening C-section. I always ask owners of toy and small breed dogs if they are willing to sacrifice the mother’s life for a few puppies, as loss of the mother during surgery is a real possibility.

                        Furthermore, small dog breeds have an increased incidence of eclampsia, or low blood calcium, upon delivery and nursing. Eclampsia can cause inadequate uterine contractions, resulting in the need for a C-section, or a very agitated mother that may tremble, and even seizure until her calcium deficit is corrected.

                         Be informed that large dog breeds can average 10 to 15 pups in a litter.  Are you prepared to care for that many puppies, especially after four weeks of age, when their mother has decided that their needle-sharp baby teeth are too painful to permit nursing?  This is when many dog breeders realize that puppy-rearing is “work” and no longer “fun,” resulting in premature placement of newborns in homes ill-prepared for puppies with poor socialization.

                        Cat owners hoping to have kittens soon discover that their female cat is annoying to be around when she is “in heat” due to her constant wailing and rolling around on the floor.  Let’s not forget the urine marking that goes on when your female cat is in heat, and the neighborhood “toms” who adorn your door step with the pungent smell of their “proposals.”

                        The end result of this offensive behavior is the female cat gets sent outdoors when she is in heat, often for the first time. Pregnancy quickly occurs, and the bothersome behavior ceases.  However, young, inexperienced, pregnant cats frequently are poor mothers and have high C-section rates as well.

                        Please enter into pet breeding responsibly and armed with knowledge. If you don’t know what a “whelping box” or a “queen” is…if you don’t know that a bitch’s body temperature will drop within 24 hours of delivery…if you don’t know the difference between stage I and stage II delivery…if you don’t know what a normal interval between delivery of pups or kittens is…if you don’t know how a normal post-partum discharge looks…if you don’t know how to tie off an umbilical cord…I challenge you to get educated and ask yourself “should I be breeding my pet?”

 

Author:  Dr. Bonnie Jones
Photo courtesy of Mandy Price Halsey

Laughter Is the Best Veterinary Medicine

                        Our veterinary assistant, Meghann, raises Golden Retrievers.  When she began working for us four years ago, she had two dogs, Dixie and Daisy.  Dixie was her show dog and her breeding future, and had even been featured with Meghann in this very newspaper.  Daisy was her old dog, and as dog lovers know all too well, became really old way too quickly, and passed away.

                        The day after Daisy died, I knew Meghann was having a tough time, so I sneaked out to the drug store to buy her a sympathy card.  After a quick scan of the selection, I couldn’t believe my luck. There, before my eyes, was the perfect card that read:  “Sorry for the loss of your Golden Retriever.”  This was too good to be true.  And it was.  Closer examination of the card, and by “closer” I mean farther away and with a good squint, revealed that it was “Grandmother,” not “Golden Retriever.”

                        Still, this card with the heartfelt message inside, was the best of the lot.  So I did the only thing I could.  I scratched out “Grandmother” and wrote “Golden Retriever” overtop.

                        Comedy is not unlike veterinary medicine, particularly surgery.  To achieve good results with either often involves some risk.  Knowledge of the audience, or in our profession, a proper history of the client and patient, is essential.  With Meghann, I knew she had a good sense of humor.  But, when one is treading on a grandmother and a Golden Retriever with the same card, the ice is pretty thin.

                        I couldn’t see Meghann’s face when she opened the card, but I thought I detected a gasp and small shudder when she got to the “Golden Retriever” part.  That was followed by some trembling that increased to mild convulsions.  She was laughing.  The operation was a success.  The only repercussion of that event is that ever since, she seems to think it’s okay to call me a “dork.”

                        Two months ago, a lady who wasn’t a client called our office inquiring if I would be willing to come to her house to euthanize her old dog.  She wasn’t ready to do this yet; she was just pre-planning, as her own veterinarian couldn’t, or wouldn’t, perform this service for her.  Although home euthanasias are not high on my list of favorite things to do, she didn’t live far from our office, so I agreed.

                        Weeks went by, though, and I never heard from her, until four Thursdays ago.  I noticed an appointment scheduled late in the day for a new client regarding a geriatric Boxer and the need for a second opinion.

                        When I entered the exam room the lady was already crying, and based on the pile of used tissues, crying a lot.  She had been under a fair amount of pressure from friends and family members to put her dog to sleep.

