Library
-
Taking care of a paralyzed pet comes with many challenges. This handout reviews the needs of a paralyzed pet and how an owner can help them at home.
-
Hookworm is a parasitic infection of the gastrointestinal tract of cats. Their name is derived from the hook-like mouthparts they use to anchor themselves to the lining of the intestinal wall. How the infection is spread along with clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are covered in this handout.
-
Horner's syndrome is a common neurological disorder of the eye and facial muscles and can occur suddenly. Horner's syndrome is caused by dysfunction of the sympathetic nerves of the eyes and surrounding facial muscles. It may be due to an injury such as a bite wound or blunt trauma, a tumor, intervertebral disc disease, or middle or inner ear disease. If an underlying cause can be identified, treatments will target that issue; however, many cases spontaneously recover after some time.
-
Providing hospice care for pets as they approach their end of life is a relatively young discipline within veterinary medicine. Although the foundational principles of veterinary hospice care are derived fairly directly from those of human hospice care, there are some critical differences between providing hospice care to a human family member and providing hospice care to an animal family member.
-
Hospice care for pets is an emerging niche of veterinary medicine that creates and relies on a unique caring collaboration between the pet owner and members of the veterinary healthcare team. Pet hospice is patterned after the delivery of the end-of-life care provided for human patients, with the additional provision from the veterinarian for humane euthanasia when the pet’s day-to-day quality of life becomes unacceptable.
-
House training is best accomplished with patience and positive reinforcement. Teaching a cat to be well house-trained makes them a more enjoyable pet and a welcome guest. Many cats nearly house train themselves, but it's important to meet cats' needs to ensure they maintain desirable habits for a lifetime.
-
Cats, with their curious nature, may fall victim to poisoning within the home. Cats’ small size, lack of ability to metabolize certain drugs, and their tendency to hide symptoms when ill, make their poisoning less obvious compared to dogs and may also delay treatment.
-
If your pet had an emergency crisis, how would you manage it? Ask your veterinary hospital how they handle after-hour emergencies. Use this handout to help you plan ahead and be prepared in the event of a pet-health emergency.
-
Since cats are living longer and longer, they are also experiencing the deterioration and debilitation that goes along with aging. This includes the development of osteoarthritis. No one is in a better position to identify the subtle changes in behavior that may signal pain than human family members. You may observe changes in the following: vocalization, daily activities, daily habits, facial expressions, or posture. Your cat may show uncharacteristic behavior to other pets or family members. If you notice any of these changes, contact your veterinarian.
-
Your veterinarian may prescribe rectal medication if your pet is unable to swallow oral medications or if a specific required medication cannot be effectively absorbed with oral delivery. The rectal tissues contain large numbers of blood vessels very close to their surface, which means that medications delivered to this area are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. Rectal medication is most commonly used to treat seizures.