Scamps Pet Health People

         Why is My Cat Getting Skinny?  Understanding Common Health Issues There are many reasons why cats lose weight.  Two common conditions— diabetes mellitus  and  hyperthyroidism —can cause significant weight loss despite a good or even ravenous appetite. In addition to weight loss, cats with diabetes often drink much more water than usual. Both of these conditions are linked to hormones and can be treated effectively.       Diabetes Mellitus in Cats Diabetes mellitus occurs when there is a deficiency of the hormone  insulin , which is necessary for cells to use glucose properly. The pancreas either produces insufficient insulin or the insulin produced is less effective.  Overweight cats  are particularly at risk of developing  Type 2 diabetes . Diabetes in cats is diagnosed with a blood and urine test, which will show an increase in glucose levels. Fortunately, diabetes is treatable with  injecta...

  While there is something endearing about a chubby cat there are no health benefits to being overweight. A significant issue for cats is an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus, which interestingly, is not a common issue for overweight dogs. Body condition scoring is a useful tool although trickier in cats than in dogs.  To keep it simple the width across the lumbar spine (between the ribs and pelvis) should be narrower than the depth of the trunk.  The trunk of a cat with healthy weight would be 1.5 to 1.75 times as deep as it is wide.  Some cats have loose skin and subcuteous belly fat which makes the depth more difficult to estimate.   The points of the vertebrae along the spine and the top of the pelvis should be felt with gentle pressure and not obvious.  If your cat is getting wide across the back and looking more of a square shape than a rectangle it is very likely they are overweight. Putting a cat on a diet can be challenging so p...

  Chronic pain is a persistent or waxing and waning pain. A common cause in pets, especially in the second half of life, is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is inflammation of the joints, which over time may lead to an increase in the size of affected joints and a decrease in the range of motion. Lameness is relative. A pet with one sore leg and three non-painful legs will appear worse than a pet with multiple sore legs. To many people, a dog with arthritis in all four legs doesn’t seem to be lame. Just as in humans, arthritis begins with waxing and waning pain. Osteoarthritis in pets is a progressive condition, meaning it tends to worsen over time. The following signs may be seen as the arthritis progresses in dogs: Slower to get up from rest Stiffness after rest that the decreases as the dog gets moving Less able to cope with exercise and may lag towards the end of a walk Lame and more tired after longer periods of exercise, for example, longer walks on the weeke...

What to Expect with Euthanasia of Your Dearly Loved Pet at Home Euthanasis is the practice of ending the life of a pet to limit the pet's suffering. Euthanasia of a dearly loved pet is not easy.  An at home euthanasia is more peaceful than going to a vet clinic.  It is more personal for you and more comfortable for your pet. This is how I help pets pass peacefully.  Sedation is the first, slower step.  Sedation is given with a simpler injection which is less stressful for your pet.  They slowly get very sleepy.  Sedation works best when your pet is relaxed.  The home environment is familiar and much less stressful than a clinic.    Euthanasia itself requires an overdose of anesthetic drug to be injected into a vein.  Most commonly a catheter is placed in a vein in a leg.   After sedation your pet is barely aware of this step.  The injection that ends the pet’s life works reasonably quickly. With the pet already very sleepy...