                        Her main complaint was that the dog had a hard time getting up and was stiff when initially ambulating.  I always cringe when I hear that as a reason to euthanize----I have days like that myself.

                        My initial impression of the patient, a grey-faced, somewhat overweight, senior citizen, was positive.  He seemed to be walking around our exam room just fine.  Like many Boxers of his age (although quite frankly, there aren’t that many), he did have numerous skin lumps and bumps, and some areas of hair loss which could be indicative of hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, or seasonal alopecia common to his breed.  Overall, though, he looked like he had a lot of life left.

                        As I was completing the exam, between bouts of tears, the lady made it very clear that she didn’t want any more tests or medications; she only wanted a second opinion.  This is where my friend, Doug, a comedy genius in his own right, says she threw me an underhand pitch.  I, of course, just had to take a swing.

                        “You want a second opinion?” I said as I carefully laid my stethoscope around my neck.  She nodded. 

                        With my best “Marcus Welby” face, I looked her straight in the eye.  “I think your dog looks pretty good…but, you’re too emotional.”

                        That was followed by pin drop silence for a very uncomfortable eight or nine seconds.  As the “uh-oh’s” and “whoopses” began to build inside me, suddenly she burst into laughter, much to my relief.  Better yet, she cried no more for the rest of the visit.

                        We both knew that the bad time was coming, but it wasn’t here yet, and it certainly wasn’t going to be that day.

                        Laughter is never going to cure a disease, or make the old young again. But, sometimes, in the right situation, it can be a darn good band-aid.

Author:  Dr. John Jones
Image courtesy of savit keawtavee at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Ears Have It

                   At the end of a long week I returned home one evening, slid into bed exhausted, knowing my cat, “Precious,” would soon join me.  Precious is one of our “good sam” cats that was very easy to adopt due to her affectionate personality.  Like all good cats, Precious owns me, and our bedroom is her domain. Her favorite time of day is bedtime and on that evening, it was my favorite time of day as well.  I began to massage her head and chest, as usual, before we both drifted off to sleep.  As I approached her ear area, I noticed her wince a bit and then I felt it…Precious was developing an ear (aural) hematoma.

                        Aural hematomas can be likened to a large “blood blister” that consumes part of or the entire ear flap, also called the “pinna.”  To understand why aural hematomas occur, you must first understand the anatomy of the pinna, which consists of two layers of skin and cartilage, and numerous, small blood vessels.  If you have ever had a pet with even a minor laceration on its pinna, you know how extensive the blood supply and associated bleeding can be. With one good head shake, a pet with a pinnal wound can “paint” a room bright red.

                        Because of this abundant blood supply, any blow to the ear or violent head shake can lead to a rupture of the many ear blood vessels. Bleeding within the pinna causes the two layers of skin and cartilage to separate, and the space in between them fills with blood, resulting in an aural hematoma.

                        The majority of aural hematomas occur in floppy-eared dog breeds that by design are more prone to ear infections.  For these breeds, even an innocent, good ear shake after rising or stretching can cause an aural hematoma.  Veterinarians will closely examine pet ears with hematomas through an otoscope to rule out ear infection as the underlying source for ear shaking.

                        Ear infections are a common reason for visits to veterinary offices.  Signs of pet ear infections include odor, redness, build-up, pain on contact, head shaking, and ear scratching.  When I educate new pet owners, I remind them to touch puppy and kitten ears and examine them daily so the pet is comfortable with ear handling, and the pet owner will be aware of changes in the ear health if they arise. When ear infections are recognized and treated expediently, the pet doesn’t suffer needlessly AND aural hematoma formation will be less likely.

                        Ear infections can also be prevented by routine ear care which includes daily inspection, ear plucking, and ear cleaning with a drying ear cleanser as prescribed by your veterinarian.  Be sure to discuss with your veterinary professional the proper method to pluck and clean your pet’s ears to avoid unnecessary injury. 

                        I find most pet owners are not aggressive enough when it comes to ear cleaning.  I tell my clients “if you can see it, you must go after it” when I am referring to the removal of pet ear debris. The external ear canal has an “L” shape, requiring a person to make a turn within the canal in order to injure the pet’s eardrum.  Therefore, when cleaning your pet’s ears, if you put any cleaning implement in deeper than you can see, you probably are in too far.

