Feline Hypertension

Although many of us keep an eye on our own blood pressure, we tend to forget to monitor the blood pressure of our pets. High blood pressure in cats, also called feline hypertension, normally occurs in older pets and can be a symptom of or lead to a multitude of health issues. Your senior cat should be screened for high blood pressure twice yearly at your veterinarian’s office to prevent or diagnose any related issues.

One common problem caused by high blood pressure in cats is a sudden onset of blindness. This occurs when the retina (lining of the back of the eye) is detached from its normal position. Other signs of feline hypertension are presence of blood in the eye, dilated and unresponsive pupils, and rapid heart rate.

Please stay conscious of this condition in your feline friend to avoid future health problems. Our companions can live long and happy lives as long as we do our part in keeping them healthy and safe. Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul encourages pet owners to closely monitor their pets and to be cognizant of any subtle changes in normal day-to-day behavior.

No-kill shelters, do they work?

There are many no-kill shelters for unwanted dogs and cats in the United States. Several large metropolitan areas are moving to a no-kill concept in the near future and some already have made the change. Unfortunately, because of the large numbers of animals surrendered each year, detailed in our previous blog, no-kill shelters may not work.

Some shelters are run by private organizations and must limit the number of animals that they accept. These are typically the most successful no-kill shelters. Some are even run in conjunction with a local humane society or animal shelter so that the animals that are apparently healthy and adoptable may get the little extra time they need to be adopted but the city’s shelter can still humanely euthanize animals that can’t be adopted. Can a city’s humane society start turning away surrendered animals because “the inn is full”? If they do, where will these unwanted pets go?

Many no-kill shelters will accept animals only that they deem adoptable. This means that unhealthy or aggressive animals will not be accepted. This might not be such a bad thing, but if these animals are then simply turned out on the street, we could have a real problem on our hands.

Some shelters will have to continue accepting pets, even when they are already at maximum capacity. This will lead to overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, disease that runs rampant, and lower likelihood that the animals will be eventually adopted.

Many people can’t care for sick or injured pets and we need to have some way to help these animals, whether it is through humane euthanasia or veterinary care followed by adoption.

There is not one answer to this problem, but responsible pet ownership, including spaying and neutering is one step towards reducing the number of unwanted pets. When you’re ready to introduce a new pet to your household, don’t forget about the adoption option!

Saving Nine Lives

According to the ASPCA, each year 8-12 million companion animals (cats and dogs) enter U.S. shelters. Of the cats, 70% are tragically euthanized because of lack of space and money. Pet lovers are encouraged to do their part and save these precious lives by spaying and neutering their pet cats. Avoiding the allowance of felines outdoors and using outdoor pet enclosures for your cat as an alternative can help to curb this growing trend.

However, even with the assistance of responsible cat owners, there are many feral and previously owned felines out and wandering, spreading disease and producing more cats. Granted, there are many feral cat programs that trap these cats, neuter or spay them and then release them if they are not adoptable – but a more collaborative effort must be launched.

If you are interested in increasing the feline population in your home, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul encourages you to adopt one of the many healthy and lovable cats from a shelter near you! Doing so will help keep a great companion from being needlessly euthanized and provide your household with a new, and grateful, family member.

Saluki Puppy to Receive Cutting-Edge Prosthetic Leg

The Associated Press reported this month that a one year old Saluki canine will be receiving a cutting-edge prosthetic leg – a technology which, if successful, could be transferred to human patients. The puppy, now called Sally the Saluki, was found wandering the Kuwaiti desert with part of her left hind leg severed. It is not clear how the injury occurred.

Sally was slated to have the remainder of her leg amputated by a local veterinarian in Kuwait. Before committing to this drastic measure, a call was made to Colorado State University, by the volunteer who found her, to see if it was indeed the best course of action. Because Sally was young and in good health, CSU suggested she would be a good candidate for a new ‘ingrowth’ procedure. The Saluki puppy was subsequently flown to Colorado where she was evaluated by the veterinarians of the CSU Animal Hospital.

While most people with amputated limbs have done well with ‘strapped-on’ prosthetic limbs, dogs have a harder time adjusting to the altered mobility. The proposed surgery for Sally would entail a metallic implant being inserted into the remaining left hind leg bone and attaching a prosthetic limb to the implant. The hope of the CSU veterinary team is that the bone would grow around the implant, allowing for a more natural and seamless movement of the limb.

At Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul, we encourage such continued research for the betterment of owners and pets alike. Many cutting-edge technologies and procedures are first assessed on pets and provide an abundance of knowledge and discovery. Animals and humans alike benefit from these many procedures, including artificial hips, cataract surgeries and radiation treatments for cancer.