Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we carry professional recommendation straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to assist our readers higher perceive their cat’s well being and well-being.
Whether or not you’re a brand new pet guardian or a seasoned cat lover, Dr. Paola is right here to offer solutions to your most urgent questions. From diet suggestions and preventive care to troubleshooting widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to supply insights that may maintain your kitty completely satisfied, wholesome, and feline tremendous. Keep tuned for professional steering on a spread of subjects that matter most to you and your cat, so you can also make knowledgeable selections and supply the absolute best care on your furry companion.
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Assist! My Cat Suffers from Allergy symptoms!
“Expensive Dr. Paola,
My 6-year-old cat Nikki suffers from allergic reactions. We don’t know the precise allergen, however a change in litter, meals, and water has helped a little bit. She was badly traumatized as a kitten. Though she likes to be petted, any try to carry her to offer medicine brings on a panic response. I’ve tried all the pieces I can consider—mixing with meals, liquid treats, making use of to her fur—nothing works. Are there any new subdural meds that her vet may apply?” – Linda
Hello Linda,
Taking good care of a cat with a historical past of trauma and allergic reactions can definitively be difficult. Working carefully with a vet is important to make sure the therapy plan addresses Nikki’s bodily and emotional wants. Figuring out allergy triggers is a key step, because it permits for focused methods to handle her indicators successfully.
Therapy choices might embody antihistamines for gentle circumstances or as a part of a broader plan, corticosteroids to cut back irritation and itching, and immunotherapy to desensitize her to particular allergens over time. Different choices, like immunosuppressants similar to Atopica (cyclosporine) or off-label use of Apoquel (oclacitinib), may be thought of, however this must be based mostly on her particular case. Stress administration can be necessary, as it may possibly considerably impression her general well-being since stress worsens allergic reactions.
In case you want to be taught extra and discover the completely different accessible choices for Nikki whereas minimizing stress and making certain her consolation, we suggest talking to one among our veterinarians in a one-on-one seek the advice of at PangoVet.com. PangoVet’s providers can present customized recommendation and enable you to navigate the following steps, making certain you and the veterinarian can work collectively to create a plan tailor-made to her particular wants.
Greatest needs!
Dr. Paola
Communicate To a Vet On-line From the Consolation of Your Sofa!
If you have to communicate with a vet however can’t get to at least one, head over to PangoVet. It’s an internet service the place you’ll be able to speak to a vet on-line and get the customized recommendation you want on your pet — all at an inexpensive worth!
Assist! My Cats Are Fart Machines!
“Expensive Dr. Paola,
I’ve two 5-month-old kittens, Tux and Max, from the SPCA. They eat Purina professional plan kitten meals moist 2 occasions a day along with their dry meals. Are they alleged to be little raging fart machines? I choose one up and WAM, it’s so foul I’ve to cowl my nostril. Is that this regular? Thanks.” – Mary
Hello Mary! It’s not unusual for kittens to expertise occasional gasoline, nevertheless persistent foul-smelling flatulence isn’t thought of regular. There are a number of doable causes for this. Dietary elements are sometimes the first trigger. Extremely processed meals might include components that some kittens discover more durable to digest, similar to sure proteins, fillers, or components. Swallowing air whereas consuming, particularly in the event that they’re enthusiastic eaters, also can contribute to the issue. Moreover, kittens lately adopted from shelters might have an imbalance of their intestine flora or might nonetheless be harboring intestinal parasites, even when they had been handled for worms.
I like to recommend beginning with a better have a look at their food plan. Transitioning to a species-appropriate, much less processed meals with fewer components may assist enhance their digestion and cut back gasoline. You wish to avoid meals with “Meat By-Merchandise” within the ingredient checklist as you’ll be able to by no means know what they include. Including a high-quality, veterinary-recommended probiotic can help them in constructing a wholesome intestine microbiome. It’s additionally a good suggestion to verify along with your veterinarian that Tux and Max are free from intestinal parasites, as these can usually trigger gastrointestinal upset, together with gasoline. If the problem persists or is accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, or weight modifications, a vet go to could be important to rule out different underlying considerations.
Sincerely,
Dr. Paola
Assist! My Cat Wants Weekly Baths!
“Expensive Dr. Paola,
I’ve a foster cat, Catsby, with severe environmental and meals allergic reactions. Since he’s allergic to mud mites he will get a weekly tub with a hypoallergenic shampoo. (Plus HEPA filters, frequent bedding modifications, steam mopping, and so on.) Somebody beneficial month-to-month therapy with Revolution as a result of it could assist with any mud mites within the setting. Is that true? I hate to place chemical substances on his pores and skin until they actually would assist considerably. Thanks, Dr. Paola”
– Kitty
Hello Kitty,
Thanks on your dedication to Catsby’s care whereas he finds a perpetually house! Whereas Revolution (selamectin) is efficient in opposition to many parasites like fleas, ear mites, and sarcoptic mange mites, it doesn’t work on mud mites. Mud mites, similar to Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, dwell within the setting, feeding on family members’ pores and skin flakes and different natural particles. Since they don’t dwell on or feed from pets, they’re not uncovered to selamectin, which primarily targets parasites that dwell in and work together instantly with handled animals.
I have to congratulate you, you’re already doing a superb job managing Catsby’s mud mite allergic reactions with HEPA filters, frequent bedding modifications, steam mopping, and hypoallergenic baths. These steps are the simplest for controlling mud mites and minimizing allergens. Including Revolution is unlikely to offer extra assist with mud mites, so I perceive your hesitation about making use of chemical substances unnecessarily. Please by no means take therapy
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
