Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we convey skilled 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 dad or mum or a seasoned cat lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply solutions to your most urgent questions. From diet suggestions and preventive care to troubleshooting widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that may hold your kitty glad, wholesome, and feline effective. Keep tuned for skilled steerage on a spread of subjects that matter most to you and your cat, so you may make knowledgeable choices and supply the very best care to your furry companion.
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Assist! My Cat Has a Ruptured Anal Gland!
“Pricey Dr. Paola,
Yesterday, my cat Peach was seen on the vet and had a ruptured anal gland. How can this be prevented, what brought on it, and what questions ought to I ask concerning the blood work outcomes from the checks they ran? Thanks!” – Ruth
Hello Ruth,
I’m sorry Peach needed to undergo that. Ruptured anal glands may be fairly painful, however with the suitable care, she’ll be feeling higher quickly. You possibly can consider anal sacs like tiny balloons situated simply contained in the anus, positioned at about 4 o’clock and eight o’clock in case you think about a clock face. These small, sac-like constructions sit beneath the pores and skin and produce a thick, typically strong-smelling fluid that cats use for scent marking. Usually, this fluid is of course expressed throughout defecation when agency stool passes by way of, making use of strain to the glands. Nonetheless, if the fluid turns into too thick, the ducts turn out to be blocked, or there may be irritation, the glands can overfill, resulting in impaction, an infection, and, in extreme circumstances, rupture.
This rupture occurs as a result of strain builds up like an overfilled water balloon. As soon as the fluid thickens or the ducts turn out to be blocked, micro organism will get entangled, forming an an infection that develops into an abscess that bursts. Some cats are extra susceptible to this as a result of stool consistency, anatomy, or underlying well being points.
Stopping this implies maintaining these “balloons” from overfilling within the first place. A weight-reduction plan that promotes agency, well-formed stools helps naturally categorical the glands, very similar to squeezing a ketchup packet simply sufficient to launch a little bit at a time as a substitute of unexpectedly. If Peach has comfortable stools or frequent anal sac points, adjusting her fiber consumption with the addition of pure sources like canned pumpkin or psyllium husk, or perhaps a veterinary advisable complement may assist.
Sustaining a wholesome weight can also be vital since extra fats can intervene with regular gland hygiene and performance. Chunky cats merely can not attain to maintain the realm clear by themselves, whereas the surplus weight can scale back circulation within the space, and their slower digestion as a result of sedentarism doesn’t assist both. For some cats, periodic veterinary checks to manually categorical the glands could also be essential, however provided that that is advisable by the vet. Manually expressing the glands when it’s not essential can additional contribute to the lack of tone and lead to improper emptying.
For her bloodwork, you may ask about her white blood cell rely, which might point out an infection or irritation, and whether or not any liver or kidney values have been assessed, particularly if she’s on antibiotics or ache treatment. It is usually vital to find out if allergy symptoms or meals sensitivities is perhaps contributing; discussing dietary modifications could possibly be helpful. Regulate stool consistency, weight-reduction plan, and any indicators of discomfort (like scooting, extreme licking, or swelling close to the anus) to assist forestall future issues. I hope Peach heals rapidly!
Dr. Paola
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Assist! My Sphynx Retains Drooling!
“Hello Dr. Paola,
Each time our Sphynx cats are cuddling with us, they drool loads. They purr and are very affectionate. They’ve yearly dental checkups and cleanings. Our vets say their tooth are effective. Typically there may be plenty of drooling and typically not a lot. Why do they do that?” – Suzie
Hello Suzie,
It feels like your Sphynx cats are displaying their love in a very drooly means! Some cats, particularly when deeply relaxed and content material, will drool as a part of their pure response to pleasure. That is just like how some folks may tear up when feeling very emotional—it’s an involuntary response linked to robust optimistic feelings. Since your cats are purring, cuddling, and in any other case wholesome with common dental checkups, their drooling is most definitely an indication of pure happiness relatively than a medical concern.
The variability within the quantity of drool might rely on how relaxed they’re within the second, their physique place, and even slight modifications of their hydration ranges. Some breeds, together with the Sphynx, may be extra susceptible to this habits as a result of particular person anatomy or sensitivity. So long as there aren’t any different regarding indicators like pawing on the mouth, unhealthy breath, or problem consuming, their drooling is probably going simply their means of expressing contentment. You may wish to hold a comfortable fabric close by for cuddle classes and think about it their model of affectionate “happy tears!”
It’s refreshing to listen to about glad and cuddled cats!
Dr. Paola
Assist! My Cat Had Arduous Poops!
“Anthony bear is a large 18-lb cat who, for his size, according to the vet, is not that much overweight, but he has red blood on the outside of his stools quite often from licking his fur and the stools being harder, larger, full of hair, etc. I was looking for the best alternative without having to give him a stool softener that he doesn’t like and doesn’t really want to take every day of his life. I’m sure there has to be a better option, even something holistic I can just add to the food that he won’t notice.” – Daybreak
Hello Daybreak,
If you concentrate on Anthony Bear’s digestive system like a set of family pipes, when water flows freely, every little thing strikes because it ought to. But when particles builds up, and there’s not sufficient water flushing by way of, issues decelerate, and ultimately, blockages can type. His tougher, bigger stools full of fur are placing additional pressure on his system, and similar to an excessive amount of strain in a pipe could cause small cracks or leaks, the repeated straining is probably going inflicting tiny tears within the delicate tissues round his rectum. That’s why you’re seeing vivid purple blood on the surface of his stools; it’s an indication of irritation from passing dry, cumbersome waste by way of an already delicate space.
If this cycle continues, the chance isn’t simply discomfort. Power constipation can result in megacolon, the place the colon turns into so stretched out and weakened that it may well now not push stool by way of successfully. At that time, waste turns into impacted, requiring medical intervention. One of the simplest ways to forestall that is by maintaining issues shifting naturally. Small dietary modifications can go a good distance in stopping critical points, and maintaining Anthony Bear’s digestive “plumbing” operating easily now can save him from a lot greater issues down the road.
A moisture-rich weight-reduction plan like high-quality recent or moist meals could possibly be of nice profit because it acts like including water to the pipes, serving to forestall clogs earlier than they begin. I extremely advocate you add a cat water fountain to your property to entice him to drink. It’s also possible to add pure, natural canned pumpkin puree or psyllium husk to his meals to supply light, pure fiber that retains issues comfortable and flowing easily. Omega-3 fatty acid from fish, salmon, or krill oil are sources of EPA and DHA. These fatty acids assist to assist intestine motility and scale back irritation. It’s a should to maintain up with common brushing, which can scale back the quantity of hair he swallows, serving to to forestall stool from changing into excessively dry and hulking.
If constipation continues regardless of these modifications, or if he begins skipping bowel actions for greater than 48 hours, appears uncomfortable, or his stool turns into progressively tougher, a veterinary check-up is essential. Power constipation can result in worsening issues over time, and as soon as the “pipes” are too stretched out, restore turns into way more tough. By making small, pure changes now, you’ll be able to assist Anthony Bear preserve a wholesome digestive circulate and keep away from critical issues down the road. I hope this helps!
I hope this helps,
Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