                        If your pet is diagnosed with an ear infection or “otitis,” your veterinarian may take ear swabs for microscopic examination and culture in order to determine the best treatment for your pet.  Some pets will require oral as well as topical medications to treat their infection.  Temporary usage of an oral anti-inflammatory drug can be very helpful in providing pain control and accelerating the pet’s recovery.

                        When your pet has an aural hematoma, your veterinarian will first identify and treat the underlying cause, then she will make recommendations for treatment of the hematoma itself.  Minor hematomas can be treated with “benign neglect” which means you treat the underlying cause and wait for the hematoma to re-absorb on its own. Some hematomas are as large as the pinna and will require surgery for drainage and to prevent it from recurring.

                        My little Precious did require surgery for her aural hematoma as her swelling consumed her entire pinna and she was constantly batting at her ear.  While she did very well with her surgery and the hematoma did not return, she did develop a common sequela to pinnal injury, the dreaded “cauliflower ear.”  Cartilage doesn’t like to be traumatized, especially in cats, so it responds by shrinking and crumpling.  Fortunately for dogs, aural hematomas are infrequent in breeds with erect ears, and the cauliflower effect is often minimal for those with floppy ears.

                        Precious’ aural hematoma was most likely the result of her own clumsiness, probably when she was jumping on our bed.  (She had a spinal injury when she was young and her coordination skills are not always the best.) Nevertheless, she takes great pride in sporting her new cauliflower ear as she reminds the other four-legged family members in our household that she is indeed the queen.

Author:  Dr. Bonnie Jones

A Cat of Many Colors

                                    Ruthie is quite a cat.  More dog than cat really, at least behaviorally, she is named in honor of our adopted office mother, “Big Ruthie” Michael.

                        My first encounter with little Ruthie occurred at our reception desk one afternoon last fall.  A lady exited her car carrying a small bundle.  I recognized her as one of our clients who owns a Golden Retriever, but this was definitely not a large dog she was carrying.  As she walked through the door, the “mystery” was revealed---a tiny, longhaired, calico kitten with distinct copper eyes.

                        She found the kitten by the side of the highway.  Not knowing what to do, she brought it to our office.  “We’ll find her a home,” I exclaimed.  When Ruthie started to purr when I picked her up, I knew full well that I just had.

                        A recent near death run-in with a rat had put me on the recruiting trail for more barn cats.  I rationalized that this little fluff of multi-colored hair would grow up to be an ardent rodent killer and protector of my soul. Plus, there was something about this kitten that I liked.  Maybe it was because she liked me.

                        Ruthie spent the next few days in our office, building up her little body before beginning her new career in the barn.  She loved being petted and held, with those orange eyes staring down anyone in their path to do so.

                        Ruthie seemed to enjoy barn life.  She followed me around, albeit slowly, while I did my chores.  Once I found her in a pen of lambs being “schmoozed” by several at the same time.  I could tell she literally thought she was “the cat’s meow.”  However, it soon became evident something was not quite right with Ruthie.  She would have “spells” where she became very listless with some spittle on her chin, and at times even acted blind.  But, she always recovered and became “Ruthie” again.

                        One Sunday morning my wife came out to the barn.  A short time later I saw her leaving with Ruthie.

                        “Hey, where are you taking my cat?”  I heard her mutter something about “Ruthie’s not barn cat material.”

                        As much as she liked the barn, Ruthie enjoyed living in the house even more.  Being the center of attention apparently agreed with her.  Her “spells” became more frequent and dramatic, however, and usually occurred after she ate.  Often, ropes of saliva would dangle from her mouth.  This is called ptyalism and, unfortunately, it is a hallmark sign of a congenital liver condition called a portosystemic shunt.  And her “spells”---a fancy medical term for this is hepatoencephalopathy.  Also, these cats frequently have copper-colored eyes and are small in size.

                        One of our textbooks describes a portosystemic shunt as “an abnormal communication between the portal and systemic venous systems that allows intestinal blood to be delivered to the systemic circulation prior to hepatic detoxification.”  In English, this means that blood carrying digestive by-products, including ammonia from the breakdown of protein in her food, is not being filtered and cleansed by her liver, but is going directly to her brain. In essence, every time she eats, she poisons her brain with ammonia.

