Even your much loved, indoor kitty can get fleas. Fleas can hitchhike in on your shoes, your other pets, or live in your carpet or furniture. Fleas are the most common external parasite bothering our pets. The dermatitis that results from allergy to flea bites is the most common skin disease of dogs and cats. You can treat the problem preventively or situationally.

Flea infestations are serious business for you and your cat. Your cat can suffer anemia from the blood loss, caused by flea bites. Fleas are also vectors for some other diseases. You, too, can be bitten by fleas, causing a red, itchy bump.

If you select situational treatment, meaning after your cat shows signs of fleas; you should watch your cat for signs of itching or greater than normal bathing. If you aren’t sure if fleas are the cause, use a flea comb and look for the tiny black dots on the comb. This is flea dirt or more accurately excrement. If you rub the dots with a damp towel, you may see the dots become red or pink - this is residual blood from your cat.

To treat your cat, you should use a product that works on all stages of a flea’s life: egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. Wash all bedding and vacuum the furniture, including under the beds, chairs, the carpet, and crevices - especially crevices because fleas are sneaky critters. You can use a flea comb on your cat along with bathing with a flea shampoo. I do not recommend flea collars for cats as they can be caught and choke your cat, as he tries to get away. You can also use topical treatments on your pet’s coat.

Preventive flea treatment includes products given monthly before fleas are apparent. Program® and Sentinel® (Lufenuron) from Novartis are two preventive flea products. They are available as a once a month pill or oral liquid suspension. These are prescription drugs you get from a veterinarian. Frontline ® & Frontline Plus ® Flea & Tick Control for Cats are available over-the-counter. They are topically applied and kills fleas and ticks in under 48 hours. You can learn more about your flea control options and order products from Drs. Foster and Smith or from your vet.

Posted by Barbara.

Cats with light fur are 13 times more likely to get skin cancer because they have less skin and hair pigment than other animals. Most cancer tumors in cats develop on the head including ear tips and eye lids.  Skin cancer in cats is caused by over exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. Although skin cancer in cats is most common on the head, it can also appear in other parts of the body that have less hair. White cats should be kept out of direct sun as much as possible. If cat is out in the sun a lot, you can prevent sunburn by using a sunscreen on their ears and noses. Your veterinarian can recommend one which will not be harmful if ingested.

How to check your cat for skin cancer:

1.  Examine your cat’s skin monthly, looking for tumors, blemishes, scaly areas or color changes.

2.  Check for any growths on the skin or changes in the color of an existing growth.

3.  Check for any areas, especially on the ears and nose that seem to bleed easily.

4.  As you pet or massage your cat, check for any lumps or growths that are buried from view by his or her fur.

5.  Be sure your vet checks for signs of skin cancer during your cat’s annual check up. If you see a sign that concerns you, schedule a checkup with your veterinarian.

Posted by Barbara.

Pet blood can be donated to aid ill or injured animals. According to Dr. Rachael Carpenter, a veterinary anesthesiologist director of the Transfusion Medicine Program at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, blood donations can be used either as whole blood, packed red blood cells, plasma, or platelets. The most common use for donated blood is as packed red blood cells, which contain the red blood cells necessary for transporting oxygen throughout the body. Many specialty animal surgery hospitals maintain a list of potential donors that can be called on if needed.

Dr. Carpenter explains that the donation process is relatively simple. When a volunteer pet is brought to a clinic to donate blood, the animal is given a general physical exam and survey blood work to ensure its good health. Donor animals generally should be young adults. Donors must be negative for any diseases, current on vaccines, and have normal blood work. In addition, a donor cat should weigh more than 10 lbs.

Cats and dogs that are eligible to donate blood will be tested to determine blood type. "For cats, blood typing is a critical step in the transfusion process in order to prevent dangerous and possibly fatal reactions to the donor blood," says Dr. Carpenter. The process for blood drawing is similar to that followed for humans except that animals are usually sedated while the blood is drawn since they are not willing to sit still during the process.

If you are interested in having your pet considered to be a donor animal, you should check with your veterinarian or local animal surgery clinic to begin the process.

Posted by Barbara.