                        These shunts can be either extra-hepatic, meaning outside the liver, or intra-hepatic---inside the liver.  The treatment of choice for this condition is surgery, extra-hepatic shunts generally having a more favorable outcome.  My wife consulted a surgeon at Ohio State, one of our old teachers, and he told her the surgical success rate was only about 40% and that there still could be complications.

                        Not wanting to take that risk at this time, we are managing Ruthie’s condition medically, and she seems to be doing well.  She is eating a special diet, Hill’s Prescription Diet Feline L/D, formulated for liver problems.  She is also receiving lactulose, a sugar with laxative effects that increases the speed of ammonia removal through her colon, thus reducing the amount that reaches her brain.

                        Ruthie has grown into a beautiful cat, although we often call her “the third Border Collie.”  She races through the house and romps and wrestles with the “other” dogs at every opportunity. 

                        As I write this column, she is sitting on the edge of the paper on top of the kitchen table, staring at me with those orange eyes.  It’s hard to get mad at her though; she’s just being Ruthie.

                        I don’t know what the future holds for Ruthie, and that sometimes makes me sad.  Overall though, I’m alright with that, because I know we are fulfilling the only real need she ever had---to be loved.  That, she is.

Author:  Dr. John Jones

Do Pets Get Colds?

“Thank you for sharing your cold with me.”

That was the guilt-inducing text message that I recently received from a coworker. Apparently that cold that I’d been dealing with and wishfully telling myself wasn’t contagious while at the same time trying to limit my contact with those around me was, in fact, contagious. Being a veterinarian, I deal with the public every day. And when you deal with the public on a daily basis, you encounter a wide variety of people and an equally wide variety of their germs.

On top of that, as a veterinarian, it’s important that I show up and do my work every day that I am able. People, their pets, my staff and my bosses rely on me being available every day that I’m scheduled to work. So it becomes a judgment call between “taking the day off” to minimize exposure for others and “it’s not that bad” and I can fight through it to perform my duties and help people and their pets.

One question I get on a fairly regular basis is: “Do pets get colds?” I have found that many people don’t realize that cats and dogs can get “colds,” too. Kitty and canine colds are not necessarily caused by the exact same viruses and infections that people are susceptible to. However, pets and people can share some diseases — visit www.cdc.gov/healthypets for a list of zoonotic (pet-to-people) diseases.

There are several viruses and bacterial infections that can cause upper respiratory infections in cats and dogs alike. Sneezing, coughing and nasal discharge are some of the major signs that we’ll encounter in our pet patients with colds. Often we will also see eye infections, eye discharge and conjunctivitis. Pets may cough or swallow repeatedly due to post-nasal drip. Many pets will simply be lethargic or not act like themselves and feel “droopy.” They may even hide from family members (especially cats). Some pets will feel so poorly that they will quit eating — which may turn into a potentially life-threatening problem called hepatic lipidosis in cats. Your pet may also become dehydrated if not drinking enough water or taking in enough moisture from food. If these symptoms are not addressed appropriately the upper respiratory infection may become a lower respiratory infection — pneumonia — which can also be a life-threatening concern.

Upper respiratory infections in cats and dogs are commonly caused by viruses that often set up the environment for secondary bacterial infections. Some of these diseases are self-limiting, lasting a couple of weeks but they may also develop life-threatening complications. If your pet is exhibiting symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, it is best to contact your veterinarian. Your pet may need medical intervention such as antibiotics (for secondary bacterial infections), appetite stimulants, hand-feeding, fluid therapy, eye ointments or even vaporizing therapies depending on the severity of disease.

Dogs and cats can pick up respiratory infections from other dogs and cats. Nose-to-nose contact is a great way to spread doggy and kitty germs. Areas like dog parks, municipal parks, kennels, boarding and grooming facilities, dog or cat shows, doggy daycare, outdoor cat colonies, veterinary office waiting rooms and even through open windows where outdoor and indoor cats like to interact with each other are potential sources of pet germ spreading. Just as with children going to the school house — when you bring kids together they spread germs among themselves. This is not to say don’t send your kids to school or don’t send Fido to the groomer or that Fluffy needs to live in a bubble. It’s just a fact of life — germs are good at their jobs and their jobs are to spread amongst the population. Germs are most easily spread from contact between hosts.

Even though it’s a controversial topic these days on social media outlets — as with Johnny in the school yard — vaccination for common diseases can help decrease disease spread and increase your pets’ immune system response when it comes in contact with disease. Acting quickly by getting veterinary medical assistance when symptoms develop can also help decrease the severity of signs.

There are a few things all people deal with throughout their life time. No matter who you are, what you believe in, what you do for a living, we all have to deal with sickness at some point. Your pets may not have to worry about calling in sick. But as their owners, we need to be aware of their illnesses to help stop disease spread to other pets and to help them get better by seeking veterinary medical attention as needed.

Author:  Dr. Marisa Tong

Cat Overpopulation

             

 

           I have to admit that autumn is my favorite time of year.  For me, the fall season always conjures up images of delightfully plump pumpkins, crisp corn shocks, sweet apple cider, and black “Halloween cats” with their backs maximally arched.  I was on a walk recently with my sister’s Border Collie, “Doogee,” and as the falling leaves swirled about us, we did indeed happen upon a small, black “Halloween cat.”

                        The appearance of this little waif made me begin to ponder the ever present problem of cat overpopulation. Almost on a daily basis, I am asked if I want yet another cat, or if I know of someone who does, or where one might take a homeless cat.

                        The first thought that occurred to me as we were strolling is that, by association, all veterinary professionals (doctors and support staff alike) would seem to be the ideal people to “gift” a stray or unwanted cat to, either openly or anonymously.  The reality is that most veterinary professionals own virtual menageries of pets that they have acquired over the years. Most of us have more animals than time, so we begin to feel a “caregivers remorse” when we cannot give our beloved pets the time they so rightfully deserve.

                        My husband and I have fallen victim to the “special delivery” felines more times than we care to admit.  We have also adopted multiple “Good Sams,” cats (or dogs) that have been rescued by “good samaritans,” that we take on as our own, because these animals have special health care needs.  We truly love our Good Sams, but they often do require more time and attention than other pets.

                        As I am writing this column, I am also thinking about two of my longstanding staff members, Nicolene and Ellen, who have 19 housepets between them, 12 of which were rescued strays.  And, eight days ago I observed one of my newest employees, Joyce, who has been with us a short seven months, being convinced to adopt, coincidentally, a young, unneutered, male, black Halloween cat…

                        Doogee and I hiked a little farther as I contemplated complaints from my clients about stray cats hanging around their homes. Many want to know why the cats won’t leave their property.  After more questioning, clients often admit that they are feeding these unwanted houseguests.  At this point, I then offer up that the “houseguests” are not going to leave, because they have a readily available “kitchen.”  Logically, if you don’t want feline guests, don’t make food and shelter available to them.  Cats, like other outdoor animal life, need a food source. Once that food source is discovered, they have no need, nor desire, to leave.

                        What, then, are we to do about the outdoor cat population that seems eternally growing and ubiquitous?  The foundation of the answer to this question falls into two categories: education and responsibility.

                        My daily mission is to educate my clients about proper and responsible health care for their pets.  To curb, and eventually eliminate, the unwanted outdoor cat population will require commitment on the part of ALL cat owners and caregivers to sterilize ALL cats before puberty.  In addition, ALL pet owners/caregivers need to be “responsible” for their pets’ actions; all owned pets would need to be confined to their home territory, preferably and exclusively indoors.

                        While I do realize that these considerations would only occur in “a perfect world”--- which ours is most definitely not--- wouldn’t it be nice if we ALL tried a little harder to be more responsible pet owners?  It’s as simple as sterilizing your cat in a timely manner BEFORE the onset of puberty, keeping your cat indoors and, lastly, not making available food or open trash areas for unwanted “visitors” to prey upon.

                        To address the “feral,” or wild cat population, feral cat caregivers need only contact a local humane society or association about available “trap, neuter and release (TNR)” programs.  These programs are designed to control the population and disease rate in feral cat communities which sometimes grow to be very large.

                        Instead of asking your veterinarian if he or she wants another cat, please ask what you can do to curb cat overpopulation, AND visit a humane society to adopt your next cat. Your visit will promise to be an eye-opening experience, as these facilities are always brimming with homeless cats.

                        Just ask Precious, Stinky, Elvis, Felix, Saresa, SiSi, Fred, Purresa and George….the Welshire Farm cats that reside with and leave pawprints on the hearts of the Drs. Jones.

Author:  Dr. Bonnie Jones
Image courtesy of Tina Phillips at FreeDigitalPhotos.net